News
Nov 2011Christmas is almost upon us and my Christmas spirits are fully topped up from a short and festive trip to Vienna- with no libraries involved. I did look at some bookshops and was staggered at the price of books- but then I don't think there are any bargains to be had in Vienna.
Just before my trip I attended an uplifting event at Waterstones Piccadilly (London) intended to celebrate the Reading Partners programme and confirm its continuation into 2012.
(Photo: Jane Mathieson & Patrick Ness)
Tony Durcan of SCL declared himself "resolutely optimistic" about the future of libraries and mentioned some of the flagship openings happening over the next few months. The Reading Partners publisher consortium has offered to send authors to support all new library openings in 2012 and the list of these being collected in is surprisingly long, including several in this region.
(Photo: Maria Kenny sitting at the feet of Marilyn Monroe)
Continuing with the celebratory theme, we have just announced the winners of our Reading Places photo comp. We really like the photo of reader Maria Kenny sitting at the feet of Marilyn Monroe and the fact that we could see what book was being read as well. Maria and runner up Maureen Middleton will be receiving cash prizes in time for Xmas.
I am currently very busy planning another promotion of NW writing called Here & Now: New NW Writing in NW Libraries. Over recent months there has been a wealth of new writing published in the region and Time To Read is supporting these writers and publishers by purchasing reading group sets for our library authorities. All the authors are being contacted and asked to make appearances in our libraries on or around National Libraries Day on Feb 4th 2012. A total of at least 25 writer appearances will be taking place.
It was very gratifying to see our support for writing from the region appreciated by at least one publisher this week at.
Otherwise there is plenty more to get excited about over the next few months, including Dickens' bi-centenary and the next World Book Night. More of these in 2012.
For more information please contact Jane Mathieson
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.