Eyes down as call goes out for book bingo

Shahnaz Begum, library and information assistant; Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for libraries; Rochdale resident Pat Richardson

Libraries across the borough are expecting a full house as literature lovers branch out to enjoy a new take on one of the nation’s favourite pastimes.

Book bingo will challenge library users to dip into popular titles and mark their special bingo cards, with the chance of scooping cash prizes.

Timeless calls like ‘garden gate’, key of the door’ and ‘clickety click’ will be temporarily shelved and replaced with varieties like ‘re-read a book you love’, ‘made into a film’ and ‘includes magic’.

Players can pick and mix any book from five of 25 categories and, after completing a line, can enter a free regional prize draw with a £200 first prize.

The project is part of the work of Time To Read, a unique partnership of 22 library authorities across the region, working together to promote a love of reading.

Councillor Janet Emsley said: “This is a great call and I will be bookmarking time in my diary to take part. It’s a bit of fun but also gets people of all ages sharing a love of reading and talking about books. It is just the ticket and marks an exciting new chapter for our library services.”

Ian Anstice, strategic lead at Time To Read, said: “Although there have been Book Bingos before, they’re really unusual in the UK but are such fun that we want to change all that. This covers such a wide area and it’s hoped that it will get people talking about the books they’ve read as part of it and share their discoveries with others.”

Copies of the bingo sheet and information forms are available in library branches across the borough.

Further information about Book Bingo and all the terms and conditions can be found at:

• www.time-to-read.co.uk/bingo

The closing date is Monday 1 July.