Celebrate reading in Knowsley

23 September 2010

Knowsley Library Service is holding a series of events to promote reading for all the family.

The annual autumn push is called “Around Knowsley in 80 Reads” and it starts on October 1 with poet Craig Bradley at Kirkby Library.

He will be passing on his enthusiasm for books to local school children and will also present prizes to the youngsters who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge.

Those children had to read six books over the summer holidays and over 800 hundred young readers took part.

Craig will also announce the three favourite books selected by local adult readers over the summer.

The library service is also launching a poetry competition to link in with National Poetry day on Thursday October 7.

To enter, pick up a form at any Library or enter online by clicking on www.knowsley.gov.uk and follow the links to the library service.

The competition closes on December 1, 2010.

The library service is also taking part in the Arts Council funded Pages Ago campaign to promote historical writing.

Readings by historical authors are taking place in libraries throughout the North West and there will be three in Knowsley.

Jane Eagland, the author of Wildthorn, which is set in Victorian England, will talk about her book and answer questions in Kirkby Library on Tuesday October 5 at 2pm.

Jane will also be talking about her latest novel, Whisper my Name. Call Kirkby Library on 443 4290 for more information.

Pauline Hurst will talk about her book, A History of Prescot Union Workhouse in Whiston Library on Friday October 15 at 4pm. Call Whiston Library on 426 4757 for more information.

Merseyside journalist Ken Rogers will be at Kirkby Library on Saturday October 9 at 11am, to talk about his book, the Lost Tribes of Everton and Scottie Road.

The book is about the thousands of families who moved from Liverpool’s historic inner streets to Kirkby in the 1950s and 1960s.

There will be an opportunity for people to share their memories of the time with Ken. Admission is free but by ticket only from Kirkby Library.

There will be a display of historical fiction and non-fiction in all of Knowsley’s libraries as part of the Pages Ago campaign.

During the half term school holidays there will be activities in all libraries.

Meanwhile, the regular Words and Pictures storytelling sessions for under fives and their carers continue and there will be Reading Groups for adults in October. Call your local library for details.