Join the National Year of Reading at Derby Libraries

Residents across the city are being invited to rediscover the joy of books as 2026 officially kicks off as the National Year of Reading.

This national initiative, spearheaded by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, aims to encourage people of all ages to ‘Go All In’ – dive deeper into the hobbies and passions they already love through the power of reading, in whatever format suits them best.

Your local Derby library is a fantastic place to start – there’s never been a better time to discover the treasure trove of resources available for free.

For the city’s youngest residents, our friendly Rhymetimes and Storytimes sessions are a great introduction to books. The shelves are stocked with everything from durable board books for babies to engaging picture books and ‘learning to read’ series for children. Older children and adults will also find plenty of choice, whether it’s traditional fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, comics or magazines.

Through the e-Library service, members can access free eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines.

If you need inspiration, why not join our friendly and informal Reading Groups or a Shared Reading session? Reading together has a unique power to connect us and they’re a great way to read, listen and chat about great stories.

Our library events also offer a great way to connect with reading, whether it’s meeting authors, talks about history or writing workshops. Look out for news about what we’ve got in store for over the National Year of Reading.

Remember, it’s completely free to join so why not head to your local library and find something to indulge your interests?

Find your nearest library – and lots of information about what’s available there – on the Derby Libraries website.