Public libraries and Reading Schools Week

Reading Schools is a national accreditation programme, run by Scottish Book Trust, that celebrates and encourages reading for pleasure cultures in schools and their communities.

Reading Schools Week celebrates the fantastic reading for pleasure activities taking place in schools and encourages schools to connect with their local library. It also gives schools the opportunity to take part in shared activities across the country and feel part of a national celebration of reading.

There are lots of opportunities for local libraries to get involved! Here’s an example from East Lothian Council Library Service(this will open in a new window).

Public library services are hugely important to Reading Schools and supporting reading for pleasure. Schools engage with families to encourage reading at home – at Gold level, some schools may even work on a joint community project with their local library.

How libraries can get involved

Find out about the schools near you using our Reading Schools map.(this will open in a new window) Over 50% of Scotland’s schools are already taking part in Reading Schools.

Bookbug Primary 1 Family Bags and Read Write Count with the First Minister bags for Primary 2 and 3 pupils will be given out in schools during Reading Schools Week in November. You can order a Read Write Count with the First Minister library pack(this will open in a new window) with copies of the four titles and some special shiny cards that complement the card decks in the bags. Or why not collaborate with your local school for bag gifting events?

Each day during Reading Schools Week, schools will have a theme which libraries can also get involved in:

• Drop everything and read, where schools make time for pupils to read for pleasure across all formats and genres
• Celebrating characters, where pupils and staff can share their favourite characters, from the heroes that inspire them, to the villains they love to hate
• Stories are everywhere, which explores reading and storytelling from across the world, including different languages and cultures
• The art of books, which encourages pupils to dive into creativity, making their own artistic responses to books
• Sharing books, which celebrates the benefits of sharing a good story together, whether reading aloud or making up your own

Find out more about the Reading Schools Week themes

Our Reading Schools Week challenge bingo posters are available for libraries. These fun challenges are designed to be done in school, at home or in the library. We have included a challenge which encourages families to visit their local library. You can also add your own local challenges to the poster.

If you use social media, please highlight any school-library partnerships already in place, or any activities you create for this week by tagging @scottishbooktrust on Instagram and Facebook and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social on Bluesky. Please ensure you have the appropriate permissions before sharing pictures of people.

Order your Reading Schools Week bingo posters (this will open in a new window)by completing this form. Posters will be distributed in late October.

Order Read Write Count with the First Minister Library Packs(this will open in a new window) by completing this form.

Save the date! Book Week Scotland(this will open in a new window) now takes place in June – Scottish Book Trust will be in touch soon about opportunities for June 2027.