'I spent my summer holidays visiting every library'

Kaitlin, 12, has visited all 42 of North Yorkshire's public libraries this summer

A 12-year-old book lover has travelled 900 miles to visit all 42 public libraries in North Yorkshire over her summer holidays.

Kaitlin has read 156 library books so far this year - at a rate of three or four per week - which inspired her self-set reading challenge during the six-week school break.

Mother Liv and younger brother Toby helped to map out the shortest routes to reach her goal, starting in her local Leyburn library and finishing in Easingwold.

"I've loved my summer adventure and have been able to spread my love of reading throughout my travels," she says.

In recent years, Kaitlin has taken part in North Yorkshire Council's annual Summer Reading Challenge.

The scheme challenges children between four and 11 to read six library books over the holidays, offering stickers and prizes to those taking part.

"[This year] I was too old, so I decided to create my own," she says.

Her family attached a map of North Yorkshire to their living room wall to plot each library's location, with nine-year-old Toby calculating they needed to average seven library visits a week.

"We think we totalled about 900 miles," says Liv.

"There was a moment when we wondered if we were going to manage it all, but we made it."

She adds: "The maximum amount we did was eight in one day - Knaresborough and Harrogate and then to Gargrave and Grassington."

Kaitlin says her favourite libraries were those on the east coast, particularly Whitby and Scarborough due to their "wide variety of books and lovely volunteers".

She says she loves how "peaceful" libraries are.

"I love that you can get books for free and you're able to read as many books as you like."

Kaitlin and her brother Toby are both keen readers, according to their mother Liv

Next summer, Kaitlin hopes to volunteer at a library during the school holidays and encourages others to pick up a book during the school break.

"It will help you along the way and it's enjoyable," she says.

Liv says she is proud of both her children for their shared love of reading, adding: "It's going to really built that knowledge and I really think it's going to take them places.

"I just think Kaitlin is amazing, she's 12 and the love that she has for books is going to get her a long way."

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