This month I’m celebrating Go All In, the theme forthe National Year of Reading 2026. It’s a campaign that’s encouraged me to talk more openly about my own reading, which is something that underpins all my work and has shaped who I am. With half of UK adults no longer reading regularly, and almost half of young adults now “lapsedreaders”, the need to champion reading has never felt more urgent.

In this episode, I’m turning my attention to libraries,these warm and generous public spaces that offer far more than most people realise. From Innerleithen to Peebles, Gala, Hawick and Melrose, the libraries of the Scottish Borders are an important part of my life and civic spaces that still matter and are worth fighting for.

In this bite sized episode explore why libraries remain vital in 2026, how they support wellbeing, community and access, and why they deserve far more love and particularly promotion. I also share twelve ways libraries make life better, drawn from my own experiences and the brilliant services available across Scotland.

If this episode prompts you to visit your local library,borrow a book, or simply enjoy a quiet hour in a warm public space, then it’s done exactly what Go All In hopes to inspire — reading with confidence and joy!

This episode is inspired by Go All In, the theme forthe National Year of Reading. The campaign encourages people to read what they love, not what they think they should love, and that spirit sits right at the heart of this conversation. Link to the Go All In website.

⁠National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In⁠