Residents in the Spen Valley are to be encouraged to foster a love of books instead of seeing it as a snobbish pastime.

Under the innovative Kirklees Reader-in-Residence scheme - only the second of its kind in the country - a reading group made up of 14 people from various backgrounds meets regularly at Batley library to discuss a range of books.

The aim is to promote literature, encourage people to read books more often instead of being glued to the TV or computer and help them make new friends. The project includes visits by authors to discuss their work.

Now thanks to an £81,000 National Lottery grant under the Arts for Everyone scheme the Kirklees Council-run pilot project is being expanded over the next three years to cover all libraries in Kirklees.

And a second person is to be appointed in March or early April to help the reader-in-residence Rommi Smith start up new reading groups.

She said: "We are trying to persuade people that reading is worthwhile, fun and that you can talk about a book in the same way you might discuss an episode of Eastenders.''

One of her tasks is to break down misconceptions about reading groups which often deter people from joining.

Rommi said: "Some people think you need a university degree to talk about books or that a reading group is there to teach people how to read.

"Some also think such a group is snobbish and won't admit new members or that you all have to like the book being discussed and can't be critical.

"There's also the misconception that reading is a bit stuffy and that if you've got your head buried in a book you must be a bookworm.''

The Batley group is going from strength to strength and new initiatives are being organised to encourage more people to join.

Rommi said: "I am currently in talks with Waterstone's bookshop in Leeds about the members doing reviews of books the company is promoting.''

"The group is also now twinned with a reading group at the Highland Public Library in Chicago and communicates regularly by e-mail and we hope to start getting in touch via the Internet soon.

"Eventually we want to encourage members to become pen pals with the Chicago group. We not only discuss books but also socialise. We've been on trips to the theatre and gone out for a drink together."

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