World Book Day is a global event that celebrates books, authors, and the importance of reading in our lives. The campaign aims to encourage people to discover the joy of reading, promote access to books for everyone and celebrate literature and creativity.
Why read when you can watch the film version faster?
For me, reading is an escape into different worlds, times, and lives. Whether it was growing up on magical tales like Harry Potter, entering my teen years with dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games or arguing with people about team Edward verses team Jacob in the Twilight saga… books give readers a break from everyday life.
I read a lot all the way up to my teenage years, but like most people I then lost the enthusiasm, and dare I say it in the age of scrolling social media… the attention span to sit still long enough to pay attention to books! But over the last few years I regained my love of reading, through trial and error of many genres that just weren’t for me (anyone else remember the 50 Shades of Grey summer in 2015?) and a big pile of DNFs (did not finish) books that I bought then never read – I have discovered I am a thriller/horror girl! Give me a great plot twist, a slightly gruesome death and an unhinged character any day!
Getting lost in the stacks…
Flying through the pages faster than I ever have before, I’m always looking for my next read. The price of regularly buying new books can add up, so this year one of the goals I set myself was to get back to using the library more. My mantra for 2026 is to buy less and borrow more and recently I’ve been a firm regular wandering the aisles of my local library.
Funnily enough often in books, libraries get the stereotype of being stuffy places full of old dusty novels no one reads and where you are shushed by a stern looking librarian for making a sound! In reality they couldn’t be more different.
Libraries are warm and welcome social spaces open to all. Free to join, they provide access to knowledge for everyone in the form of physical books, audio books, magazines and research materials as well as use of WIFI, computers and printing. They are one of the few public places where people can gather without needing to spend money and they represent community and shared interests in the form of book clubs, community meetings, family events and more.
We love a library at Action Hampshire!
Libraries also provide opportunities for local organisations to come in and chat to their users. Since October members of the Action Hampshire team have been popping up in libraries all across Hampshire to talk to you about the work we do. These libraries gave us the chance to connect to the community face to face and we’ve had some great conversations supporting people with information on our Warmth Matters, Let’s Be Smokefree and Healthwatch Hampshire projects.
Want to get into reading but don’t know where to begin?
From the classics to fantasy to epic love stories – there is no right or wrong choice, it doesn’t matter what you read, as long as you enjoy it! The saying goes to never judge a book by its cover, but I say do! If you aren’t sure what you might like to read then take a trip to your local library and pick up the books that catch your eye. It costs your nothing to try a whole pile of books, and if they aren’t for you simply return them and choose something else, so why not give it a go.
Nowadays reading has become something I genuinely enjoy and my latest read is never out of arms reach when I’m at home. So let’s all celebrate this World Book Day by getting lost in the pages…
Follow this link to find your nearest library in Hampshire
Follow this link to learn more about Action Hampshire projects
