A CALL has been put out to get Hampshire residents volunteering.

The county council’s library service is rallying all adults and teenagers to help out at this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Following National Volunteers’ Week (June 1-7), helpers need to be aged 14 and over and able to spend just a few hours at their local library each week over the course of the summer.

The council says it will not only be supporting their local library but, more importantly, helping children, aged four to 11 years finish the Reading Agency’s goal of complet-ing six books over the holidays.

Hampshire County Council’s executive member for recreation and heritage Cllr Seán Woodward said: “Volunteers do a fantastic job in a range of roles across our libraries and the Summer Reading Challenge provides a great opportunity to engage children and young people with reading in fun and creative ways throughout the summer holidays.

“As a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer, you will work alongside staff, getting involved in a variety of tasks such as helping children enrol onto the challenge, recommending books to them and then listening to their feedback as they read each of their six chosen titles.

“Every year, Hampshire libraries welcome thousands of children and young people through their doors over the summer, and our volunteers make all the difference to their positive experience of what’s on offer.”

Pauline Corrigan, from Waterlooville, has volunteered for the Summer Reading Challenge for the last seven years.

She said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is all about the children and it’s great to see the chuffed look on their faces as the weeks go on. Regardless of reading ability, I like encouraging all the children to just enjoy reading – that’s very rewarding.

“Volunteering enables me to meet new people and make new friends in my local community. If you have a few spare hours a week, I would encourage people to give it a go.”

You can register your interest at www.hants.gov.uk/library.