Get involved with East Lothian Reads
Strong reading skills start early. Sharing stories helps children develop language, attention, memory, and confidence - and sets the foundation for success at school and beyond. Libraries support families to make reading part of everyday life.
Reading for pleasure is one of the most powerful ways to support learning. Children and young people who read regularly build stronger comprehension, problem-solving and skills across subjects. Libraries create space and opportunity for reading to thrive.
Reading isn't just for school. For adults, reading builds confidence, skills, and opportunities, supporting everything from learning to family life. Libraries offer inclusive, welcoming routes into reading at every stage of life.
This year, we want to help everyone across East Lothian connect with reading - whether you're a lifelong reader looking for something new or it's something you've just not got into yet.
Take Part
- take a look at our first collection of titles available online or in all of our libraries to find something Scottish to inspire you
- drop in and renew your library membership or join for the first time and browse our shelves or ask staff for their recommendations - it's free to join and there are no overdue fines so there's no need to rush through a book if you feel it takes a little longer
- find out what's on in your local library
- follow us on Facebook or Instagram to find out about events and activities near you or join in the reading conversation
- explore our toolkit resources below - we'll be adding to them throughout the year - to find something that might help you, your family, class or group
Download the Scottish Collection
East Lothian Reads Toolkit
Whether you're a member of the public or a local group or organisation, we've put together a toolkit you can use to get involved. All of our resources are available to download for free below.
Lego scenes
Lego scenes are a great way to get your Lego club involved in reading promotion and peer-to-peer recommendations. This involves things like recreating scenes or characters from your favourite book out of Lego, or even creating scenes you think would happen after the book ends! Creativity is a fantastic route into reading and we've created a guide to help you do this on your own or take part in your own Lego club.
Download our Lego Scenes guide
Silent book club
Do you love the idea of a book club but aren't a fan of being told what to read or having deadlines to read it by? Why not try a silent book club? East Lothian Libraries silent book clubs are coming soon, but our guide to joining an existing one or starting your own is free to download below. You can also visit the silent book club's website for more information.
Download our Silent Book Clubs guide
Escape Journal
Reading for pleasure is good for you! It doesn't really matter what you read, just that you take time to escape from life and doom scrolling to lose yourself for a while. Just 6 minutes a day (30 minutes a week) has a positive impact on how you view your life, how you feel about yourself, and how well you sleep! Stepping into the emotions of characters also help us reconnect with our own feelings.
Whatever your age, reading helps people socialise more effectively. With a broader vocabulary, more practice empathising with characters in fiction or biographies and more interesting things to talk about, reading can help people connect more easily and deeply with others.
Not sure if you believe any of this? Give it a try! Replace 6-10 minutes of scrolling on your phone with reading for the next month using our journal to track how you felt before and after your sessions.
Bookopoly
The beloved game of Monopoly with a literary twist! Download a game board for your group or organisation, assign your squares a genre and see who can read enough to win big. Our libraries will be running our own Bookopoly soon - stay tuned for more details!
Booky Bunting
Celebrate your reading corner at home, school or elsewhere by creating your own booky bunting. We'd love to see what you create and help you share your reading inspiration with others!
Download the Booky Bunting kit
How to Raise a Reader
Reading for pleasure is one of the most powerful ways to support learning. Children and young people who read regularly build stronger comprehension, problem-solving and skills across subjects. Read our easy tips for engaging your child with reading from the very beginning to build those early habits. What are your suggestions for building the reading habit? What do you think of our recommendations? Let us know in the library or email us at libraries@eastlothian.gov.uk for the chance to win a goody bag.
Download out How to Raise a Reader kit
Book Bingo
Stuck in a reading rut? Want to challenge yourself with something new? Play Book Bingo to expand your horizons. Share your choices and what you thought of them with our library staff or by email to libraries@eastlothian.gov.uk for the chance to win a goody bag.
The East Lothian Reads project is supported by the Scottish Government Public Library Improvement Fund.