Join Valeria, Reader Development and Stock Librarian at Camden Libraries, Haleema Ali, and host Barra Fitzgibbon from Bloomsbury Radio for a brand-new episode of Let’s Talk Camden — the podcast where stories, community, and creativity come together.

This month, we’re welcoming Valeria to the mic. She brings a unique perspective from Abruzzo, Italy — the greenest region in Europe, known for its incredible biodiversity. Her background beautifully ties into this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme: Story Garden.

We’ll also be tackling a national issue: children’s reading is in decline, with only 1 in 3 young people enjoying reading and 1 in 4 unable to read well by age 11 (Clark et al., 2024). But there’s a way to turn the page — and it starts with the Summer Reading Challenge ( Summer Reading Challenge - Camden Council) . Children are encouraged to read six books over the summer, collecting tokens and entering a prize draw to win theatre tickets, LEGO sets, and more. To sign up please follow this link : Summer Reading Challenge 2025

Plus, Barra and Valeria dive into some brilliant reads, including Conclave by Peter Straughan. Valeria also shares her love of languages and her growing interest in Korean and Japanese literature, especially slice-of-life stories that offer a window into everyday experiences across cultures.

Tune in for book chat, summer inspiration, and a celebration of the power of reading.


New tracks tagged #LIBRARIESPODCAST