When I was a child growing up in Silvertown, my mum often took me to the library. When I became a little older I practically lived there, often visiting twice a day.

In the summer I participated in whatever activities the library had to offer, and when I became a councillor in Newham, I was privileged to lead the development of the service and was extremely proud of what we achieved - new libraries in Green Steet, Beckton, Stratford and Forest Gate - and I am sure there will be more to come.

Newham Council has a history of being passionate about its library service and being at the cutting edge of library development. I think that Cllr Jo Corbett has one of the best jobs at the council as the executive member for culture - which obviously includes libraries.

Councillors in Newham understand that reading is the key to a child's future. We introduced summer reading schemes on a large scale back in the mid-1990s. Summer reading challenges started as local schemes. Other library authorities had similar arrangements. The value of these schemes became apparent and Government and other partners invested in their growth.

I have lost none of my missionary zeal about the library service and am chairperson of the parliamentary all-party libraries group. We have undertaken a number of events in the House of Commons to publicise the value of libraries including a promotion of International Book Aid - a charity that donates books to developing countries - and the celebration of World Book Day with Mr Men characters.

Last week I was delighted when more than 100 MPs came to the launch of this year's summer reading campaign, The Big Wild Read, which I hosted at the House of Commons.

The aim of the event was not only to publicise the summer reading scheme, but also to get MPs into libraries so they could see how the service is changing and how important it is to local communities.

I was delighted to get the support of key ministers like Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, my new boss John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Margaret Hodge, Minister of State with responsibility for libraries, and new Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, as well as East Ham's Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Comepetitiveness. Publishers were on hand to donate children's books, which will be taken by the MPs to their local libraries as a small and token donation to the summer stock.

The campaign, organised by the Reading Agency, aims to encourage children to visit libraries and keep reading during the summer holidays. This has the double advantage of ensuring they do not lose any reading skills during the break from lessons, and of opening up the world of opportunity that books represent.

Research shows that children often take a step back in their reading during the summer holidays, and we want to get them into libraries to keep them on track until they go back to school in September.

Every year, more and more children take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, undertaken in partnership with public libraries and supported by children's publishers. This summer a staggering 700,000 children are expected to take part, and an estimated 16 million books will be borrowed.

My mum and dad supported my reading from a very early age, and every parent, carer, aunt or uncle has a part to play in encouraging reading and getting children along to the excellent libraries we have in Newham.

My niece Aimee has a veritable library of her own, provided by an over-indulgent aunt, but if I'm honest she prefers to go to the library to choose her own. Even at two-and-a-half years of age she knows what she likes. Do the children in your life a favour this summer, visit a library - often.

If you have any comments to make on this, or any other subject, write to me at Lyn Brown MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, e-mail me at brownl@parliament.uk, of call my office on (020) 7219 699.