The Wee Read – Celebrating the Sheer Joy of Reading for Pleasure

That the Parliament applauds the “Wee Read” initiative programme from the Scottish Library and Information Council, in partnership with mental health charities, publishers, booksellers, authors, educators and community organisations, working together to inspire a nation to read, funded by the Scottish Government; believes that it is very important to celebrate and promote reading for pleasure across all corners and age groups in Scotland; urges all MSPs to lead by example and accept the invitation to stop, take a few minutes and enjoy the pleasure of reading on 7 October 2026, joining thousands of people across Scotland, from schools, libraries and workplaces to community groups, families and individuals; appreciates that reading for pleasure can make a significant impact on wellbeing and mental health as well as improving attainment levels across the board for young people; values the role that libraries play in communities every day in providing access to reading materials for all; is aware that Scotland has a rich literary tradition spanning more than 1,400 years, written across English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Latin, and early Celtic languages, and is proud that Edinburgh was designated the world's first UNESCO City of Literature and hosts major literary celebrations like the Edinburgh International Book Festival and is hopeful that participation in the “Wee Read” will help many discover and rediscover the sheer joy of reading for pleasure as well as acknowledging that it offers a range of benefits such as helping to reduce stress, improving focus and memory and building a more empathetic nation.