The Booksellers Association announces Bookshop Day programme of events

The Booksellers Association’s Books Are My Bag has announced the programme of events for this year’s Bookshop Day, which will be held on 12th October. On Bookshop Day, book-lovers are encouraged to go to their local bookshop, or support them online if they cannot pay them a visit in person.

This year the event’s theme is Bookshops Making a Difference and the campaign artwork has been commissioned from award-winning illustrator and picture book author Sophy Henn.

To mark Bookshop Day, the Booksellers Association will be releasing a video featuring authors and illustrators, which will be shared on Books Are My Bag social media channels on Wednesday 9th October at 6pm. On 12th October, bookshops across the UK have organised author events with Glyn Maxwell, Iain Dale and Gill Sims, crafting workshops, book displays and more.

There will also be various loyalty initiatives and rewards on offer during Bookshop Day, from retailers including Waterstones, Foyles and Bookshop.org. A spotlight on Glasgow and its bookshops will see local artists Jacqueline Briggs and Jack Stamp creating two murals in St Enoch Square and Blythewood Street. Artist, author and illustrator Angela Harding will design this year’s Books Are My Bag Limited-Edition Bag, exclusively available in book shops from Bookshop Day.

Andrew Lacey, store manager of The GLO Bookshop, said: "As a specialist Christian retailer, Bookshop Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate all the good things about our bookshop. While our primary focus is to support people from the local Christian churches, we also have many regular customers from the wider community who appreciate the excellent customer service we offer and the knowledge of our staff. We’ll be celebrating Bookshop Day with special offers and free refreshments for our customers, plus a special event where we will be inviting former partners and friends in the book trade to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with us. We’re grateful to all who have contributed over the past half-century to the success of The GLO Bookshop in Motherwell."

Fleur Sinclair, Booksellers Association president, said: "With the wealth and sheer number of books published in the Autumn, Bookshop Day shines a light on the very best places for book-lovers to find exactly the right books for them—bookshops! There are lots of exciting offers available and events happening at bookshops all across the UK, and booksellers are using the support and custom they receive to do great work in their communities—supporting schools and people of all ages and backgrounds. In my shop, Sevenoaks Bookshop in Kent, we’re working on launching a special project to put books into primary schools on the rich history of migration. A topic not currently on the school curriculum, but we feel of great value to help our young people understand and celebrate the country we live in today."

Emma Bradshaw, head of campaigns at the Booksellers Association, said: "This Bookshop Day we’re highlighting the difference that bookshops make to our local areas all year round. They are hugely valuable as retail spaces and, additionally, many bookshops are running programmes to improve literacy, wellbeing, and the cultural landscape of our communities. We want to remind consumers of the value of their local bookshops, and to choose to do their Christmas shopping with them. We’re thrilled to have so many exciting events and activities in place."

Details of Bookshop Day events taking place across the country can be found on the Books Are My Bag Facebook events page. Follow the latest developments for Bookshop Day on social media: #BookshopDay @booksaremybag