The 2026 Year of Reading is the perfect time for schools to boost reading for pleasure and to eveluate their own library provision.

This year, let’s make sure we celebrate all of the wonderful opportunities (like libraries!) available for people to engage with books and reading.

Although research indicates that people – and especially young people – are reading less, we shouldn’t ignore the fact that we’re living in an incredible time for books – with a greater variety of stories and voices than ever for children to experience.

We can help you!

Events and activities

• Use some of our recommended activities to get a book group going!
• Secondary Schools can register for the KS3 Poetry Slam (summer term) in partnership with the Poetry Society
• Let us help you find new voices and stories to promote. Our new book lists – including the book award – launch in the summer term

Support for your school library

• Cataloguing and classification services- we’ll get your new books ready for lending
• Setup services – do you need your library relocated in the school or redesigned? We can provide staff to help out.
• Book buying service – whether you’ve £500 or £50,000 to spend, we can help you make the best of your budget
• Staffing and INSET – we can provide a librarian to manage your school library, or train school staff with our new essential skills course.

(Some of the many) benefits of reading

• Improved educational attainment
• Improved concentration and mental wellbeing
• Greater empathy and knowledge of other people and the world
• Increased confidence
• A sense of community
• Fewer hours spent doomscrolling brainrot

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