News
June 2008
Time To Read members look wistfully at the exhibition
The launch of Mills & Boon's Centenary exhibition took place on 5th June at Manchester Central Library. This was as glittery event as libraries can host and was attended by many representatives from the Mills & Boon publishing and writing stable. The success of this partnership with M&B should raise the status of libraries with many of the publishers involved in Reading Partners.
Rose & Libby. Librarians dreams come true!
As a final activity in our ongoing promotion of romantic fiction, I was delighted that 4 staff from the region attended the award ceremony for the Melissa Nathan Romantic Comedy Award. A number of library staff from across the NW had been involved in reading and recommending titles for the award. You can read more about the award ceremony in the news item from Cumbria.
National Year of Reading is having an impact on the profile of libraries in many parts of the region. I hear from Knowsley that the Directorate of Children's and Family Services are actively supporting a project Around Knowsley in 80 Reads, poetry and reading events in 80 venues. Sefton Libraries have a well worked out plan for numerous events across the year, including at least 14 reading and story events in parks during the summer. These will be replicated in many authorities across the region. Many library services are now getting on with organising their Reading Partners activities for National Year of Reading. It's very exciting being able to host writers of the calibre of Linda Grant, Jeffrey Deaver, Sarah Hall and Patricia Scanlan in our region.
One project set to grow beyond its original parameters is The Big Science Read. This was an idea to come out of the Manchester Science Festival, an event co-ordinated by the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Now a partnership activity between MOSI, Manchester University, the Manchester Literature Festival and Time To Read, the reading promotion benefited from publicity in The Times book supplement on June 14th, describing it as The search for the nation's favourite science books. A booklist of recommended reads has been circulated in hardcopy to all the Greater Manchester authorities, and is available nationally on the website:
Imminently we will be asking people to vote for their favourite science read of all time and will announce the winner at the end of the year.
For any further information about this or other reading activities in the North West, comments or suggestions, please contact Jane Mathieson, the Regional Reader Development Co-ordinator, NW on 0161 236 4451 or Email nwreader@libraries. manchester.gov.uk
Time To Read currently has a full time paid co-ordinator, supported by Arts Coucil of England and Museums, Libraries and Archives, North West.