Dorset Library Service, schools and communities across Dorset are coming together this year to support the National Year of Reading 2026, a major UK-wide campaign encouraging people of all ages to rediscover the joy and benefits of reading.
Led nationally by the Department for Education and delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, the campaign aims to tackle the long-term decline in reading for pleasure and help make reading part of everyday life once again.
The message, ‘Go All In’, encourages people to connect reading with the interests and hobbies they already love, from sport and music to food, family time and popular culture.
Throughout the year, Dorset Library Service will offer a wide range of free events and activities, both in libraries and online, designed to inspire local residents to read more for enjoyment. These will include social reading sessions, creative activities for families, themed book displays, reading recommendations, digital clubs and community celebrations taking place across the county.
Dorset Library Service runs the county’s network of public libraries and online reading resources. Nationally, research shows that reading enjoyment among children and young people has fallen to its lowest level in two decades, with just one in three young people saying they enjoy reading in their free time. The campaign is designed to reverse this trend by making reading feel relevant, accessible and enjoyable for everyone – whether through books, e-books, audio books, comics, blogs or magazines.
Cllr Ryan Hope, Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement at Dorset Council said:
“Reading has the power to open doors, spark imagination and support wellbeing at every stage of life. The National Year of Reading is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate reading in all its forms and to show that reading isn’t just about classrooms - it’s about everyday interests, shared moments and enjoyment. We’re proud to be supporting communities across Dorset to ‘Go All In’ for reading in 2026.”
Dorset Library Service - in our library buildings and online - provides welcoming, accessible spaces for everyone, where residents can drop in or log on, take part and share what they love to read. Schools, early years settings, community organisations and volunteers across Dorset are also being encouraged to get involved, helping create a countywide culture that supports reading for pleasure.
More information about events taking place across Dorset Library Service, in our libraries and online, will be published throughout the year. For the latest updates, visit the “What’s on in Dorset libraries” pages on the Dorset Council website or follow Dorset Libraries on Facebook.
Categories: Libraries
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