Representatives from Gloucestershire libraries gathered at the Parliament Suite in Gloucester Cathedral on 17 July 2018 for announcement of the short list for the 2018 David Vaisey Prize. The short list was announced in the Laud Room by Rachel Joyce, best-selling author and David Vaisey Prize judge (pictured below at a separate event).

• Cheltenham: hosts a monthly Poetry Cafe where people are encouraged to read their own poetry and poems that have inspired them, followed by a discussion, also has visiting poets, held in a comfortable area of the library with coffee.
• Prestbury: Paws for Reading: Working with Cheltenham Animal Shelter and the Ridge Academy School to practice their reading to the dog, and also activities including vocabulary worksheets, pet care,  word searches, a rhyming basket, literacy dominoes and mindfulness colouring sheets. Prestbury Library was subsequently declared winner of the 2018 David Vaisey Prize. 
• Tetbury: holds a monthly event called CelebraeStory when local people from all walks of life, from a firefighter to a supermarket pick a story and read it aloud to children and adults, followed by craft activities.
• Tewkesbury and Churchdown: PopUp Library provides an opportunity for older residents of three care homes in the area to borrow books, mainly organized by volunteers and also a popular play reading session.

Pictured above with Rachel Joyce, centre, are Samantha Hosler and Kim Wellfair from Tewkesbury and Churchdown Libraries, Laura Clarke from Prestbury Library, Rebecca Sillence and Louise Shapcott from Cheltenham Library, and Anne Riley from Tetbury Library, representatives of the short listed Gloucestershire libraries.