If you read my recent blog you’ll know that I am celebrating Go All In this month, the campaign for 2026 as the National Year of Reading. This is a great campaign which is inspiring me to share my passion for reading, which underpins all my work and has enriched my life. Go All In is really positive but desperately needed – Half of adults in the UK do not read regularly, down 8% in a decade and among young adults aged 16 – 24 44% are now lapsed readers i.e. they read as kids but don’t now. At face value this may seem less important than many issues that face us but a lack of literacy is a wellbeing and democratic problem. So that’s why I am using my wee platforms to try and share why I love reading, and encourage people to go all in with joy, confidence and access to great writing.

This week I want to celebrate Libraries, which are one of the most generous public spaces we have. They are warm and welcoming and a increasingly rare bit of civic minded help in a tough world. I don’t want to make this a nostalgic post however as for me they are really vital for the present day and deserve more love and promotion. My local library is here in Innerleithen, and it is only open two days a week now so I use it often to try and keep it open! I use Peebles library a lot, and it is getting a big facelift soon which is a great sign of confidence. I have also used the libraries at Gala, Hawick and Melrose in the last year, during my travels around The Borders and I love them all. Of course libraries are the home of words and books so they fit right into the Go All In ethos but they also offer much more than that. Here are twelve things you can do in your local library, drawn from my own experience here in The Borders and the services available across Scotland.

1. Borrow fiction and non‑fiction straight off the shelf

The heart of any library is of course still its shelves. Whatever you need you can walk in and leave with a bundle of books for free. It’s amazing! You can have something specific in mind or just let the mood take you. As the Manic Street Preachers once said “libraries gave us power”, and they do – through knowledge.

2. Order in up to five books you want for just £1

This is something I have used extensively as my local library at Innerleithen is small. If your branch doesn’t have the book you’re after, you can request it from another library in the council area. In the Borders and for the price of a single pound, you can access the entire region’s worth of stock – 5 books at a time. I know librarians who think this should be free but I do think it’s one of the best deals in Scotland.

3. Join Bookbug — singing and stories for tots and parents

Bookbug sessions are a such a weekly landmark for parents of wee tots, including my two who have now outgrown the sessions – but still know the songs! They’re free, friendly and full of songs, rhymes and early access reading. For parents or grandparents, they’re also a chance to meet others, get out of the house and feel part of the community. Ours is 10:30 every Thursday in Innerleithen and its where my kids learned to sing Ally Bally Bee, you canny shove your grannie off a bus and more! 😊

4. Read the local newspaper

Libraries keep physical copies of local papers like our Peeblesshire News which might seem a bit quaint in 2026 but for me it is very important as a way of preserving community cohesion. Plus if you read a physical paper rather than online then you don’t feel compelled to read the comments…

5. Use free Wi‑Fi

Whatever you need it for library Wi‑Fi is a reliable resource. No purchase required and no time limit. I use it for working and researching and appreciate it hugely.

6. Admire the architecture — no two libraries are the same

Admittedly this is more for absolute geeks like me! I love the different styles – from grand Carnegie halls of learning, Victorian statements of prosperity to some very Wes Anderson esque 1970’s touches, not to mention bespoke stain glass or Grecian inspired friezes you can always find something of interest – and that’s just the ones I visit in The Borders. All libraries tell more than one story, if you care to look.

7. Explore local history — because not everything is online

This is such an important one for me as libraries hold maps, photographs, parish records, publications and local books you simply won’t find on the internet. If you’re researching family history or curious about the past of your area, this is where the real treasures live.

8. Print or photocopy for a modest fee

Need to print a boarding pass, scan a document or copy something for work? Libraries offer these services at a fraction of commercial prices, and in my experience staff are happy to help if you’re unsure how the machine works.

9. Access free sanitary products (in Scotland)

Scottish libraries support dignity and wellbeing by offering free sanitary products, helping combat the scourge of period poverty. It’s discreet and inclusive and for me a useful reminder that the needs of citizens should come first in these places.

10. Work or read quietly with no pressure to spend money

Libraries are one of the last indoor public spaces where you can simply hang out and not have to spend money. Bring your laptop, pick up a book or just sit and think. If you haven’t used a library in a while and try this you may find yourself expecting to be moved along – but you wont be (until it closes obvs!)

11. Join clubs, writing groups, LEGO sessions, and more

Libraries host an astonishing range of activities and groups. Reading groups, creative writing, lego for kids. They’re hubs of creativity and connection.

12. Get friendly, expert advice from librarians

Of course you can’t do this without mentioning librarians who are the beating heart of the service. They can help you find a book, fill in a form or simply offer a friendly chat. Their knowledge is top notch and freely shared.

This episode is inspired by Go All In, the theme for the National Year of Reading. The campaign encourages people to read what they love, not what they think they should love, and that spirit sits right at the heart of this conversation. Link to the Go All In website.

⁠National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In⁠

Images: Squarespace Stock Images, with thanks.

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Twelve Ways the Library Makes Life Better