Free books and the chance to speak to an acclaimed author are just some of the things happening tonight in Hammersmith & Fulham as part of this year's World Book Night.
Shepherds Bush Library in Wood Lane, next to Westfield, and the temporary library in Hammersmith in King Street are hosting activities to celebrate the global event.
There will be 130 free books donated by publishers that will be given away to residents, including After the Funeral by Agatha Christie, Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch and The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne.
Library staff, some of whom will be dressed up as literary characters, will be distributing books from a rickshaw that will be setting off from Shepherds Bush Library at 6:30pm.
It will travel along Shepherds Bush Road and arrive at Lyric Square in Hammersmith at 7pm where more books will be given away, before going to its final destination at Hammersmith temporary library at 7.45pm. Free books will be handed out along the route.
In Shepherds Bush library, there will be a World Book Night party, with guest of honour being local author and playwright, Courttia Newland, who grew up in the town.
Mr Newland will be on hand to meet residents, budding authors and fans, in a drop-in session between 5pm and 8pm, where he will also be reading excerpts from his novels, before taking part in a question and answer session.
Refreshments will be available and there will be lots of other activities happening during the evening.
World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books, and is an attempt to encourage people who would not usually read regularly to read more and get involved in reading through their community. Twenty books are specially chosen and printed in their thousands in special ‘World Book Night editions’.
Get more information on World Book Night.
