Reading lists
Islamophobia Awareness Month
The theme for IAM 2026 is Don’t Let It Slide
Focusing on how Islamophobia isn’t only what happens to someone, it’s also what others allow to happen.
Don’t Let It Slide is calling to action, courage, and everyday responsibility. Acknowledging discrimination and working to tackle it, rather than allowing it to be normalised.
Black History Month 2026: Honouring Our Communities
This year’s national theme for Black History Month is all about the importance of community.
What better way to celebrate our Black communities in Hackney than by putting together a list of books for all ages – including seminal texts, librarians’ favourites, books about (and by) activists who shaped the intellectual landscape, and books by authors whom we’re proud to call our friends?
Evolving Threads: East and South East Asian Heritage Month
This year, ESEA Heritage Month invites us to reflect on the theme “Evolving Threads”, honouring the ways in which our stories, actions and solidarities are continuously woven together across time, place, and community.
In response, we have dedicated this month’s reading list to some of our favourite books about identities and migration. Choosing ten was next to impossible! We hope this is a good starting point for you to explore further.
Reading Is Magic!
This year’s Great Hackney Libraries Quest is all about the magic of reading. If you’re not sure where to start, here is some inspiration with something for every age.
Windrush 75
We compiled this list in 2023 to mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush and celebrate the impact of Caribbean culture on British life.
Taking Up Space: Journeys in Queer Sci-Fi
To celebrate Pride Month this year we are focusing on classic and new cult science fiction novels. Inclusivity is often at the heart of the sci-fi canon, and we have collected ten works that have inspired countless readers, including some personal favourites of your local librarians.
Books on grief
In honour of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which takes place each May, this month’s reading list is a collection of books that have accompanied readers through the most challenging of times.
Books for Change
Having access to books and to education can really make all the difference. 2026 is the National Year of Reading, and this month we are celebrating the inspirational stories of real life people and legendary characters that remind us of the crucial role books play in our lives.
Full STEAM Ahead
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics: This year we celebrate Women’s History Month with ten books about women who lead, open doors and break conventions in male-dominated fields.
The Books That Made You Fall in Love with Reading
From the first childhood books that opened up a world to the novels that we can’t get enough of, here is a selection of the titles that made Hackney Council workers fall in love with reading. What would yours be?
Holocaust Memorial Day: Stories from World War II
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place every year on 27 January. It is a day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust under Nazi Persecution. We have put together this list to honour those who lost their lives and to tell the stories of those who survived.
Libraries Are the Heart of Our Community
Libraries are where people come together, where we find and build communities. They are places of comfort and of solace, of learning and of joy. To bring in 2026 – the National Year of Reading – we have created a list of books that celebrate the power of libraries.
Wise Words: Hackney elders recommend
We asked some of our elders and Community Library Service customers to share a book that they think are worth sharing with younger generations. Here is a great selection of reads, with something for everyone...
Activists and Advocates: Disability Awareness Month 2025
To celebrate this year's Disability Awareness Month, we put together a collection of books to highlight pioneers, activists, role models, and some legendary fictional characters that inspire us all to champion inclusiveness.
Celebrating a Year of African Literature
This Black History Season, we celebrate a cohort of African authors who have taken the publishing world by storm over the past year.
Coming-of-Age Stories
And once again it’s time to go back to school! This year we have chosen a selection of much loved coming-of-age stories, some of which were recommended by us by young readers from Hackney.
Let’s Play!
This summer the Great Hackney Libraries Quest is back! Our theme this year is Let’s Play – we’re here to get you reading about adventures and games and using your imagination. Play is for everyone!
Reading the Crisis
Hackney Libraries and the Stuart Hall Foundation have collaborated on a reading list related to their online conversation series Reading the Crisis.
QTIBIPOC Stories
This month, we are reading and celebrating stories by Queer, Trans and/or Intersex people, who are also Black, Indigenous and/or people of colour. These books are full of life and joy, good humour and sadness, grief and love.
Travelling Histories: Books on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History
This list celebrates voices and stories from across the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in honour of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month and International Irish Traveller Day.
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