The regional government of La Rioja is set to host the first meeting of reading clubs on 24 October at the Centro de la Cultura del Rioja (CCR) in Logroño. The event, titled 'Shhhhh, we are reading', aims to bring together members from various reading clubs across the region, facilitating the exchange of experiences and recognising their role in enhancing local cultural life.
This gathering coincides with Library Day and marks the 25th anniversary of the La Rioja Library Network, established in 2002. José Luis Pérez Pastor, the regional Minister of Culture, Tourism, Sports and Youth, highlighted the collective nature of reading clubs, which currently number over 130 in La Rioja, engaging thousands of participants.
"Reading is typically a solitary activity, involving a relationship between a reader and a text, but it can gain a social dimension through discussions with others who share similar interests," said Pérez Pastor.
He further emphasised that reading clubs provide an opportunity to enjoy literature collectively, labelling shared reading as a "cultural activity of utmost importance". Pérez Pastor also linked this practice to La Rioja's long-standing literary tradition, referencing the scriptorium of the Monastery of Suso, where reading and text creation were often accompanied by commentary and notes.
Rosa Fernández, the city councillor for Culture in Logroño, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the initiative at the CCR, underscoring the significance of sharing the insights that books inspire in individuals. She remarked, "Reading, like writing, is a very solitary act, but sharing what a book evokes in each of us at different times is incredibly interesting."
Fernández noted that reading clubs also serve a social function in an era of information overload, providing spaces for conversation and intimacy. Carmen Fernández, a librarian from Pradejón and spokesperson for municipal libraries in La Rioja, explained that the region boasts 137 reading clubs, with 32 managed by the twelve libraries supporting the event.
She highlighted the importance of children's reading clubs, which introduce books to young readers from the age of five or six, as well as easy-reading clubs aimed at individuals who require adapted materials, such as the elderly, immigrants, and those with disabilities. "We are fostering readers from a young age and connecting those who find it challenging to access reading materials," she stated.
The event is expected to attract over 200 participants, celebrating the shared love of reading through literary discussions, experience exchanges, and a communal meal in the Plaza de San Bartolomé, where attendees will contribute local products. The afternoon will feature an oral storytelling session by Elia Tralará and a collective silent reading, allowing participants to use their own books or select from a mobile library.
The initiative has been organised by municipal libraries from Albelda, Alberite, Arnedo, Calahorra, Cenicero, Ezcaray, Logroño (through the Rafael Azcona Library), Lardero, Nájera, Pradejón, Rincón de Soto, and Villamediana de Iregua, collaborating to create a celebration of shared reading. Reading clubs are among the most established cultural participation activities in libraries, where members regularly meet to discuss works, share impressions, and discover new literature.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for readers, club coordinators, and library professionals to connect. The programme will commence at 9:45 AM with registration, followed by an official inauguration at 10:00 AM. A panel discussion titled 'What if the best part of the book begins when you close it?' will feature writer Ignacio Martínez de Pisón, journalist Jesús Marchamalo, and writer Raquel Villar from the Riojan Association of Writers.
At 12:15 PM, a dialogue session moderated by María Antonia Moreno Mulas will explore the role of reading clubs as modern public squares. The day will include a coffee break and a communal meal at 3:00 PM, fostering further conversation among participants. The afternoon activities will begin at 5:00 PM with the storytelling session, followed by a collective silent reading at 6:00 PM, inviting attendees to bring their own books or choose from the portable library.
The La Rioja libraries, as organisers, will facilitate the event by providing spaces and lending reading materials, which currently encompass 330 titles. The number of reading clubs in public libraries in La Rioja has seen significant growth, increasing from two clubs in 2009 to 32 in 2026. This inaugural meeting aims to foster mutual understanding among participants, acknowledge the efforts of librarians and coordinators, and strengthen ties between libraries throughout the community, with hopes for ongoing collaboration and cultural participation within the La Rioja Library Network.
