Libraries

The book industry has launched an open letter calling on the government to create a plan to boost reading for pleasure for children across the UK. The letter invited the Prime Minister "to make a cross-government commitment to prioritise the role of reading for pleasure for children", investing in the development of children and the future of the country.

More than 180 council-run libraries have either closed or been handed over to volunteer groups in the UK since 2016, BBC analysis has found.

Former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo has joined with current incumbent Joseph Coelho, and every single Children's Laureate from the past 25 years, to call on the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer to commit to a long-term investment in books and reading for children under seven.

Book Aid InternationalSupplies much-needed books to developing countries, raising funds from publishers and general public; 'Reverse Book Club' is masterly idea-for just £5 ($10) month you can provide 48 books to go to where they're most needed in collaboration with PENSupported by eminent writers, this is the English branch of International Pen, which has centres in nearly 100 countries. It fights for freedom of expression and against political censorship. It campaigns for writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes murdered for their views. http://www.englishpen.org/ Ukraine, English PEN and PEN International is to provide 25,000 new books, donated by UK publishers, in support of PEN Ukraine's Unbreakable Libraries project. The books are expected to arrive in Kyiv in September.

Politicians and activists who endorse clampdowns on books that middle and high school students are permitted to access in libraries, as well as in their coursework, are having their moment.  Read more