Visitors to Sunderland’s coastline will be able to enjoy the next chapter in a scheme which encourages people to read in October.

Sunderland’s BIDs – which includes the City Centre and the Seafront BIDs  – recently introduced a Little Libraries scheme, where people could borrow, return or replace books stored in four key locations.

And now that project is taking on a new dimension, with a Look for the Book event at the seafront on 10 October.

Running from 10am to noon, the event connects Sunderland’s Little Libraries with the National Year of Reading, while giving people another reason to get outdoors and enjoy Roker and Seaburn.

It also links to World Mental Health Day, with research showing that reading can improve wellbeing and mental health*

and that being immersed in a story can act as an escape from everyday life.

During Look For The Book, books will be hidden between the four Little Libraries which are at The Seaburn Inn, the Tram Shelter, Adventure Sunderland and the Marina, creating a book trail for residents and visitors to explore.

Anyone who finds a book is encouraged to take it away and read it – and then share it with other people.

The book treasure hunt is just one aspect of the morning, which will take place along the coast.

Atlas Theatre Company will become temporary bookkeepers at the Little Libraries, adding some theatre to conversations about books, while Sunderland Literacy Aid will have two pop-up locations at Fausto and The Seaburn Inn where people can choose or exchange books and chat about reading.

People are also being encouraged to take part in the creation of a community book which will capture words, thoughts and drawings about the day, which will be compiled and then displayed at Fullwell Library and the Culture House.

Sponsored by online digital print company, WTTB, a number of copies of the book will be printed and available at the Little Libraries.

The event is also linking with the National Literacy Trust’s 10-minute reading activity, encouraging people to spend 10 minutes reading at 10am on 10 October.

Roberta Redecke, Head of Business Services at Sunderland’s BIDs which is organising the event said the hope was it would encourage people to make the most of a visit to the seafront.

“The Little Libraries started with a really simple conversation with our Seafront Volunteer Group: what little things could we introduce that would make spending time at the coast even better,” she said.

“The response has been wonderful. Books are moving between people, new books are appearing and the libraries are being genuinely used.

“Look for the Book is about building on that. We are encouraging people to come for a walk, discover a book, have a chat, stop for a cuppa and perhaps take ten minutes just for themselves to read by the sea.”

More information – https://sunderlandbid.co.uk/events/look-for-a-book/