West Midlands Railway (WMR) has launched free book-borrowing points at three stations as part of the National Year of Reading.
Bookcases stocked with books supplied by the National Literacy Trust are now available at Erdington, Marston Green and Northfield. Passengers can borrow books to read during their journeys or elsewhere.
More stations planned
The initiative is intended to support reading among children, young people and adults in the West Midlands. National Literacy Trust figures show that 34.4% of children and young people in the region enjoy reading in their free time, while 19% read daily in their free time.
The three installations add to existing bookcases across WMR and sister operator London Northwestern Railway’s network, including at Canley, Shenstone, Wolverton and Berkhamsted.
The National Year of Reading is led by the Department for Education in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust and nine leading literacy charities.
Cara Higgs, community strategy manager at WMR, said: “We are pleased to be supporting the National Year of Reading by opening mini libraries across our network. There are so many benefits to sitting down with a good book, not only for your literacy skills but for your mental health too. We hope our customers enjoy the books on offer and look forward to bringing the scheme to more stations in the future.”
Erin Gilbey, manager of the National Literacy Trust in Birmingham, said: “Access to books is essential in helping people discover a love of reading and the many benefits that come with it.
“In the National Year of Reading, these new bookcases will enable more children, young people and adults across the West Midlands to pick up a book on their travels and see where it takes them.”