The search is on to find Derby’s favourite book

Sunday 9 August is Book Lovers Day, and to mark the occasion Derby Libraries are launching a competition to find the city’s favourite book.

One of the effects of the lockdown has been a surge in reading, with Derby Libraries seeing a massive increase in free loans of eBooks and Audiobooks. In April, there were 6,044 downloads of eBooks and Audiobooks by members, compared to 3,242 downloads during the same month in 2019. High street book retailers Waterstones also saw a 400% increase in book sales during lockdown.

Derby Libraries are asking keen readers to take a few moments to think about their favourite book. Which book has stayed with you? Which book do you find yourself going back to, time after time?

Nominate your favourite adult fiction book on the Derby Libraries website at www.inderby.org.uk/libraries/news/the-search-is-on-to-find-derbys-favourite-book and give a brief summary of why it is so special to you. You can vote any time between 9 August and Sunday 27 September, so there is a lot of time to make up your mind if it’s a difficult decision.

Derby Libraries will purchase the top 10 favourite books and display them in our libraries. Every entry will also be entered into a draw to win an Apple iPad Mini 5th generation – useful for all kinds of tasks as well as enjoying eBooks!

Councillor Robin Wood, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: “I will be very interested to find out what Derby’s favourite book is, particularly as mine isn’t a work of fiction but something very important to the city - Goodey's Derby, Paintings and Drawings in the Collection of Derby Museum and Art Gallery, published by Breedon. Book Lovers Day is a particularly good time to launch this, as it encourages you to find your favourite reading place, a good book, and read the day away.”

Full terms and conditions are available on the Derby Libraries website. The winning book will be announced on the Derby Libraries website and social media on Monday 19 October.

The city’s libraries will begin a phased reopening from next week, with sites reopening to the public at Riverside and Mickleover Libraries, and a Click and Collect service operating at Alvaston and Normanton Libraries from 24 August. More information can be found at www.inderby.org.uk/libraries/welcome-back-to-derby-libraries/

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