Celebrating World Book Day: A Shared Commitment to Reading

This World Book Day marked a powerful moment for reading in the YeBo community as the #OnWednesdaysWeRead campaign officially launched with energy, creativity, and community spirit.

At Bloubergstrand Public Library, Library YeBoneers joined forces with partners from DCAS Library Services and the City of Cape Town Libraries to bring the campaign to life. The morning was filled with song, dance, and joyful storytelling moments, creating an atmosphere that celebrated not just books, but the connections they inspire.

Young readers, librarians, and community members gathered to witness the ribbon cutting and take part in a shared reading pause, a symbolic and practical step toward building a culture of reading together. A special highlight of the day was a visit from LiBee, delighting children and adding a sense of wonder to the experience, with moments of reading even extending onto the nearby beach.

The launch was further marked by the presence of Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport Minister Ricardo Mckenzie, whose participation reinforced the importance of making reading accessible, visible, and valued within communities.

“The more we spend time in libraries, the more we encourage people to visit libraries, the more we can deal with the reading problems. The parents who are spending time with young kids in the libraries, and the children in the libraries, are our future readers. To our YeBoneers, you have a far better job, you get to spend this time in the libraries. Spending time in the libraries is the greatest gift my grandmother could’ve given me.”

But this campaign is about more than a single day.

#OnWednesdaysWeRead invites people across the country to pause for 30 minutes every Wednesday, wherever they are, to read. It’s a simple yet powerful act, one that, over time, can help shape habits, strengthen literacy, and nurture a lasting love for stories.

As the campaign rolls out across YearBeyond sites and partner spaces nationwide, with YeBo sites in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape all joining our mission to build a culture and love of reading,  it carries a shared vision: to make reading a collective experience, one that grows stronger with every page turned, together.