2026 National Year of Reading — Call for Images!
This is a fantastic opportunity for RCPS to support North Yorkshire
Libraries in their mission to get people reading for pleasure again, and
showcase 20 of our members prints that will inspire people to re-discover
the joy books bring.
The Brief
The library is aiming to present an exhibition of prints to help reverse the decline in reading for pleasure by sharing inspirational photographs illustrating the pleasure of reading. Images will show how books can be a joyful and meaningful part of everyday life for everyone, both young and old.
The exhibition will showcase photos of books and readers in a wide range of settings (including the library). These will be varied and will include:
- Books in all their forms and settings
- People of all ages enjoying reading
- The library as a welcoming space for discovery and imagination*
- Creative links to Yorkshire literature (for example, someone absorbed in reading Wuthering Heights on Haworth Moors)
Print Exhibition
Entries will initially be submitted for consideration digitally. These will be reviewed by a special library selection panel, and authors of the successful images will be asked to provide mounted prints by 6th April 2026. Mount sizes should meet YPU exhibition requirements.
The print exhibition will be on display throughout 2026 and into 2027 – travelling to 15 other libraries across North Yorkshire over the course of the year.
Owing to logistical constraints, the exhibition is limited to 20 prints.
Digital Display
In addition to the prints, the library is also looking for 15 portrait aspect digital images, to be displayed on the library electronic information kiosk.
Submission Details
| Submission Deadline | All entries must be submitted for consideration digitally by Monday 6th April |
| File Size | No greater than 2Mb |
| Number of Submissions | Each member may submit up to 3 digital images for consideration for the print exhibition and 2 images for the kiosk display |
| How to send your images | Send your images by emails to: ripon.library@icloud.com In each email, include The title of your image Your RCPS membership number A short paragraph saying how your image helps people feel the joy of reading What camera you used Say if the image(s) is for the print exhibition or the kiosk screen If you send images, you can also give Ripon Library an A4 size printed copy of each image (both print and kiosk images) The maximum size allowed for A4 is 1240 x 1754 pixels. These prints will go into a special book that travels with the exhibition. |
| Selection Process | Submissions will be reviewed by a special library selection panel and authors of successful images will be notified by Wednesday 15 April |
| Print Provision | Authors of the successful imags are requested to provide mounted prints to Ripon Library by Monday 4 May at the latest. Mount sizes should meet YPU exhibition requirements. |
If printing and mounting your successful image presents a problem for any reason, please speak to a member of the RCPS Exhibition Sub Committee.
*Arrangements have been made for out of hours access to the library on the afternoon of Saturday 14 March. Further details will be emailed to all members. Please note that the library has asked members not to take photographs on the premises at other times.
Members are also asked to respect GDPR requirements and to obtain any necessary written permissions or consents where required.
If you have any questions about this interesting community project please ask a member of the Exhibition Sub Committee.
Sub Committee members: Stuart Ward, Amanda Macey, Judith Hooper, Liz Marshall.
Now . . . get those thinking caps on, and good luck everyone!
