Rhian's Read-athon

I first came across Gladstone's Library in Hawarden because of a creative writing class there. The second time I stayed was because I'd won a scholarship with them. Both times were among the happiest few days I can remember. It's a bookish person's heaven.

The library had to close during the Covid-19 pandemic. It's a registered charity, and it relies on two main things to help keep the building - and the brilliant staff - going.

The first is footfall from people who book into the library to stay (and write, read and study) or to eat at the on-site restaurant. This was obviously seriously disrupted during the library's 18-month closure.

The second stream is kind donations from supporters of the library, both in the UK and overseas. These ensured that the library, which hosts local writing and reading groups, classes, talks and festivals, as well as providing a sanctuary for writers of all kinds, survived the lockdown.

Now the library is open again. It's beginning to bustle - which is great! I want to help it stay that way. So I'm doing a 24-hour read-a-thon.

I'll read 24 short stories in 24 hours, staying awake overnight at the library itself. You can follow me on the library's social media (@gladlib on Twitter and Instagram).

Please donate - your pledge could support a new addition to the specialist collections, or support the library to offer a free ticket to someone who wouldn't ordinarily be able to attend an event there, or simply help keep this beautiful building doing what it does best: offering the public access to an amazing space and amazing books.