‘Squeeze in a read’ with Ireland Reads

Ireland Reads is a new campaign to get the whole country reading this month in the lead up to a national day of reading today, Thursday February 25.

Westmeath libraries have teamed up with libraries nationwide, publishers, booksellers, authors and others for the campaign, which is part of the government’s Keep Well initiative and aims to celebrate reading and all the benefits it can have for wellbeing and enjoyment.

You can get involved by pledging to ‘squeeze in a read’ on Ireland Reads Day, Thursday, February 25.

A new website irelandreads.ie has been set up where people can pledge reading time and see how much time has been pledged by the Irish public so far.

Not sure what to read? No problem!

The Ireland Reads website also offers book recommendations suited to your interests and the time you have available.

There are more than 800 recommendations from librarians all around the country.

Simply enter your favourite type of book and how long you would like to read each day and the website will offer a suitable book suggestion and work out how long it will take to complete – a couch to 5k for books!

You can also email BookFinders@westmeathcoco.ie and a member of Westmeath Libraries staff will get back to you with some personalised ideas, just for you.

While Westmeath libraries are not currently open for browsing or borrowing due to Covid-19 restrictions, library members can use the library Borrowbox service online and choose from more than 44,000 eBooks and 33,000 eAudiobooks.

Find out more at westmeathcoco.ie/LibOnline.

Campaign events

Campaign partners and libraries all over the country will be running ‘Ireland Reads’ initiatives and events throughout February in the build up to Thursday February 25.

Tune in to the Quick Reviews on Facebook to see what Westmeath Libraries staff have been reading – facebook.com/WestmeathLibraries.

Meet the author

Patricia Gibney – we will be chatting to local author Patricia Gibney about her reading and writing life.

If you have questions you’d like to ask her, simply email library@westmeathcoco.ie.

A number of well-known campaign ambassadors from the worlds of writing, science, sport, health and broadcasting are on board to help promote the campaign, and you can find out what reading means to them and why they support the campaign at irelandreads.ie.

Find out about all that’s happening for Ireland Reads, get book recommendations and take the pledge to read on Thursday February 25 at irelandreads.ie.