"Night of the Libraries 2025": Reading with thriller author

On Friday, 4 April, the "Night of Libraries" will take place nationwide. As always, Bocholt will also be taking part. On this day, the city library will be open to all visitors until late in the evening. In addition to a colourful supporting programme and a hands-on reading for children, author Christian Herzog will be a guest and present his latest thriller. Tickets for the reading can be booked now.

Libraries as "third place"

Under the motto "Knowledge. Share. Discover.", citizens have the opportunity to experience libraries as cultural institutions: to inform themselves and learn, share knowledge in cultural exchange and try out new things together.

"Libraries - including in Bocholt, of course - are currently undergoing a transformation into a third place where people of all cultures and interests are welcome and can enter into dialogue with each other", says Melanie Tenhumberg, Head of Library. "With the 'Night of the Libraries', we want to draw attention to these diverse offerings and invite people to discover their local library."

Lots to discover

On this day, Bocholt City Library will be open to all visitors beyond its usual opening hours until 10 pm. Numerous hands-on activities and cultural events will take place throughout the day from 3.30 pm. With a supporting programme, all interested parties are invited to take advantage of various robotics and gaming offers from the city library, to test things from the "Güterbahnhof der Dinge" together or to find out about the "Onleihe".

In addition, the Makerspace Bocholt offers two workshops on bookbinding together with the Handwerksmuseum and anyone who wants to can take part in the family escape game "Rettet Ratte Rieke". It is also possible to browse through the extensive literary collections at any time and make yourself comfortable reading in the seating areas.

The supporting programme and the library are freely accessible, but prior registration is required for the workshops at stadtbibliothek(at)bocholt(dot)de.

Children's hands-on reading and author Christian Herzog as highlights

In addition to the supporting programme and interesting workshops, there will be two readings at the "Night of Libraries". For children, author Dominik Meurer and his little gerbil will be presenting lots of exciting facts about energy and sustainability. In the evening, the city library, together with the Bocholt-Rhede-Isselburg Adult Education Centre (VHS), invites you to a reading with Christian Herzog. The author presents "Operation Phoenix", his latest thriller set against the backdrop of the 1936 Olympic Games. Tickets for both readings are now available at the city library and for the event with Christian Herzog at www.vhs-bocholt.de and at the VHS office.

Join-in reading "Little gerbil and her magic house", admission: 3 euros
3.30 p.m. - approx. 5 p.m.

Energy is needed for many things in our lives. But how is it created and how can it be produced? Together with Dominik Meurer and the little gerbil, children discover the exciting journey of energy - from its production to our homes. The reading is organised in cooperation with the Foundation for Renewable Energy.

Reading with Christian Herzog "Aktion Phoenix", advance booking: 9 euros/advance booking: 10 euros
7.30 pm - approx. 9.30 pm

What if? At the 1936 Olympic Games, the imperial capital of Berlin presents itself as glamourous and cosmopolitan. But anti-regime actions threaten to sabotage the well-thought-out propaganda image. In this charged atmosphere, the Hindenburg's journey to the opening ceremony appears to be more than just pure propaganda - a plot capable of shaking the whole world. With his political thriller set against the backdrop of the Olympic Games, Christian Herzog succeeds in creating an exciting combination of fact and fiction that is regarded by readers as a successful thriller debut. Behind the pseudonym is the renowned bestselling author Ralf H. Dorweiler, who has already written several books with bestseller status.