South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 22/04/2016

World Book Night on Saturday 23 April will see enthusiastic readers across South Gloucestershire hand out free books in their communities.

There are over 40 individual book givers taking part throughout South Gloucestershire this year, all keen to share their favourite books from the specially selected official World Book Night list. The full list of this year’s 15 titles are available online at www.worldbooknight.org/books

This annual celebration of reading and books sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers around the country give away specially chosen and printed World Book Night books to people in their local areas who don’t regularly read. Across the UK around 250,000 copies of World Book Night titles will be given out by a network of volunteer reading enthusiasts and institutions. The aim is to reach the 35 per cent of the population who, for whatever reason, don’t read for pleasure.

There are also a range of events taking place in South Gloucestershire’s libraries to mark World Book Night:

Saturday 23 April

23 April is also UNESCO international day of the book and William Shakespeare’s birthday. As well as over 40 World Book Night volunteers handing out books across South Gloucestershire, special events will take place in local libraries in this mass celebration of books, reading and Shakespeare Day:

Library staff will be handing out World Book Night books in mystery locations around Filton from 9.30am to 10.30am and 2pm to 3pm, and at a mystery location in Thornbury throughout the day (whilst stocks last).

Mixed Minds Reading group will be holding a drop in chat about books at Patchway Library from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

The South Gloucestershire mobile library will be at the Hawkesbury Literature Festival from 10am to 3pm.

Shakespeare Day celebrations: join in the fun of our Witches and Fairies Shakespeare free story time for the whole family, at all libraries from 11am to 11.30am. Plus can you find all the hidden Shakespeare Characters at Cadbury Heath, Downend, Filton, Patchway and Staple Hill libraries.

Shakespeare Selfies at Emersons Green Library: take a Shakespeare selfie! Props will be available to help you make his famous quotes come alive and you can share them using the following #shakepeare16 @southgloslibs (Twitter) and sgloslibraries (Facebook).

Craft club with a Shakespearean twist for adults and ages 14-years-old and over, at Filton Library, from 10am to 11.30am (sign up at the library reception or email filton.library@southglos.gov.uk).

Shakespeare themed Chatterbooks for children aged 8 to 12-years-old, at Filton Library from 2.30pm to 3.30pm (sign up at library reception or email filton.library@southglos.gov.uk).
There are further events to look forward to throughout the following week:

Tuesday 26 April

Yate library, 7.30pm
Bestselling Bristol based author Amanda Prowse (one of this year’s World Book Night authors), will be talking about her contemporary love stories. Tickets are £3 and can be booked at www.eventbrite.co.uk

Wednesday 27 April

Winterbourne Library, 7.30pm
Winterbourne Library hosts their sixth annual quiz night from for teams of up to six people, at £3 per person. Sign up at the library or email winterbourne.library@southglos.gov.uk

Thursday 28 April

Rome’s Greatest Defeat: Ambush in the German Forest
Downend Library, 7.30pm
Bestselling local author Ben Kane talks about these dramatic events, the inspiration for his latest novel ‘Hunting the Eagles’. Free tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information and to find your nearest library go to www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries