This week marks the ninth year of Book Week NI – a joint initiative between Libraries NI (a charity partner for Action Mental Health throughout 2024-2027) and BBC Northern Ireland.

Running from October 21-27, Book Week NI is all about encouraging people to enjoy a good book and to highlight the importance of reading. Action Mental Health was delighted to attend the official launch of Book Week NI 2024 at BBC Blackstaff House in Belfast recently.

Speaking at the launch, Adam Smyth, Director at BBC NI, said: “Book Week is a celebration of books, reading and the role that libraries play in community life. It’s something everybody can be involved in.”

He added that it gave people a “reason to reconnect with libraries” and highlighted the huge benefit to society that reading brings – something which “was needed more than ever.”

Chairperson of Libraries NI, Bonnie Anley, said that Book Week was a great opportunity to encourage people to get reading and to enjoy all the benefits and fun which came with that.

Book Week 2024 runs from October 21-27, with various events taking place, including ‘Love Your Library Day’ on October 23. We’ll also be posting a blog on our website with some of our own book recommendations this week, along with an interview with a local clinical psychologist who has just published his first book, so keep an eye out for those!

To find out more about the mental health benefits of reading, check out our blog here: https://www.amh.org.uk/how-reading-and-writing-can-improve-wellbeing/

Find out more about Book Week at: bbc.co.uk/bookweekni