Reading for pleasure & wellbeing

Library Services continues to develop its collection of general interest (fiction and non-fiction) books called Reading for Pleasure and Wellbeing. The collections can be found in both the Aldgate and Holloway Road libraries and can be borrowed for three weeks.

The purpose of the Reading for Pleasure and Wellbeing collection is to encourage you to pick up a book and read simply for enjoyment and inspiration.

Reading in your own time can help to enhance your vocabulary and writing style, and studies have shown a relationship between reading and improved academic performance.

There is a growing body of evidence which illustrates the importance of reading for pleasure for both educational purposes as well as personal development including mental wellbeing.

Reading is pleasurable, can be good for mental wellbeing and reduces stress. Liverpool Health Inequalities Research Institute research has proven that reading helps to treat mental health issues.

A 2016 report conducted by the University of Liverpool has shown that as a result of reading:

27% of the population have been inspired to make a positive change in their life such as look for a new job or end a bad relationship
36% of the population have been inspired to go travelling
19% of adults say they have taken up a new hobby

Most books in this collection have been donated by staff and we have supplemented these additions by using Library Services funds in some instances.

We have created some themed lists based on the Reading for Pleasure collection and our main library holdings (be aware that the latter may have different loan periods).