LOCAL poets Don Walls and Anneliese Emmans Dean will be joining the string quartet from the York Music Centre for an evening of live music and poetry at York central library to mark World Book Night on Thursday.

There will also be a chance to meet local York authors, listen to readings, and take part in a book swap. And there will - of course - be one of the trademark World Book Night giveaways.

As always on World Book Night, 20 chosen titles will be given away throughout the day and evening in schools, parks and pubs, on the street, and in libraries across the country.

This year's 20 selected titles include Charity Norman's After The Fall; Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice; Chickenfeed by Minette Walters, and Roddy Doyle's Dead Man Talking, plus many more.

The aim of World Book Night is to bring the joy of books to those who don't read often.

Across Yorkshire, no fewer than 632 volunteers will be handing out 11,300 books between them.

“I have been a volunteer before and absolutely love being able to give out a different book to people who would not necessarily read, or would not read the kind of book that I have selected," said one Yorkshire volunteer, Helen Barlow.

In addition to the hundreds of volunteers who will be handing out books, libraries across the region are hosting special World Book Night events.

The Ryedale Book Festival is joining with Malton Library to host a special late opening. Drop in between 6-8pm for drinks and nibbles, plus the chance to pick up a book.

In Knaresborough, local authors Karen Perkins, Rose Marie Shaw, Morag Macrae, Pam E Currie and illustrator Fiona Odle will be at the town library, reading from their books and answering questions. Tickets are free and refreshments will be provided from 7pm.

At York's central library, meanwhile, there will be a programme of events running throughout the evening from 5pm - 8pm on Thursday. In addition to music and poetry readings, there will be an eLibrary drop-in where you can download books onto your eReader for free; a chance to talk to librarians about ideas for great books to read - and a book swap.

"We would especially like to encourage people to come along on the night and bring books to swap or give away," said York Explore Library team leader Gillian Holmes. "They won't go home empty handed, either!"


The 20 titles being given away for World Book Night 2015 are:

After the Fall by Charity Norman 
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton 
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Chickenfeed by Minette Walters
Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts by Mary Gibson 
Dead Man Talking by Roddy Doyle
Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden
Essential Poems from the Staying Alive Trilogy, edited by Neil Astley 
Honour by Elif Shafak
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante
Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle
Skellig by David Almond
Spring Tide by Cilla and Rolf Börjlind
Street Cat Bob by James Bowen 
The Martian by Andy Weir 
The Moaning of Life by Karl Pilkington
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce 
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 
When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman