World Book Day is underway with new initiative to inspire kids and adults to read
Today's World Book Day (March 3), has a new Scotland-wide reading initiative announced to inspire and encourage people of all ages to read every day to boost their mental health and wellbeing.
Children at schools and nurseries across Caithness took part in the special day with Newton Park Primary also having a book sale in which the kids could buy donated titles for just 10p.
However, older readers can join children on May 11 and pledge to read for just six minutes – reading anything, from books and magazines to comics, graphic novels and blogs. The national reading moment, called "Keep the Heid and Read!" will take place during Mental Health Week (9-15 May 2022).
An online totaliser to count the overall reading time pledged by the nation will be launched next month, and people can sign up to get involved. The reading campaign is led by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Scotland’s 32 public library services.
The idea was inspired by the post-lockdown plea for public libraries to reopen and the growing recognition that libraries play a valuable role in supporting mental health and wellbeing by connecting communities.
It is taking place during Mental Health Week because of the known mental and emotional health benefits of reading. Research shows that reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress by 68 per cent. Establishing a regular reading habit has the biggest impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Pamela Tulloch, chief executive at SLIC said: “The reading moment came about from an awareness that people have missed their libraries during the pandemic, coupled with the joy and benefits people gain from reading. It is the most popular cultural activity people undertake and, during the Covid-19 lockdown, reading was the nation’s most popular pastime.
“We want everyone to get involved on 11 May by pledging to read for six minutes. It is a great way for people to reconnect with their local libraries, which offer an abundance of free reading material and library staff can make recommendations based on reading ability and interests."
The reading pledge sign-up and online totaliser will be online at www.keeptheheid.scot from mid-April