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News from library authorities:

CUMBRIA

June has been a busy month in Cumbria with 3 major National Year of Reading activities; a Health and Well Being day at Barrow Library; an author event featuring Sarah Hall at Kendal Library and I Love Books - a celebration of the written word at Ambleside Library. As well as these, Cumbria Library staff attended a glittering book prize ceremony in London!

Health and Well Being Day, Barrow Library, Friday 30th May 2008

The Health and Well Being Day was planned as a free 'drop-in' event, open to all, addressing a wide range of issues, including mental health, relaxation and diet. The focus of the day was very much on the positive steps which people can take to promote and maintain their own health and well being, and linked closely with May's NYR theme of Mind and Body.

Local health practitioners, therapists, counsellors, support groups and appropriate agencies were invited to have a presence at the event with a staffed stall and/or a display, to give out information and advice. 'Taster sessions' of various activities which promote health and well being, such as head massage or Tai Chi were also available for people to try, free of charge.

In the library there were several health and well being book displays promoting relevant aspects of library stock, both on the day and in the month running up to the event.

The event was publicised via posters and postcards. These were distributed widely around the town and throughout libraries in Furness and Ulverston. In addition the event was promoted via:

The advantage of having the event in half term was that it enabled both adults and children to benefit.

Agencies and organizations taking part:

Free health checks available included: Blood Pressure - by student nurses from Furness General Hospital and Body Mass Index - by a nurse from CAPITA Health Solutions.

Therapies on offer from qualified complementary therapists included: Homeopathy, Reiki, Applied Kinesiology, Reflexology, Indian head massage and Flower essences.

Demonstrations, workshops and performances included: Children's storytimes, Tai Chi and Starfish Theatre Company - The Fantastic Fruit Show

Members of the public were encouraged to leave feedback in the form of anonymous comments written on postcards left in a ÒpostboxÓ in order to get some qualitative evaluation of the event.

Feedback received from this was not large but included the following:
"It has been very useful for me losing weight. It had some good ideas. Thanks."
"This, as a child, has been a really good experience. I really enjoyed it and have found out and took in lots of advice to keep healthy."
"Brilliant displays. Excellent advice. Thank you."
"I think it has bin a good day it is good 2 find out about loads of stuff" (sic)

An evening with Sarah Hall, Kendal Library, Monday 23rd June 2008

Photo Portrait of Sarah Hall

This event came out of the scheme set up by Reading Partners as part of the National Year of Reading, whereby 149 authors have been paired up with Library Services around the country.

Cumbria Libraries were extremely excited to be paired up with Sarah Hall courtesy of Faber. Sarah Hall was born in Cumbria in 1974 and now lives and works here. Her first novel, Haweswater, was published by Faber in 2002. Her second, The Electric Michelangelo, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2004. The Carhullan Army (2007) won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2007 and was shortlisted for the 2008 Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Sarah talked about her career, her writing and about her new novel, The Carhullan Army, after which she read several extracts. The floor was then opened up for questions from the audience which numbered over 50. The audience was engaged and enthusiastic and several interesting and thoughtful questions were posed which Sarah answered frankly and with great clarity and openness. Wine and nibbles were then served and there was the opportunity to buy Sarah's books and have them signed.

I Love Books: a celebration of the written word for the National Year of Reading, Ambleside Library, Wednesday 25th June 2008

panel members at meeting

The idea behind this event was to give readers and writers from the local reading and writing groups the opportunity to talk to a panel of authors consisting of: Clare Sambrook, Sandra Glover, Diane Janes and Bill Birkett.

Clare Sambrook is a journalist, karate black belt, mother of two and a best-selling novelist. Her first novel Hide and Seek - described by Jacqueline Wilson as 'Wise and funny and searingly sad, but ultimately heart-warming' - was published in June 2005 to great acclaim. Clare lived for several years in Notting Hill, which is the setting for her novel, but she now lives in Cumbria.

Sandra Glover has written numerous novels for children and teenagers which have been translated into many languages. Her first book, The Nowhere Boy was published in 1997. Before becoming a writer, she was a teacher, and she still enjoys going into schools to give talks or creative writing workshops.

Diane Janes was born and educated in Birmingham, but has lived in the north of England for the last twenty years. She writes both fiction and non-fiction with crime a predominant theme. Her work has been short listed twice for the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award. Her first book Edwardian Murder: Ightham & the Morpeth Train Robbery was published in autumn 2007.

Bill Birkett is one of Britain's foremost mountain writers and photographers and an acknowledged expert on his native Lakeland. He talks widely, writes and runs a photographic agency specialising in all matters related to the Lake District, mountains and wild places. He has over thirty books to his credit and his Lakeland Books include best selling guidebooks to the fells and valleys notably the definitive Complete Lakeland Fells and Exploring The Lakes and Low Fells. Recently his photographic essays, published by Frances Lincoln, including A Year In The Life of The Langdale Valleys (winner of the Outdoor Writers Guild Book of the Year) and A Year In The Life of Borrowdale were greeted with much acclaim. He has also presented a number of videos on walks amongst the fells and dales.

During the course of the morning the writer's talked about their own work and careers, their approaches to writing and how they got published, as well as answering questions posed by the audience. In the afternoon the focus was on reading, with both the panel and audience members sharing their favourite and least favourite books which generated lots of discussion and debate.

And finally, Cumbria Library staff members Helen Towers and Mary Rossall attended the presentation ceremony for the Melissa Nathan Comedy Romance Award which was held in London. Readers for the award were recruited via the Time to Read network, and having carried out this role Helen and Mary were delighted to receive invitations to the ceremony which was hosted by Jo Brand at Studio Valbonne, just off Regent Street, on Wednesday 18th June.

The 2008 shortlist was judged by a panel which included Jo Brand herself, actor and comedian Alan Davis, authors Sophie Kinsella and Joanna Trollope, and Gaynor Allen, Head Book Buyer for Tesco, who also sponsored the award.

The winner was Lisa Jewell with her novel, 31 Dream Street.

Titles shortlisted for the award were:

For any more information please contact Helen Towers Tel: 01228 607 287

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