COTSWOLD libraries will be supporting this year’s annual World Book Night in a bid to encourage more people to pick up a book.

The World Book Night event on Wednesday, April 23 is looking to recruit thousands of reading enthusiasts, to distribute books from a specially selected list, to people who do not regularly read or have lost the book bug.

This year, 25 Gloucestershire libraries will act as a collection point, allowing the chosen volunteers to pick up boxes of books for distribution in the community.

And for the first time, The Reading Agency is inviting people to take part in the annual giving of books, without having to apply for titles from the official list while community givers will be responsible for donating their own books – old or new - to a place or person of their choice.

Special World Book Night branded stickers and bookplates will be available from the 26 participating libraries in Gloucestershire which include Chipping Campden, Stow and Moreton.

Councillor Dorcas Binns, cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “If you haven’t picked up a book for a while, World Book Night is the perfect occasion to do just that.

"We are also encouraging everyone to use this opportunity to visit their local library and urge friends and family to come along too.”

Since it began in 2011, World Book Night has created a group of 46,000 volunteers, giving books away to more than two million people.

As in previous years, World Book Night will be celebrated on UNESCO International Day of the Book. UK flagship events will be held in Birmingham and London.

The giver application process for giving away World Book Night editions is now closed, but people can still take part in World Book Night as a Community Book Giver. For details visit worldbooknight.org.