LibraryOn

Came for the books… stayed for the nature

Make the most of the British summer and find an outdoor space to get lost in a book in. Does your library have an outdoor space? Tag your favourite library below 🌻

You never know what you’ll discover when you step inside your local library. Find your nearest location via our website: https://libraryon.org/libraries

[Media description: 1. A woman reading on the steps of a library with the words: Came for the books... 2. A library garden with the words ... Stayed for the nature.]

My library is… where I discover my love of reading

YA author, Becki Jayne Crossley used Nottingham Central Library to write their debut novel, Tart. But what has reading bought to their life?

‘Reading has been such a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother likes to say that I “have had a book in my hands since before I was born”. Even if I only had 30 seconds between tying my shoelaces and walking out the door for school, I’d be sat on the stairs with a book.’

It’s not always easy to keep habits into adulthood, but if you do, you’ll be rewarded in many ways.

‘In more recent years I’ve found I wasn’t making as much time for reading as I did before, and in 2026 I wanted to make it my goal to do it more. Not so I can post huge stats at the end of the year, but just because I know how much I love it and it’s worth me carving out the time.’

Libraries can help kick-start your reading journey, or sustain your insatiable hobby. But they are also important for those who need a safe space.

‘Access to books isn’t a given for a lot of people, and the library can help bridge that gap. For LGBTQ+ identities in particular, sometimes it’s not safe to buy or read certain books at home. The library can provide a safe space to explore different identities and experiences through fiction, or provide access to guidance and support for those who need it most.’

What does reading bring to your life? Let us know in the comments.

[Media description: A photo of the book Tart, on a red checked table cloth, with sunglasses, a rolling pin and cherries on the table. A photo of Becki, smiling looking off-camera, wearing a white top with an orange shirt over the top.]

Came for the books… stayed for the outdoor space

Does your library have an outdoor space? Tag your favourite library below 🌻

You never know what you’ll discover when you step inside your local library. Find your nearest library with outdoor space on our website: https://libraryon.org/libraries?service=garden

Gardening can help create moments of calm, routine and connection, and public libraries are a great place to begin. Whether its gardening books, seed swaps, growing clubs or community projects, libraries are full of ways to slow down, step outside and get your hands dirty.

No garden? No problem. A potted plant counts. So does sitting in the park and reading about tomatoes.

Find your local library this Mental Health Awareness Month and start growing something good.

Quotes from library users in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Bournemouth.

Photos of beautiful gardens at Bootle and Formby libraries (Sefton), Forest Hall and Howden libraries (North Tyneside), Library@The Grange (Blackpool), and March Library (Cambridgeshire).

[Media description: Carousel of images of library gardens with quotes superimposed: Green spaces make my heart feel happier; Plants make me feel connected to something bigger and more wonderful; People need plants and plants need people. Without plants, where would we be?; Plants make me feel calmer and give me hope as they grow throughout the year; When the plants begin to grow it makes me feel excited and proud.]

Libraries have got something for everyone!

And probably more than you think.

Find out what services your local library offers by using our library finder: https://libraryon.org/libraries

What are you looking for? It might be in the library.

[Media description: an infographic which says: What are you looking for? It might be in the library. Audiobooks; Events; Librarians; Books; Resources; Community]