Events have been taking place to mark 'Ireland reads', an initiative to encourage people of all ages to pick up a book and get reading.
Libraries across the country have been holding special gatherings to showcase the services they offer and to promote greater use of their facilities.
At Oranmore in Co Galway, there was an early start for the village’s younger residents who gathered for a special circus show, themed around reading.
Many of those in attendance, like six-year-old Beckett Jennings, are already established borrowers, with the ‘Dog Man’ books riding high in the list of favourite titles.
"I like reading because it’s fun and you learn new things," he explained, before going on to detail how he’s broadened his horizons for an upcoming school project, which has required some research.
"I’m building a submarine for engineers’ week so I have lots of books on the table at home to see what I will need for it," said Beckett.
Nine-year-old Hannah O’Connor is also a regular visitor to the library.
She’s also a fan of the Dog Man series and likes reading because of how it helps her vocabulary and gives her information about new things.
Experiences and enthusiasm like that is exactly what librarians are hoping to foster with the day’s events.
Josephine Vahey, the Galway city and county librarian, says the Ireland Reads initiative came about as a means of promoting the vast range of services on offer across the country’s library network.
As well as offering millions of titles, the offering has broadened considerably in recent years, with an extensive ebook and audiobook borrowing facility, along with sensory rooms, meeting spaces and other bespoke services.
Ms Vahey says that a library is an oasis for people to step out of the everyday world and escape into a place where they can take some time out and embark on remarkable reading journeys.
She points out that local authorities have worked hard to make those services as accessible as possible and that events take place across the country, week in, week out.
Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Liam Carroll says the Ireland Reads idea is a valuable shop window for books and literature in all its forms.
"This initiative started during the pandemic and it’s continued since then," he said.
"You can see from this event in Oranmore how much interest and enthusiasm there is from the local children. All of them are – or hopefully will become – members of the library and they’ll use the facilities to allow their reading habits to flourish."
Mr Carroll added that by encouraging people to pop in to their library, local authorities are showcasing the huge range of services on offer. In turn, valuable and lifelong habits can be formed, with benefits passing from generation to generation.
"There were people here today from all around the Oranmore, Athenry and Kinvara hinterland," he said.
"I think that shows the appeal of the library and the appetite people have for it".
