Shetland Library is inviting locals to come together next week for a celebration of books, stories, and friendship as part of Book Week Scotland 2025.
The annual national festival runs from 17 to 23 November, with Shetland Library hosting three special events celebrating the joy of reading and the connections it brings.
The week begins with the launch of Seabirds and Seals: Stories from 25 Years of Wildlife Guiding around the Shetland Islands of Bressay and Noss by respected local author Jonathan Wills.
The event takes place in the auditorium of the Shetland Museum and Archives on Tuesday 18 November from 7pm to 8.30pm, where Wills will share stories and insights drawn from decades spent exploring Shetland’s remarkable coastline and wildlife.
On Wednesday 19 November, from 7pm to 8.30pm, the library will host an Open Mic night on the theme of friendship, this year’s Book Week Scotland focus.
Everyone is welcome to take part, whether by reading a poem, a short story, a song, or even a snippet of flash fiction.
Contributions can be published or original, with each piece lasting no longer than five minutes.
Listeners are warmly encouraged to come along and enjoy the evening too.
The week concludes on Saturday 22 November with a relaxed drop-in session, A Cuppa and a Good Book, running from 2pm to 4pm at the library.
Visitors can discover how to start or join a local book group, browse the library’s dedicated Book Group sets, and share their love of reading over a cup of tea.
Marghie West, Adult Services Librarian at Shetland Library, said the events are a chance to celebrate everything that makes reading special.
“I am delighted that the library can showcase the joy of reading, sharing of books and the written word through these Book Week Scotland events,” she said.
“We hope friends, old and new, will come along to celebrate with us.”
Book Week Scotland, run by the Scottish Book Trust, aims to inspire people of all ages to read, write, and share stories, reminding us that a good book can be the start of a lifelong friendship.
