So, alongside 2026 being the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, it’s also, and importantly for people like me who can’t get enough of the written word, the UK’s National Year of Reading. Yay!

What the Year of Reading means

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a sadly much-needed campaign to address the fact that people, of all ages, are reading less than ever. The National Literacy Trust is running it, along with The Reading Agency, and BookTrust, amongst others, and our precious libraries are right at the heart of it.

The overarching theme is ‘Go All In’- if you are into it, read into it. The idea is that reading isn’t a standalone activity. It’s a way to dive deeper into your passions and learn more about them.

Why the Year of Reading matters

Because reading matters. Full stop. It’s not just about literacy (though that’s clearly crucial). It’s about wellbeing, empathy, imagination, and connection. In a world of noise, reading gives us space to think, to feel, to understand, to relax, to unwind. And yet fewer people are making the time for it. Kids especially, are drifting away from books, and that’s an issue. Reading – real, thoughtful reading – builds critical thinking. It gives people the tools to question, to analyse and to spot when something doesn’t add up, which is increasingly important in a world of AI slop, misinformation, and clickbait.

AI slop

We’re living in an age where AI can generate convincing-sounding nonsense at scale. AI “hallucinations” – when these systems confidently spit out completely fabricated information – are everywhere. And it’s not just irritating, it’s dangerous.

A story from just this week – West Midlands Police used AI (Microsoft Copilot) to research evidence around an upcoming football match in Birmingham. The AI hallucinated a non-existent game between Tel Aviv and West Ham. That fake information formed part of a justification for banning fans. The police watchdog found the force guilty of “confirmation bias” – they wanted a certain outcome, so they looked for evidence that supported it. And AI cheerfully obliged by making stuff up. It’s an extreme, but very relevant and very recent example of how things can go drastically wrong with reliance on AI.

Facts matter, but people believe misinformation

Unfortunately, and we probably all have personal experience of this, even when people are told the facts, they often don’t believe them. Research shows that people reject corrections for all sorts of reasons. If something fits your existing worldview, you’re more likely to accept it. If it challenges you, you’ll find ways to dismiss it.

Which brings us back to reading and why the Year of Reading isn’t just a nice idea – it’s a necessity. In a world of AI slop and misinformation, we need trusted sources more than ever

Libraries matter

Libraries are the unsung heroes in communities. They’re not just book depositories. They’re community hubs. Safe spaces. Warm hubs. Places where you can access knowledge, connect with others, get help with digital skills, job searching, or form-filling.

As Jonathan Davies MP put it, “in the face of an explosion of misinformation and a rapidly changing world, libraries have become a rare beacon of trustworthy information where we can build our knowledge and skills with confidence.”

Libraries offer something AI can’t: human curation, context, and reliability. Librarians understand the difference between a credible source and a conspiracy theory. They can help you navigate information, not just consume it.

And libraries in Northumberland are to be at the forefront of this with a new programme designed to help tackle the dangers of AI and misinformation for the most vulnerable. The county is one of just four areas across the UK to take part in the Government-funded scheme to understand the benefits and risks of AI tools, and improve media literacy, including misinformation and disinformation. Titled ‘Innovating in Trusted Spaces: Libraries Advancing the Digital Inclusion Action Plan’, the project will lead to the creation of a new practical guide for library staff, co-designed and tested with communities, to build digital confidence among those most at risk of exclusion.

So 2026: The Year of Reading. Go to your library. Find your passion in books and get reading again. You might enjoy it and it might give you more confidence in sorting the wheat from the chaff.