Tag: libraries

Edinburgh Writer Receives a 2017 New Writers Award

A writer from Edinburgh has come one step closer to having his work published, after being named the recipient of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award 2017.

Simon Brown (above) is one of the 10 recipients of the coveted award, run by Scottish Book Trust in association with Creative Scotland. The awards provide a selection of talented, unpublished writers with financial support to enable them to concentrate on developing their work, as well as professional guidance to help them move towards publication.

Each of the 10 recipients will receive a £2,000 cash award and support tailored to their needs including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training in public relations, social media and performance and the opportunity to showcase their work to publishers and agents. The awards also include a week-long retreat at Moniack Mhor. The retreat provides time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings.

Simon, a Library Assistant from the Southside of Edinburgh, has received a New Writers Award in the Fiction & Narrative Non Fiction category.

Simon was born and raised in the Highlands but now lives in Edinburgh. He’s currently working on his third novel, a story about people who work at the Department of Karmic Affairs, while sprucing up his second.  He has one publishing credit to his name – a story that appeared in 404 Ink – but will be working hard to improve that this year.

When he’s not writing he can be found working for the city libraries, where he occasionally has to sing at children, or mucking about with a sampler trying to make hip hop. He wrote his first story, The Hair, when he was six years old.  It was about hair. 

Commenting on the award, Simon said: “I’ve run out of places to pinch myself.  Thank you to Scottish Book Trust for giving me this incredible opportunity – I’m going to work so hard to justify the belief that has been shown in me.”

The three judging panels reviewed over 400 entries in total before selecting the final 10. This year’s judges included Don Paterson, Amy Liptrot and Pamela Butchart.

The full list of the 2017 New Writers Awardees is:

Fiction & Narrative Non Fiction 

Anna Stewart (Dundee)

Elisabeth Ingram Wallace (Glasgow)

Laura Morgan (North Sutherland)

Sally Huband (Shetland)

Simon Brown (Edinburgh)

Poetry

Ciara MacLaverty (Glasgow)

Lydia Harris (Orkney)

Molly Vogel (Glasgow)

Children’s and Young Adult Fiction

Christine Laurenson (Shetland)

Helen MacKenzie (Linlithgow)

Caitrin Armstrong, Head of Writer Development at Scottish Book Trust, said: “The New Writers Awards exist to support and nurture the talent and spirit out there in Scotland. We’re here to help the writers who might be bowing under the weight of their commitments or who just need some breathing space and encouragement to keep going. Our 2017 awardees have already produced some fantastic writing, and I can’t wait to see what they create over the next year.” 

Aly Barr, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing, Creative Scotland, said: “The New Writers Awards continue to be both a strong indicator of the next big name in Scottish writing and a vital rung on the ladder for authors taking their first steps as professionals.” 

Many New Writers Award recipients go on to secure publishing deals. Upcoming 2017 publications from previous awardees include the much-anticipated Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (HarperCollins) by Gail Honeyman. 2016 publications from previous awardees include Claire Askew with This Changes Things published by Bloodaxe Books, Lucy Ribchester with The Amber Shadows published by Simon and Schuster, Martin MacInnes with Infinite Ground published by Atlantic Books and Helen Sedgwick with The Comet Seekers published by Harvill Secker. 2012 recipient Graeme Macrae Burnet was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize for his second novel, His Bloody Project.

Picture: Rob McDougall

 

And Edinburgh’s most borrowed book in 2016 was …

Edinburgh’s most borrowed books of 2016 have been published, revealing a penchant for crime and mystery amongst city readers. Psychological thriller The Girl on the Train topped the list of fiction books borrowed from the capital’s libraries last year, followed closely by Ian Rankin’s Even Dogs in the Wild and Peter May’s Coffin Road. Continue reading And Edinburgh’s most borrowed book in 2016 was …

Children’s writing competition: green fingers required!

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Young entrants to Edinburgh’s Green Pencil Award were immersed in their subject matter at the launch of the annual writing competition yesterday. Preston Street Primary School pupils explored the competition’s theme, Scotland’s Glorious Gardens, during a visit to Princes Street Gardens. Continue reading Children’s writing competition: green fingers required!

Pioneering Pirniehall!

Read all about it: Local primary school is first to complete Scotland’s library card challenge

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Following the Scottish Government announcement that every child in Scotland should get a library card, Muirhouse Library, Community Learning & Development and Pirniehall Primary School have sprinted out of the educational blocks! Continue reading Pioneering Pirniehall!

Meet Halle – Edinburgh’s youngest bookworm!

‘Libraries are often the hub of a local community’ – Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop

Mum Kirstin Elliot, Leith Library team leader Sandra Wright, dad Martin Edwards and baby Halle.
Mum Kirstin Elliot, Leith Library team leader Sandra Wright, dad Martin Edwards and baby Halle.

She may be too young to read, but Halle Edwards has become Edinburgh’s youngest library member – at the tender age of three weeks! Continue reading Meet Halle – Edinburgh’s youngest bookworm!

Craigmillar: a Reading Community

Congratulations to Edinburgh’s first Reading Community

Claire Askew pictured with fellow Reading Champions, Donny O'Rourke and Alex Patience.
Claire Askew pictured with fellow Reading Champions Donny O’Rourke and Alex Patience

Edinburgh’s Craigmillar has been named as one of Scotland’s first ever Reading Communities. The new initiative, which was announced by Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop at Craigmillar Library yesterday, also kicked off local celebrations for Book Week Scotland 2015.

Set up by the Scottish Book Trust, special “reading champions” will lead the country’s four Reading Communities and will be tasked with delivering innovative projects with local communities to encourage interest in books from all ages.

Claire Askew, a poet, writer and creative writing teacher, has been appointed as Craigmillar’s champion and will take up her post in March next year. Claire said: “I am so pleased to have been selected and I’m especially pleased that I’ll get to work alongside the brilliant team at Craigmillar Library – I can’t wait to get started!”

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “Craigmillar being named as one of the first Reading Communities in Scotland is excellent news – congratulations to our new champion. This is a fantastic initiative and I am sure that it will help us to encourage people to make books an even bigger part of their everyday lives.

“Reading is such a wonderful pastime and thanks to the Capital’s public libraries, you can take books home free or read them online, I would encourage everyone to visit their local library today and find out just how much they have to offer people of all ages.”

Edinburgh’s libraries will host an array of authors throughout Book Week, who will be giving free talks about their work – times and places are on the website. Writer Cathy Rentzenbrink and Douglas Lindsay will be reading copies of Journeys, which is being given out free during the Week, on a tram at Edinburgh Airport this Friday.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, added: “I am delighted to announce our Reading Communities for 2016. We had a really high standard of applicants but I am sure the four areas we have chosen will deliver some really creative and collaborative projects with their dedicated Reading Champions, to involve and inspire their local communities.

“Scottish Book Trust also looks forward to working with the Champions and the libraries to engage local people with our programmes including our annual story gathering campaign and Book Week Scotland.”

The four Reading Communities, each to be led and nurtured by a dedicated Reading Champion and supported financially and practically for nine months by Scottish Book Trust, are Craigmillar in Edinburgh, Dalmuir in West Dunbartonshire, Thurso in the Highlands and Shetland.

Book your tickets for events at www.edinburghreads.eventbrite.co.uk

Stories with taste: Green Pencil writing competition launched

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Tasty treats were on the menu at the launch of this year’s popular Green Pencil Award writing competition yesterday, when Carrick Knowe Primary School pupils were joined by leading children’s author Vivian French for a food-themed story workshop.

This year’s Green Pencil theme is ‘Food for thought: Scotland’s food and drink’. Entrants can write a poem or story about a favourite meal, or a memorable Scottish picnic, a drink they love or hate, or perhaps even invent a new Scottish food!

Or they could think about the journey of a vegetable from being planted as a seed to ending up as part of a delicious, nutritious meal.

Budding writers can get inspiration by visiting local  libraries, which have lots of ideas and books to help, and also by asking in schools, which have resources available to support this award.

All entries can be made by following this link and should be no longer than one side of A4 – entries longer than that cannot be considered.

The closing date is Friday 9 October, with an awards ceremony at the Central Library in late November.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “The Council has been running this competition for eight years and it grows in popularity each time. We have so many budding writers with fabulous imaginations in our schools, and reading the entries is always a joy for our library staff.

“Reading skills are such vital aspects to learning, but also a really fun way of doing so. Thanks so much to Vivian for bringing it to life so vividly for these lucky pupils. Good luck to everyone who enters.”

Ms French said: “I love the Green Pencil Award, because it encourages children to look at the world around them, and to think about things they might otherwise take for granted.

“It inspires curiosity, consideration, and critical judgement … essential ingredients for everyone – especially writers!”

Library success story is a tale worth telling

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Edinburgh’s libraries are thriving – more people are using our city’s library services than ever before.

A report to the Council’s Culture and Sport Committee tomorrow (Tuesday 18 August) will detail achievements such as a 2% increase in visits to libraries and 16% increase to special events, a 4% rise in transactions, significant upgrades to buildings and an expansion of digital services.

The Next Generation Library Strategy 2012–2015, based on a major public consultation involving customers, staff, local communities, partners and stakeholders, was approved in March 2012 and sets out key objectives for the development of the service.

Achievements include:

• The doubling of membership of the Central Children’s Library since the new service began in 2014;
• The launch of Level-UP, an innovative reading and gaming scheme for boys aged 11-14;
• The award-winning Digital Toybox project at Drumbrae;
• Free books for four-year-olds of high social need through Reading Rainbows Literacy;
• The first MoreFun Book Festival in Moredun in June this year;
• New buildings at Drumbrae and Craigmillar;
• Eleven libraries earning the in-house Gold Standard Programme.

The strategy’s eight objectives are: 

• Access to library and information services through a community based network of small libraries, neighbourhood libraries and larger neighbourhood hubs;
• Buildings fit for purpose, in the right place;
• Innovative and excellent 24/7 electronic access to library services;
• Improved literacy and digital skills and enhanced love of reading;
• Effective use of technology to deliver service improvements;
• Empowered and motivated staff delivering excellent customer service;
• Best Value from resources and assets through partnership, innovation, income generation and new ways of working;
• Increased customer base supported by clear marketing and promotion of the service.

Edinburgh has 28 public library buildings, a mobile library service and outreach library services for looked after children, hospitals, care homes, and HMP Edinburgh.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “I am delighted that all of the hard work put in by staff to make libraries so appealing is paying off, and that so many people have discovered what wonderful places they are.

“Our libraries are fantastic, inclusive facilities that can be enjoyed by all ages and backgrounds. They cater for all, whether you want to borrow books or read newspapers, or if you’d rather play computer games or take your children to a rhyme time session. Best of all, these services are either free or at a very low cost.

“We will keep delivering on the objectives of the strategy, so that we can continue to develop the diversity of services provided by libraries.”