Our goal is to always connect readers - both seasoned and new - to amazing books, for free. Books have the power to uplift us, to give our imaginations a place to explore, to teach us and give us a moment of pause. This is something that everyone should have the chance to experience free from financial barriers. For 5 years, we’ve been seeking out ways to make this happen, we’re 12,000 books deep and counting, so this year we called on our friends @rec.ess and @thebooksdem to see how we can bring books into the dance!

Recessland feels like one big annual family get together, you have the big dancers, the shy steppers, the arcade masters, roller-skaters and everyone in between - pure, unfiltered joy. We rounded up the team and headed to Margate… enlisting the help of our favourite authors @boluberry and @aniefiokek, who gave out copies of their books ‘Sweet Heat’ and ‘Where We Come From’ and interviewed readers. It was the most affirming and magical weekend, hearing people speak about love, friendship, connection and the music that shaped them.

We also had a Free Books Campaign x TheBooksDem library pop-up in the Market Hall, and spelling bee competition!