Manchester is officially home to the best library service in the UK: the city's libraries have just scooped up the 'Library of the Year' title at the British Book Awards 2025.
Manchester Libraries earned this national recognition by pulling off something pretty extraordinary. The win shines a spotlight on their ambitious, city-wide 'Blue Peter Book Club Live' programme, which turned reading into a full-blown adventure for families across the city.
The campaign kicked off at Central Library with a buzzing live launch featuring the show's presenters and, of course, badges. But it didn't stop there. This wasn't just a one-off event; it was a full-scale operation designed to get families into libraries, especially those who'd never crossed the threshold before.
It was a roaring success – they managed to achieve an impressive 88% spike in library visits compared to a typical Saturday, with 60% of attendees coming from areas of high deprivation. Kids' library memberships shot up by 33%, and over 12,000 new members signed up during the campaign.
The team also went on to build a 'Blue Peter' badge trail linking 13 venues across Manchester, handed out 20,000 maps, and teamed up with local partners to keep the buzz alive across the city.
So if you haven't stepped into a Manchester library lately, now's the time. Because it's not just about books, it's about community.