Book Week NI celebrates its 10th birthday

Photo: Dr Jim O’Hagan, Chief Executive Libraries NI, Ms Bonnie Anley, Chairperson Libraries NI, Mr Mark Adair BBC NI’s Head of Corporate and Community Affairs, Mr Stephen Nolan BBC NI Broadcaster and Journalist, Mr John D'Arcy, Director of The Open University in Ireland and Mr Richard Pengelley, Chief Executive, Education Authority.



Book Week NI 2025 was launched on 6 October in Belfast Central Library – marking its 10^th birthday.

Book Week is a joint initiative between the BBC and Libraries NI and celebrates books, reading and libraries – and everything that they make possible. It will include special events across the library network and lots of BBC programmes as well.

Castles on the Air, a new BBC archive exhibition about the life and work of Louis MacNeice has been commissioned for Book Week 2025 and will be on display in Belfast Central Library until 17 October, before beginning a tour of regional libraries. 

The new BBC comedy drama series, Leonard and Hungry Paul, will feature in an exclusive Book Week preview at the Ulster Museum on Wednesday 15 October. Narrated by Julia Roberts, and based on the critically acclaimed novel by Rónán Hession, it’s a drama about friendship, kindness and the expansion of the universe. Sarah Brett will introduce the screening and will be in conversation with Rónán Hession about it afterwards.

Ticket details here: Leonard and Hungry Paul: Special BBC Preview Screening | Shows and tours

Letters From The Blitz, a new BBC documentary coinciding with Book Week, will be premiered at the Ulster Museum on 20 October. It makes use of the wartime letters that Helen Ramsey Turtle sent to her family in the United States and which were published in Midnight Again: The Wartime Letters of Helen Ramsey Turtle (edited by John Wilson Foster).

Mark Simpson (who is also the BBC face of Book Week NI 2025) will introduce this screening and will be in conversation with Julie Turtle Mackie (one of Helen’s daughters) about her mother’s letters and the making of this documentary.

Seamus Heaney’s role as a writer and presenter of BBC programmes will be showcased in an archive-based event on 21 October. William Crawley will be joined by Patrica Craig, Professor Fran Brearton and Charlie McCarthy for this special event which coincides with the 30^th anniversary of Seamus Heaney’s Nobel Prize lecture. It will be illustrated by clips from different BBC programmes and will include the screening of a digitally restored version of Seamus Heaney’s on-screen debut as a television presenter, Door Into the Dark (1970). Tickets details to follow shortly.

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle programmes and presenters will be busy with Book Week-related features, interviews and ideas, including as part of Love Your Library Day on 23 October. Every part of the schedule will be buzzing with book recommendations and conversations. And there’ll be an abundance of library stories from across the region – highlighting their place in community life and their importance for every generation.

Libraries NI has created an ambitious programme of events to mark Book Week’s 10^th birthday. In Conversation… events with well-known local authors will include Wendy Erskine, Glenn Patterson, Garret Carr, Steve Cavanagh, Jo Spain and Elly Griffiths.  And there’ll be much else happening, for everyone, in libraries big and small throughout the whole of Book Week.

Translink will be playing its part in Book Week 2025, encouraging bus and train passengers to ‘get reading’ on their journeys.  And the new Grand Central station in Belfast will host a Great Big Reading Group on Wednesday 22 October, coinciding with Love Your Library Day. 

Information on this and other Book Week 2025 events is available at: librariesni.org.uk/

Well-known people in public life will be helping to spread the word about reading and libraries as Book Week Ambassadors. And they’ll be sharing their ‘must-read’ recommendations as part of our big, community wide conversation about books. All of this information, including some specially commissioned Book Week videos and resources for schools (posters, bunting and bookmarks) are available on a dedicated BBC website: bbc.co.uk/bookweekni

And anyone getting involved in Book Week can share their stories and activities across social media with the hashtag #bookweekni.

Mark Adair, BBC NI’s Head of Corporate and Community Affairs says: ‘Book Week celebrates reading and libraries and everything that they make possible. It’s a showcase for writing talent, creative ideas and the role that libraries play in community life. And it’s the best excuse for a big, community-wide conversation about books. There will be much to enjoy across the BBC’s airwaves and in every part of the library network and in many other places as well, thanks to the support of colleagues in Translink, local schools and universities and many other organisations.’

 Dr Jim O’Hagan, Libraries NI Chief Executive says: “Reaching the ten-year milestone for Book Week NI is something to celebrate. What began as an idea to encourage people to read, has now grown to become a highlight in Northern Ireland’s cultural calendar, reminding everyone of the value of reading. Over the years we’ve seen how books can relax us, inspire us, and bring people together and our partnership with the BBC has been central to the success of Book Week. I would like to thank everyone from BBC Northern Ireland for all that they do each year to support this week and help raise the profile of reading and literature.

“Everyone can take part - children, families, teenagers, students, retired people, those working from home and the list goes on. This year, make a commitment to call into your local library, discover something new to read, and help us make Book Week NI 2025 the biggest and best celebration of reading yet. Taking time to read, even 15 minutes can start a new chapter.”