September was World Literacy Month, with the International Literacy Day falling on the 8th September. It was a time to celebrate the power of reading – and the people making it possible. From huge global publishers, to charities like the National Literacy Trust, to small village book stops like our own here in Camber, there were loads of initiatives and events around the country to promote reading.
According to research by the BBC, over 180 council-run libraries closed between 2016 and 2024, and a further 950+ had their opening hours reduced, across the UK. Indeed, Camber lost the mobile library during that time period when ESCC cut funding for the service throughout the county. Luckily, CCG was able to provide a book stop outside the NISA shop in 2018, with a second book stop appearing in Pelwood Road in 2021.
Publishing giant, Penguin Random House, has recently installed 90 ‘Little Book Stops’ around the UK as part of their 90th birthday celebrations, so there are many more rural communities and inner-city boroughs who benefit from book-swapping in the same way we already do.
In early July, the government announced that 2026 will be ‘The National Year of Reading’.
As part of the government’s ‘Plan For Change’, the campaign hopes to address the steep decline in reading amongst children, young people and adults.
The Department for Education will collaborate with the National Literacy Trust to promote the benefits of reading.
In another initiative that was started way back in 2018, PRH lobbied the previous and current governments to provide a library in every primary school in the nation. After PRH had funded and furnished several hundred school libraries and reading spaces, a landmark pledge was made by the current Chancellor in mid-July this year, to provide funding for a library in every primary school that doesn’t already have one, by 2029. That’s great news for all schoolchildren across the land!
Here at the newsletter, we will endeavour to bring you news of any National Year of Reading events that take place locally, and we hope you all continue to enjoy the Camber Book Stops!
