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Quick Reads – Harrogate buses take passengers on a literary journey
Over the past few years, Harrogate International Festivals has provided a collection of over 1,000 books to form mobile ‘libraries’ onboard the Harrogate Bus Company and their 36 buses.
Formed in 1966 to revolutionise the cultural landscape of the town, Harrogate International Festivals is a long-running charitable organisation focussed on providing arts opportunities for all including the creation of on-board libraries to provide free books for all.
This year alone, HIF has provided 500 books to the Harrogate Bus Company to develop the popular on-board libraries to encourage reading for pleasure. This comes as the first post-pandemic book top-up, building on a long pre-existing partnership between the two organisations.
Reading is proven to reduce stress, exercise the brain and enhance relaxation. In a study by the University of Sussex, it was found that only six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by as much as 68 per cent. At a time when there is a great amount of pressure in society, this initiative on behalf of Harrogate International Festivals can provide bus customers with a welcome opportunity to unwind on passenger’s journeys and commutes.
Readers are invited to take the books away and are encouraged to contribute one in return, creating an ongoing circle of enjoyment. With a wide selection of books from authors such as Val McDermid, Vaseem Khan and D.V. Bishop there is a clear crime focus as crime fiction is recognised as one of the most accessible genres but there are suitable options for riders of all ages.
Sharon Canavar, CEO of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “This initiative is special to us as we know the benefits that reading provides. Reading for pleasure is an incredibly important element in life, reducing loneliness, increasing better sleep and report greater life satisfaction.
“The positives associated with reading are huge, so if we can encourage just a few extra people to get on board and delve into a novel, then we believe we’ve done a good thing!”
Matt Burley, Commercial Manager added: “The addition of books onboard the 36 has been hugely popular among our customers, so we would like to thank the Harrogate International Festivals for what they have done. It’s a fantastic initiative which is a pleasure to be a part of.”