Culture Writer Halima Ahad reports on The Free Book Campaign as well as on the Free Books Fest that took place in London this April
A campaign set up to make books accessible to all held its first literary fest one April weekend. This included a programme of free events and a bookshop where people can buy ‘free’ books.
The Free Books Campaign was founded by cultural historian and researcher Sofia Akel. This fundraiser happened in July 2020 with an initial goal of £1,000 and the money would be used to buy books by authors of colour to donate to those unable to access them. This surpassed expectations. The numbers kept on growing from there, from £4,000 to £10,000 and then kept on growing. ‘Publishers started reaching out saying they had access to lots of brand new books and that they could contribute to this great effort,’ said Akel to the Guardian. ‘It was really organic. I’d set out to do this fundraiser as a small action.’
Books are given out by the campaign which has been set out by a community interest company (CIC) to individuals, families, youth clubs, community centres, charities and schools
Books are given out by the campaign which has been set out by a community interest company (CIC) to individuals, families, youth clubs, community centres, charities and schools. ‘It’s completely built on trust.’ Akel said ‘No one has to disclose anything personal to us.’ People have reached out and said it has been the first time they have ever owned a book and it has been very transformative. ‘You are on a first journey with that book and that book with you.’
The campaign collaborated in July 2021 with footballer Marcus Rashford through his book club and Macmillan Children’s Books. The project is working on getting 400 brand new books to young readers across the UK and Ireland.
The introductory Free Books Fest was held at Copeland Gallery in Peckham, London on the weekend of 16 and 17 April in partnership with podcast company Broccoli Productions. The festival will include a free bookshop and lounge where those can pick up books and spend time reading.
‘We wanted to make sure our festival caters to people from different backgrounds,’ said Akel ‘They can access it all equally.’ No one would have to worry if they cannot partake in the event due to financial issues.
Akel also added ‘It’s empowering to be able to go and browse and choose a book you want for yourself rather being told what to read and this is the only book you can have.’ Highlights of this event included a panel on romance and love with Candice Carty-Williams.
‘The traditional format of literary festivals can be quite exclusionary and you can feel like ‘these spaces aren’t for me.” So what they had in mind was making it more accessible to brand new readers. This is not the end for book festivals though. The Edinburgh International Book Festival has also announced that its 2022 schools programme – back after two years after a break from the pandemic – will be free. Every child who attends will be given a book through its partnership with lead sponsor Baillie Gifford.
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