Devon Libraries celebrate World Book Night

Book lovers in Devon are being invited to celebrate World Book Night at the County Council’s libraries next week.

Each year World Book Night organisers recruit 20,000 volunteers to hand out 20 copies of their favourite book from the World Book Night list to members of their community who don’t regularly read.

It takes place on 23 April, which is a symbolic date for world literature as it is the birth and death day of Shakespeare, as well as the death day of Cervantes, the great Spanish novelist. It is in their honour that UNESCO appointed it the international day of the book and that it was chosen to celebrate World Book Night.

By enlisting thousands of passionate book lovers around the country World Book Night reaches out to the millions of people in the UK who have yet to fall in love with reading in the hope that they can start them on their reading journey.

In addition World Book Night distributes half a million books directly to the hardest to reach potential readers in prisons, care homes, hospitals, sheltered, supported and social housing, the homeless and through partner charities working throughout the UK.

Events are taking place in libraries across Devon to mark the second annual global event on Monday 23 April, and everyone is invited to come along and celebrate the books and spread a love of reading in communities.

Exeter Central Library is having an open evening, where residents can come along and borrow books and pick up their free copies of books being given away for World Book Night. The library will be staying open late, until 9pm with live music from 7pm. Anyone who has been chosen as a local book giver is also invited to join in the fun and distribute their books from the library too. The more the merrier! Just get in touch with the library and let them know.

Ivybridge Library are holding a 1920s ‘George and the Dragon’ themed Murder Mystery Evening from 7.30pm on Tuesday 23 April. A short play will be performed by the Ivybridge Theatre Company, followed by a chance for guests to interrogate the suspects and try to name the guilty party.  Tickets are just £10 and include a light buffet supper. They must be purchased in advance only from the library. The library will also be giving out free copies of Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture'.

Tiverton Library will be holding a Dutch-themed coffee morning from 9.30am – 12 noon and distributing free copies of A Girl with A Pearl Earring.

Teignmouth Library have organised a book club quiz evening with battling it out alongside library staff to be crowned literary kings or queens.

Honiton Library are wrapping up their free give-away books to offer residents a surprise read, and Barnstaple Library will welcome World Book Night author Sophie Duffy for a special visit.

Kingskerswell Library is holding a 'Book and Bites' event from 5 - 6pm. Residents can pick up one of 80 free copies of Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat thanks to the Friends of Kingskerswell Library group.

For more information about what is going on at your local library please visit www.devon.gov.uk/libraries or call 0845 155 1001.

For more information about World Book Night please visit www.worldbooknight.org