Northampton's favourite books wanted for patients' library

Northampton General Hospital is launching a campaign to create a library of the town’s favourite books.

The hospital is asking people living and working in Northampton to donate their favourite book to its Bedside Book Club, the new library service for patients.

"A collection of Northampton’s favourite reads"

Emma Wimpress, volunteer services manager said: “We’re expanding our volunteer service to introduce a bedside library service for our patients and we’d love to create a collection of Northampton’s favourite reads. 

“We’re asking people to donate their favourite book, or a copy of it if they can’t bear to part with it. It can be any genre or subject - novels, short stories, poetry, non-fiction – as long as it’s a book you’ve enjoyed and you’d happily recommend.  

“We’ve produced stickers for inside the books so people can write a message about why they’ve chosen that book to donate.

“We’re hoping that by the end of the campaign, we have a collection of books that really reflects Northampton’s favourite reading material and give our patients a great choice of books to read while they’re staying with us.”

The hospital is encouraging book donors to post a photo of their donated book on social media using the hashtag #NGHBBC or email a photo and explanation of why their donated book is a favourite to our Volunteer Services team

Public donations

Members of the public can donate books at the special drop boxes located at:

• the main entrances to the hospital 
• BBC Radio Northampton reception at the top of Abington Street
• Northampton Borough Council’s One Stop Shop in The Guildhall
• Royal & Derngate
• Northampton Town Football Club's club shop
• Northampton Saints Rugby Club at Franklin’s Gardens on match day 

Local employers

In addition, a number of local employers are supporting the campaign. If you work for, or study at, any of the following organisations, you’ll be able to donate your book using the donation drop box in your staff area:

• Grant Thornton
• Nationwide
• Northampton College (staff and student areas) 
• Northamptonshire County Council and First for Wellbeing (County Hall and John Dryden House)
• Northamptonshire Police (Wootton Hall HQ)
• University of Northampton (staff and student areas) 

"A library of books loved by Northampton people for Northampton patients"

Carolyn Fox, director of nursing, midwifery and patient services, said: “We’re really grateful to all those local employers who are lending their support to our campaign. The service will have some really positive benefits for our patients, particularly those who are with us for an extended period.  

“Reading books isn’t just about enjoying a good story – regularly reading helps keeps the brain healthy because it enhances cognitive function so there are clear benefits for our patients in terms of maintaining mental agility. For people who like a spot of bedtime reading at home, it can trigger the body’s sleep mechanisms which can be disrupted by a stay in hospital.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to create a library of books loved by Northampton people for Northampton patients.”

The library will be piloted on three wards in February with plans to roll out the service across all wards by the end of the year. 

Waste management company Cawleys, which supplies the hospital’s waste and recycling materials, produced the branded drop-boxes free of charge in support of the campaign.