FORMER presenter of The Weakest Link, Anne Robinson, will help decide the winner of the £5000 David Vaisey Prize.

Libraries across Gloucestershire have entered the competition to see who can come up with the best initiative to get more people reading and using their services.

So far activities have ranged from a poetry slam at Cheltenham Library, library readings by children’s authors Hannah Shaw, John Dougherty, Tom Percival and Wendy Meddour and Gloucester author Philip Barnes launching his latest book My Teacher’s a Spy with a tour of libraries. 

Ms Robinson will judge the competition alongside award-winning children’s author, Jamila Gavin.

The prize was named after David Vaisey, the son of a former Gloucestershire farmer who went on to become head of the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford from 1986 until 1996.

The charitable trust is being backed by the Gloucestershire Library Service, Cheltenham Festivals and The Booker Prize Foundation.

Former chairman of the Booker Prize Foundation, Jonathan Taylor said: “We launched this prize because we want to really celebrate what libraries have on offer to get people through their doors, reading more books.

“We believe there are indeed some great initiatives out there to encourage the public to use their libraries - keeping them relevant and at the heart of their communities.”

Jane Everiss, Head of Gloucestershire Library Services added: “We are pleased to work closely with the trust to encourage initiatives in libraries where reading has a real impact on people's lives.

“We are equally pleased that we can recognise the invaluable contribution that volunteers make to our libraries.”

For more information on the prizes visit www.davidvaiseyprize.co.uk.