The Appledore Book Festival has a very special link with libraries. The Festival was set up in 2006 to support and raise funds for Appledore Library which had just been saved from closure by a determined community campaign. Although Devon County Council now fully funds the library the Book Festival is still proud to promote events at the Library and its official base is in the library building which is owned by the community. In fact libraries are central to the Festival’s vision of the future. This part of north Devon is unique in having four libraries in close proximity at Appledore, Northam, Bideford and Torrington. Together they can act as a reading powerhouse encouraging a love of books and learning in the area and under-pinning the continued success of the Appledore Book Festival.

If you are aren’t a member of your local library do please take time to join. Libraries are one of the few places left that strengthen the community and give you good things for free. Not only can you read books by the Appledore Book Festival authors, they are great places to get local information and pick up brochures for the next Festival!

Nick Arnold, Appledore Book Festival Director

If you are interested in hearing more about the state of our libraries nationally, please book up to see Tim Coates and Alan Gibbons talk about How Can We Save Our Libraries? Tim Coates has campaigned for improvements to the public library service for more than a decade.