The Hexham constituency is home to some brilliant independent bookshops, and this week (16th-23rd June) is dedicated to celebrating bookshops around the country. Independent Bookshop Week is a part of the Books Are My Bag campaign, and to mark the week there will be celebrations and events including storytelling, reading groups and face painting at many local bookshops. We are incredibly lucky in Northumberland to have shops like Cogito Books in Hexham and Corbridge’s Forum Books, now in their fantastic new premises, which are not only shops but also communities, allowing us to share our favourite books and discover new ones. It is so important that we support our independent bookshops, so why not go along to your local shop and celebrate with them?