Libraries in the South Eastern Education and Library Board are inviting children to lose themselves in a world of fun, fascination and imagination in the annual summer reading challenge.  This year the theme is mazes.  The promotion runs from Monday 23 June until 1 September.  It’s free and open to all children aged 4-12 who are members of the library.  If you aren't already a library member, joining is easy and free.

Everyone gets a sticker or bookmark when they register.  At the half-way stage you receive an attractive door hanger, and when you have read six books you are presented with a certificate.  During the challenge there will be loads of puzzles, colouring sheets, word searches and other goodies up for grabs.

Lots of special displays and events will be taking place, details available at your local library.  There will also be loads of fun activities on the internet.  Remember, internet is free for library members. You can enter an online reading maze and find six author ‘habitats’ hidden in the maze, with video clips and sound files on the authors. 

Senior Youth Librarian Marie Sloan is anticipating a massive response:

The Reading Maze is our fifth summer reading promotion and we are expecting 4000 children to take part.  So don't miss out - sign on, enter the maze and let your imagination take you to places you might not want to find your way out of !

Chief Librarian Beth Porter wants to encourage as many children as possible to visit their library: 

The Reading Maze is an imaginative scheme.  It gives the perfect opportunity for parents and carers to enjoy reading with their children as it is carefully designed to have maximum child appeal.  It’s not a competition, but a personal challenge and the rewards along the way will appeal any child’s collector’s instinct. 

The scheme is being launched on Tuesday 17 June at Castlewellan Forest Park at 3.30pm.  The forest park is home to the Peace Maze which is the largest hedge maze in the world.  Everyone is welcome at the launch, but if you can’t make it, don’t forget to pop into your local library for some aMAZEing summer reading fun.