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Inspiring the digital generation with a love of reading

Being able to apply over 40 years’ worth of Open University research to our organisation was invaluable.

Diana Gerald
Chief Executive, BookTrust

The Open University helped national reading charity BookTrust to embrace the digital technologies which can motivate today’s young readers. 

BookTrust is a national charity dedicated to inspiring children with a love of reading. Since 1992 they have gifted 52 million books to disadvantaged young people. But with the rise of digital publishing, they realised they needed to do even more around digital technologies to better engage with the next generation of potential readers. 

To extend their digital expertise, BookTrust formed a one-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership with The Open University.

BookTrust is a national charity dedicated to inspiring children with a love of reading. Since 1992 they have gifted 52 million books to disadvantaged young people. But with the rise of digital publishing, they realised they needed to do even more around digital technologies to better engage with the next generation of potential readers. 

We needed the research skills, pedagogical knowledge and understanding of digital platforms that The Open University could provide.

Peter Jenkins
BookTrust Fundraising Manager

Achievements

BookTrust worked with The Open University to develop a digital strategy to help position them at the forefront of their field, developed criteria for evaluating digital book apps, and identified new opportunities for income generation.

They were supported and advised throughout by Open University experts in digital resources for reading and children’s literacy.

Thanks to its partnership with The Open University, BookTrust has much better insights and strategy, which will enable the organisation to:

  • explore ways to generate substantial income from digital sales and services within three to five years
  • inform and influence future Government and sector policy, developing and substantiating BookTrust’s role as the lead digital advocate in promoting reading
  • gather data on the use of digital technologies by children to find ways of improving its offering

Professor Teresa Cremin and Natalia Kurcikova speak about forming their relationship with BookTrust

Contact us

If you want further information about this work, or your organisation would be interested in working with us, contact Professor Teresa Cremin.

Read more about OU research in Technology Enhanced Learning.