Southwark Libraries has been named the London regional winner of the British Book Awards 2026 Library of the Year. This prestigious recognition highlights the service’s outstanding contributions to community engagement and literacy promotion across its network of 12 branches in the borough.
The British Book Awards, often referred to as the Nibbies, celebrate excellence in the book industry, with the Library of the Year category recognising library services that demonstrate innovation, impact, and dedication to fostering reading. Regional winners are selected based on criteria including creative initiatives to attract and retain users, measurable outcomes such as increased memberships and loans, community involvement, and efforts to make libraries vibrant, inclusive hubs. Southwark Libraries secured the London award for its “To Be at Southwark Libraries” campaign, which focused on welcoming new and lapsed users by positioning libraries as essential community spaces. A key element was an open day at Canada Water Library, promoted through engaging social media content, which drew over 2,000 attendees and led to sustained increases in memberships and book loans.
This achievement aligns closely with the National Year of Reading 2026, a major UK-wide campaign led by the Department for Education in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and organisations such as The Reading Agency and BookTrust. Under the theme “Go All In,” the initiative addresses declining reading habits among children, young people, and adults by encouraging widespread engagement with reading for pleasure, wellbeing, and skill development. Southwark Libraries’ efforts exemplify the campaign’s goals, demonstrating how targeted outreach can reignite interest in reading and reinforce libraries’ role as accessible gateways to knowledge and connection.
The award underscores Southwark Libraries’ broader commitment to literacy promotion through diverse programming, inclusive events, and partnerships that serve a wide demographic in a dynamic urban area. As one of eight regional and country winners, Southwark Libraries advances to contention for the national Library of the Year title, to be announced at the British Book Awards ceremony on 11 May 2026.
Staff and community members have expressed pride in the recognition. The campaign’s success illustrates the transformative power of libraries when they actively invite participation and adapt to community needs. This regional win not only celebrates past accomplishments but also inspires continued innovation in supporting reading across London and beyond.