National Year of Reading

The National Year of Reading celebrates reading in all its forms. Novels, poetry, magazines, newspapers, websites - anything at all! There is so much enjoyment to be gained from reading, and that's what this year is all about. All sorts of things are happening in libraries throughout the year, and each month has been given its own theme. The list below gives an outline of what's going on in Shropshire.

These are just some of the things going on in libraries around the county. For a full listing, follow the link on this page to 'Library news and events'.

August – Read the game
13 August: Bishop’s Castle Library 10am to 11.15am. Magic Kev. Shropshire’s zaniest and funniest children’s entertainer. Magic, games, music and balloons. Tickets £2.00, available from the library.

Team Read - the national Summer Reading Challenge for 2008. Join in at any library.

‘Read the Game’ sporting stories booklist

September – You are what you read
9 September: Market Drayton Library 7.30pm. Meet the Author - Katherine Swift. Katherine will be talking about her book 'The Morville Hours', the story of a Shropshire garden.

10 September: Oswestry Library. Time to be confirmed.
Visit by Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of the Oswestry Reads title 'Framed'. For more details about Oswestry Reads, follow the link on this page.

Details to be confirmed. Bishop’s Castle Library. ‘Wolves’ – a talk by Tony Heighway.

October – Word of mouth
8 October: Bishop’s Castle Library 2pm to 4pm. Poetry Club – ‘Four Poets I Like’ with Pat Townsend. Tickets £2.00, available from the library.

4 - 11 October - Marches Feast of Words Book Festival. Various venues in the Ludlow area, including:

4 October: Ludlow Library 10.30 to 11.30am. Sally the Landlocked Shropshire Mermaid.
Stories and music with a watery theme for 4-8 year-olds. Tickets £1.00 per child, accompanying adults free, available from the library.

4 October: Ludlow Library 11.30 to 1.00pm. Meet the Author - Luke Temple.
Luke's first children's book 'Stormy Cliff' is hot off the press. Come and meet him, listen to a story and find out how writers work. Free event for ages 8 -12.

10 October: Ludlow Library 10.30 to 11.15am. National Bookstart Day. Bookstart Rhymetime and gifting session. Free event.

10 October: Ludlow Assembly Rooms from 6.30pm. Anamation - traditional tales with a twist, and arts showcase by local young people. Tickets £5.00 (£3.00 concessions) from Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

11 October: Ludlow Library 10.30 to 11.30am. Wild Magic with Cat Weatherill. Magic tales for audiences age 9-13 and grown-ups too. Tickets £1.00 available from the library.

11 October: Highley Severn Centre 10.30am. Aesop's Fables performed by CTC Theatre. A magical play for children over 4 years and their families to enjoy. Tickets available from Highley Library.

And also in October....

Poetry event with Roz Goddard. Details to be confirmed.

‘Recommended Reads’ book list

November – Screen reads
6 November: Oswestry Library Readers’ Day. The chance to meet authors, talk about books, and enjoy the new library building.

25 October to 6 November - North Shropshire Children's Book Festival. Kevin Crossley-Holland at Whittington Castle, Mythstories story walk, Shropshire Children's Writers and Illustrators Group events. Full details to be confirmed.

‘Screen Reads’ booklist.

December – Write the future
Launch of the Shropshire Winter Read 2008/9.

And here are some of the things that have already happened this year...
April 26: National Join the Library Day.
April 30: Bishops Castle Library. An evening with the author Manda Scott.
May: 'Mind and Body' booklist.
May: Library displays featuring books about health and well-being.
May 15: Bridgnorth Library. An evening with the author Judith Allnatt.
June: 'Reading Escapes' book list - light-hearted fiction for the summer.
4 June: Bridgnorth Library 7.30pm. Orange Prize evening.
4 June: Ellesmere Library 7.00pm. Orange Prize evening.
4 June: Bishop’s Castle Library. Learning to love Fanny – Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.
12 June: Market Drayton Library. Morning tea with great books and friends.