Author A. K. Blakemore to help Bishop’s Stortford Library celebrate 100 years of Hertfordshire library service
Bishop’s Stortford is playing its part as Hertfordshire celebrates 100 years of the library service in the county.
The hub in The Causeway, along with the other 45 libraries in Herts, will host a series of activities and events to mark the centenary.
The programme, which has been created in collaboration with residents and library users, includes celebrations of literature and poetry, events for children, young people and families, theatre, comedy and much more.
Stortford library will get the party started with Centenary Classics Storytimes on Sunday March 2 and Thursday March 6 (2pm) as well as Birthday Baby Rhyme Times on Tuesday March 4 (10.15am and 11.15am).
Reading challenges will be launched on social media and there will be the chance to craft some bunting throughout the year so it can grow around the library.
Award-winning poet and author A. K. Blakemore will be taking part in a special in-conversation event on Thursday March 20 (7pm).
Her debut novel, The Manningtree Witches, and current title, The Glutton, have met with high praise and countless plaudits.
Tickets are £5 and available in the library and online at https://bit.ly/AKBlakemoreBIS.
The year-long celebrations have been made possible thanks to a successful funding bid to Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants.
Meanwhile, the library’s Artist in Residence programme hosted by picture book author and illustrator Robyn Wilson-Owen continues with free drop-in Tell Your Story workshops on Saturday March 1 and Saturday March 15 (10am and 2pm).
The workshops, which are suitable for all ages, will give you the chance to work with the artist to share your stories together.
Simple writing prompts will get your memories flowing before creative ways will be used to record them through words and images.
You can look through Wilson-Owen’s sketchbooks and maybe even have a chat when she works publicly in the library on Wednesday March 5 (10am-midday) and Monday March 10 (10.30am-midday).
On Monday March 17 (4pm-6pm), she will be collating contributions from across the residency to create the finished alternative town guide and town map. Join her to see what Bishop’s Stortford has created already or create your very own book cover.
The town guide and map will be launched on Saturday March 29 (4pm-6pm) and the exhibition will also feature work created by the artist during her residency.
