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An ambitious campaign aiming to transform Nottingham’s public spaces and get people reading by having hundreds of free books made available all across the city has launched today (July 1).

The Big City Reads campaign hopes to get Nottingham reading by having hundreds of copies of four books, each exploring different aspects of society, spread across the city in libraries, schools and hospitals.

However, books will also be placed in unusual places in Nottingham such as on public transport, in several cafés and even at the Nottingham Beach in Old Market Square.

The books, chosen by young people from across Nottingham, delve into current social themes about identity, society and what it means to live in 2019.

Jim Hall, project manager of the campaign said: “Big City Reads is a unique chance to collectively celebrate the power of reading for pleasure.

“We are excited to create a dialogue throughout the city of the stories that matter to our communities.”

By having the books made available in so many unique places, the organisers of Big City Reads are hoping more people will pick up the books and share them around.

Sandeep Mahal, director of Nottingham City of Literature said: “The idea of the Big City Reads is to celebrate books and reading and encourage everyone to try something new.

“We would like as many people as possible in Nottingham to read the books, post reviews and pass the books on.”

To round off the beginning of the Big City Reads campaign, the authors of all four books will be in the Council House at Old Market Square for the Big City Readers’ Day on July 12 .

There, they will discuss the books and the themes around them so, if you managed to pick up a copy and enjoyed it, why not pop in and speak to the minds behind the books.

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