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It follows on from the successful Summer Reading Challenge campaign ‘Be a Reader’ when more children than ever took up the challenge of reading six books over the summer months.

As a result of the pandemic it is probably more important than ever that libraries become a place where children grow to love books and become readers for life. They are also special places where children and adults can share the love of reading with others, and read together, something lots of us have missed over the last two years.

To help everyone become a reader one thing that has been important for the Library Service has been the abolition of fines for the late return of books.

This is something that was achieved in March 2021.

Fines have long been seen as a barrier preventing people from using the library and they don’t belong with the modern welcoming image of public libraries which is all about being open, equal and accessible to everyone.

If you’ve not been able to get back to the library before now and have any overdue books then do visit your local library where you’ll be welcomed back and the staff will be delighted to take the books off your hands! 

This is just one of the many steps that the Library Service has taken to help people reconnect with libraries. The biggest of those steps is the new Neath Library which is due to open in the summer.
It promises to be a special place that will create many new generations of readers and bring people together once again.

And if you can’t get to the library the Library Service’s wide range of online resources are always there for you 24/7. As well as having more ebooks and eaudio books than ever before you can also read local, national and international newspapers and read the latest magazines through the Libby app.   

Cllr Peter Rees, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said: “On World Book Day this year there has never been a better time to visit the library and discover the value of reading.

“New libraries, new resources and the return of events to libraries mean that they are once again beginning to thrive. By removing the barriers to reading our libraries are improving the well-being of children and young people, providing them with opportunities to have the best start in life and be the best they can be.”