Scotland is being invited to celebrate the joy of reading as a new national library campaign launches with one simple ask: make a pledge to read.
Wee Read, taking place on Wednesday 7 October 2026, will bring together people of all ages, interests and abilities for a collective celebration of reading for pleasure – whether that means getting lost in a novel, flicking through a magazine or comic, finding new recipe inspiration in a cookbook or finally getting round to the manual that’s been sitting on your bedside table.
The campaign is a Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) programme funded by the Scottish Government and supported by libraries, culture and literacy partners across Scotland.
Part of the National Year of Reading 2026, Wee Read officially launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, with comedian, writer and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc, award-winning children’s author M G Leonard and Scots language poet Len Pennie among the first to make their Wee Read pledge alongside children, families and a curious audience of all ages.
TV and radio presenter Bryan Burnett, award-winning author, playwright, academic and journalist Ali Smith, novelist Hannah Lillith Assadi and journalist and author Alison van Diggelen also showed their support for the campaign, making their pledge to have a Wee Read on 7 October.
The launch formed part of the Festival’s vibrant programme of activities celebrating the power of words, stories and ideas, providing a fitting setting to invite people across Scotland to join in a shared celebration of reading.
The message behind Wee Read is simple: reading doesn’t have to look a certain way to count. From poetry and comics to newspapers, cookbooks, blogs and travel guides, Scotland is being encouraged to discover – or rediscover – the joy of reading whatever they enjoy, for however long they can.
Ahead of the national reading moment, people across Scotland are now being encouraged to visit www.WeeRead.scot and make their own pledge to read on 7 October.
The campaign also shines a spotlight on Scotland’s local libraries which offer a gateway to discovering something new, with free access to a wide variety of reading materials, resources and activities.
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Reading has the power to entertain us, inspire us, help us escape and connect us with other people. But at its heart, Wee Read is about something wonderfully simple: making time to read something you enjoy.
“There is no right way to take part. You can read a novel, a comic, a magazine, a newspaper or a recipe; you can read for five minutes or fifty. Every read counts.
“We hope Wee Read encourages people across Scotland to find something that sparks their interest or rediscover the pleasure of an old favourite. With our brilliant local libraries on hand to help everyone find their next read, there’s never been a better time to get involved – and perhaps even kickstart a new reading habit.”
From families reading together and schools sharing stories, to workplaces taking a reading break and communities coming together around a favourite book, Wee Read aims to create a moment of shared enjoyment across the country with a target of 50,000 pledges.
People are encouraged to make their pledge, visit their local library to find their next read and share their recommendations using #WeeRead26.
Make your Wee Read pledge today at www.WeeRead.scot and join Scotland in celebrating the joy of reading on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
