A Love of Books leaves a lasting legacy
A shared love of reading and books that led to two people falling in love and getting married has provided a lasting legacy for Rochdale's readers. The late Annie and Frank Maskew first met in the early 1950s when they were both regular visitors to the old Rochdale Central Library and they eventually married in 1955. Annie was a very popular teacher at a local grammar school where she encouraged and nurtured a love of reading and literature in all her pupils. Sadly, both have now passed away but their mutual love of books led Annie and Frank to leave a bequest to the Library service. Their wish was that the money should be used to buy a special collection of books to promote English Literature and Philosophy and to ensure that classic works are available to future generations. We are now busy preparing to launch the "Maskew Collection" at the Wheatsheaf Library in September.
The collection will include books for adults and children, including prize-winning authors; classic works of literature and popular philosophy titles. The collection will also include a wide-range of CDs and DVDs to complement and support the books in the collection.
Paul Young, head of Customers and Communications, believes that it will be a very special collection. He explained:
"We want the Maskew Collection to be accessible to all and will be developing events around it such as creative writing sessions and debating groups. The collection will be a lasting legacy to Annie, who I know was devoted to inspiring others with her love of literature, and a fitting tribute to her husband, Frank, whom she met in the library"
If you visit the Wheatsheaf Library over the next couple of months you will start to see some of the changes we will be making to prepare for the collection. To prepare for the arrival of some fabulous new stock, the layout of the library will be changing and exciting new display features and shelving are going to be installed
Reading and Writing Events
Across the Borough we have a varied and interesting programme of Reading and Writing Events. Regular "Meet the Author" sessions are complimented by Creative Writing and Poetry Workshops. For details of these and other events and activities in our libraries please check our website:
www.rochdale.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/libraries.aspx
In anticipation of National Poetry Day on Thursday 7th October, why not put your pen to paper and join in the celebrations by entering our free Poetry Competition. The theme this year is Home and poems must be no longer than 20 lines in length. Conditions of entry can be found on our website and the closing date is September 7th. The Prize Winners and 10 runners-up will have their poems presented in a small booklet on National Poetry Day and will also be invited to perform their poems at our Poetry reading Event that same evening. We are currently collaborating with "Just Poets" to put together an entertaining programme for the evening and look forward to working with local secondary schools and the Youth Service to stage a Poetry Slam.
Launch of Feature Film DVD collection
The popular actress and singer, Kym Marsh dropped into the Wheatsheaf Library for a special question and answer session with children from Matthew Moss High School and Redwood School. The children had been invited to meet Kym as a 'thank you' for providing their ideas on how libraries could be improved. They got the chance to quiz their television favourite about her character on Coronation Street, her upcoming wedding, gruelling filming schedule and life as a pop star. She then officially launched the library's new DVD loan service. Over 100 Feature Film DVDs are now available to borrow from the library, titles include blockbusters such as Avatar and new releases are being added each week. Kym, who confessed to being an avid film watcher herself, cut the ribbon to open the collection before taking time to chat to fans and sign autographs.
For further information contact:
Pamela Taylor- Bramwell, Tel: 0170 692 4941
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.