Paper Trails

Help us to transform five local libraries across Edinburgh into thriving cultural hubs.
 
As a literacy crisis deepens across the UK, we’re undertaking a five-year project called Paper Trails to combat literary inequality. With your help, we can support libraries to deliver exciting creative activities that are led by their local communities.
 
Recent statistics reveal that more than 1 in 4 older adults experience loneliness each week and only 1 in 5 young people read daily, and literacy rates across all ages countrywide have been declining since 2005. Paper Trails is an ambitious initiative to reimagine five Edinburgh libraries as thriving cultural hubs, co-created with the communities they serve. From storytelling circles to creative writing workshops, this project will tackle social isolation and literary inequality through creative community programming.
 
Through Paper Trails, we will work in partnership with five libraries;
  • Muirhouse Library
  • Ratho Hub Library
  • Liberton High School Library
  • Streetreads (a charity-run library for people experiencing homelessness)
  • and the Mobile Library service.
 

Support our libraries project

Paper Trails will work with diverse groups including young people, older adults, and those facing homelessness. The programme specifically aims to tackle social isolation by encouraging library use, developing creative skills, and highlighting libraries as essential spaces for creativity and community gathering.
Make a donation

What Your Donation Can Do

 
 

 will cover an author’s travel to Ratho library.
 
 
 

can support artist’s research and development to shape relevant programming.
 
 
 

will fund one author to deliver a full day of co-creation workshops.
 
 
 

can cover the cost of vital access requirements, such as BSL interpretation.
 
 
 

will provide specialist training for writers to work in community settings.
 
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More Ways to Support Us

If you have got any questions or would like to find out other ways in which you can support the charitable work of the Book Festival, please contact the Development team on 0131 718 5653 or send us an email to development@edbookfest.co.uk.

 

All donations made to the Libraries appeal will be used to fund the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Paper Trails project in libraries, including the areas of work mentioned in the illustrative examples.