The first UNESCO City of Literature will try to set a new world record for the longest reading chain in the world this Friday.
Sighthill Library is hosting the Guinness World Record attempt, where readers from across Edinburgh will read one sentence aloud from Scottish children’s author Theresa Breslin’s novel Prisoner in Alcatraz.
Organisers are hoping to attract 350 readers to smash the current record of 290 people, set in Vienna, Austria on September 26, 2010.
Diane Yule, team leader at Sighthill Library said: “We thought we will try to break a record and the longest reading chain seemed like a good one.
“Edinburgh is a City of Literature and we feel it would be quite a fitting record for the city to hold.
“We are doing this in conjunction with Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh Libraries.
“It is part of the plan to bring the festival out of the city centre and into other parts of the capital.
“Sighthill Library said it would take it on because we have a brilliant community down here and we get a lot of backing from the locals for things we do.”
Theresa Breslin’s novel was selected due to its popularity in Sighthill and the author’s long connection with library services.
Diane said: “Theresa used to be a librarian and she is also spearheading a campaign to save the Scottish libraries.
“The reason we chose Prisoner in Alcatraz is because it was printed by Edinburgh’s Barrington Stoke. They publish for children with reading difficulties such as dyspraxia or dyslexia. Their books are printed on a special type of paper and they use a certain type of font.
“We use them a lot for our reading groups. Both the author and the publisher are very popular in our community.”
Ms. Breslin said: “I've been a fan of the Guinness Book of Records forever and am absolutely thrilled that my book Prisoner in Alcatraz will feature in a record-breaking attempt! It's great to see Edinburgh Libraries encouraging reading and literacy in such a fun way.
“I am so looking forward to meeting everyone involved and can't wait to hear all those different voices reading out my story.”
Over 200 readers have already signed up including local authors The Mulgray Twins, Joyce Holmes, Charlie James and illustrator Julia Lacome. However, Sighthill Library is urging as many bookworms as possible to participate.
