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The National Year of Reading
The National Year of Reading
Across North Lincolnshire, we are proud to support the National Year of Reading.
We know that improving literacy helps people of all ages discover new interests, build confidence and unlock opportunities. Literacy affects everyday life – our chances of finding work, staying healthy and feeling connected – so helping everyone develop strong reading and writing skills is something we care deeply about. Research shows that when children learn to read well, especially by age 11, it boosts their creativity and curiosity and supports their wellbeing as they grow.
In North Lincolnshire we already offer a huge range of long‑standing initiatives to promote reading for pleasure such as the Imagination Library, Words Count and our network of 14 libraries. In the National Year of Reading, we will be enhancing the regular activities that we offer with competitions, visits from authors and illustrators, and creative writing and poetry workshops and lots more.
In addition to this we’re inviting schools, early years settings, businesses and local residents to join us in celebrating reading and helping to create a positive literacy culture across the area.
GO ALL IN and rediscover the joy of reading in North Lincolnshire!
Reading in North Lincolnshire
In 2023 we celebrated 10 years of the hugely successful North Lincolnshire Imagination Library programme and at the start of 2025 we delivered the one millionth Imagination Library book in North Lincolnshire.
We have now delivered over 1,000,000 books to more than 28,000 children living in North Lincolnshire, supporting all our children under five to develop a love of books and reading for pleasure.
Be the first to find out about reading themed events and activities
If you want to be kept in the loop about the latest reading themed activities and events, please sign up to receive regular updates from North Lincolnshire libraries.
Upcoming events
Find out about activities and events on our events page, or visit the LiveWell website.
Read On app – download today
Libraries in the Yorkshire and Humber region have got together to develop the ‘Read On’ app. It works a bit like the well-know “Couch to 5k” scheme for physical fitness, and is designed to engage, encourage and support people to develop the habit of reading for pleasure. Users can track their daily reading (as little as 10 minutes a day can make a difference), set themself goals. take quizzes, achieve milestones and receive recommendations chosen by library staff. The app is also suitable for people who already read regularly.
Reading for pleasure is is proven to support reducing street, maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing, and improving our life chances (whatever age we are) It doesn’t matter what we read, it’s the pleasure we get from it that’s important.
You can download the app from free from the App Store (search Read On) or Google Play (search Read On Reading Habit)
Share A Rhyme in May Month
We invite residents from across North Lincolnshire to join in with our challenge to find out what is North Lincolnshire favourite nursery rhyme? Vote using our online form below.
Check out this video introducing the challenging and explaining the importance of nursery rhymes….
‘Poems Out Loud’ with the Mayor of North Lincolnshire
As part of our commitment to the National Year of Reading 2026, the Mayor of North Lincolnshire is delighted to share a special series of poems read aloud for children and families. These readings were filmed in several of our wonderful children’s libraries across the region, celebrating the joy of stories, rhythm, and rhyme.
There is a poem or rhyme for every month of the year, selected from a variety of much loved sources — including one of our current Imagination Library titles, Poems Out Loud. We hope these monthly moments of poetry inspire imagination, spark curiosity, and encourage a love of reading in every home.
Did you know?
Experts in literacy and child development have found that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.
Mem Fox, Reading Magic, 2001
