Library staff booked up on World Book Night

World Book Night was celebrated on Wednesday 23 April as hundreds of people received free books across the borough.

From local trains to Middleton Job Centre to Buckley Hall Prison, volunteers from Rochdale Borough Libraries spent their evening taking the books to the people, to brighten up their days and open their minds to the joys to be found within.

World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books for people of all ages and abilities. It sees passionate volunteers give hundreds of thousands of books away in their communities to share their love of reading.

Library volunteers handed out books to people travelling on trains from Mills Hill, Middleton and Todmorden. More than 100 books were given out, and were very well received by passengers.

Stock and Reader Development Manager for Rochdale Borough Libraries, Joanne Eaves, said there were “lots of happy commuters” and thanked Northern Rail staff for their hospitality.

Library staff from the Middleton area also got involved in the magic of World Book Night by taking books to several places in Middleton - Brentwood Day Centre, the Job Centre and the NHS Walk-In Centre to reach as many people as possible.

Tracey Byrne, Senior Library and Information Assistant at Alkrington Library, said:

“We received a really positive response from all the centres involved, as well as the book recipients and it was a great opportunity to build further links with our libraries and the wider community.”

Library staff at Buckley Hall Prison joined in the World Book Night celebrations for the third year in a row by handing out 270 books to the prisoners and the staff. Maria Payne and Stasia Nield have been involved in the borough’s library and prison relationship which brought about this generous giveaway.

Stasia said: “World Book Night is always a success at Buckley Hall and it encourages our readers to try something out of their ‘comfort zone`”.

The books handed out were for people of all abilities, including Quick Reads to encourage new readers and other books to develop the love of reading.

Books which were handed out across the borough included Geezer Girls by Dreda Say Mitchell and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. Authors such as Andy McNab and Roald Dahl were also amongst the book giveaways, providing something for everyone. 

A member of our library team was on BBC Radio Manchester talking about World Book Night. You listen again from 2:11:50 here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01wrglx