With fewer children, young people and adults reading for pleasure each year and many saying they don’t feel motivated to do so, the National Year of Reading aims to reconnect people of all ages with reading as something enjoyable, exciting and relevant.
Therefore, if you’re into baking, football, gaming, music or just simply have a desire to spend more time with your children, reading can help you get more out of the hobbies and pastimes you already love.
Every kind of reading counts too, so it could be an audiobook, a comic, a football programme, a magazine article, a non-fiction book, a novel or an online blog.
If your child is aged between nine and 12 as well, why not spur them on to take part in Biblio-Buzz – the Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award – this year as well?
Run by Ally Pally’s Creative Learning team in partnership with Haringey Libraries, local schools and the Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop, participants are tasked with reading six shortlisted texts before taking on a range of literary challenges and ultimately voting for their favourite book.
This year’s shortlist is as follows:
- Chronicles of Whetherwhy, The Ages of Enchantment by Anna James
- People Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence
- The Beck by Anthony McGowan
- Fallout by Lesley Parr
- The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival
- Birdie by J.P. Rose
Details of how you can get involved at Haringey Libraries will follow the official launch of Biblio-Buzz next month (February 2026).
There will also be a number of commemorative activities and events for Haringey residents of all ages later this month as the borough prepare to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday 27 January 2026.
Coombes Croft Library will be holding a Holocaust Memorial Exhibition as part of a day of reflection and learning (Tuesday 27 January 2026, 12noon-5:30pm), with a curated display of books featuring alongside posters with QR codes linking to trusted online resources and virtual museum tours.
The exhibition will conclude with a screening of the 2023 film White Bird (3:30pm-5:30pm) and a Dove of Peace arts and craft session suitable for children aged four to 12 (3:30pm-5pm).
More Holocaust Memorial Day-themed arts and crafts sessions are taking place in Haringey libraries at the following dates/times:
Monday 26 January 2026: Memorial Candle at St Ann’s Library (3:30pm-4:30pm)
Monday 26 January 2026: Beautiful Butterfly at Stroud Green and Harringay Library* (3:30pm-4:30pm, *Suitable for ages 5+)
Tuesday 27 January 2026: Memorial Candle at Marcus Garvey Library* (3:30pm-4:30pm, *Suitable for ages 4+)
Tuesday 27 January 2026: Beautiful Butterfly at Hornsey Library* (3:30pm-4:30pm, *Suitable for ages 5+)
Tuesday 27 January 2026: Beautiful Butterfly at Muswell Hill Library* (3:30pm-4:30pm, *Suitable for ages 5+)
You can find details of our libraries’ opening times on our website, where you can also explore our digital offer, including audiobooks, digital magazines and newspapers and e-books.
For further information on all the exciting and fun activities and events taking place in libraries across our borough for Haringey adults, children and families alike, please download our What’s On in Libraries brochure.
You can also find the What’s On listings for local arts and entertainment venues via the below links:
