Quiz time for book week

Monklands libraries are hosting special events as part of the forthcoming Book Week Scotland.

The first local event in the busy diary is a “big Scottish quiz” at Chapelhall library at 2.30pm on Monday.

Bookseller Shaun Bythell will then visit Airdrie library at 2pm on Tuesday; the owner of Scotland’s largest secondhand bookshop, in Wigtown, will speak about his work and his new title, The Diary of a Bookseller.

The same Wellwynd venue will host a special screening of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at 2pm next Wednesday, November 21; this year marks the centenary of the birth of the novel’s author, Muriel Spark.

Coatbridge library has two events next Wednesday – “fake news” workshop Facts Matter at 2pm, looking at “misinformation in the age of information overload”; and a computer coding session for nine- to- 12 year olds at 3.30pm.

The following day will see the library, based in the Buchanan Centre, host “Midwinter Break with Bernard MacLaverty” at 2pm.

His novel “is a story of quiet disappointment” in the life of long-married Gerry and Stella Gilmore as they head off on a mini-break, at a time when “both are at odds with their lot and each other”.

Coatbridge library will also host a pop quiz at 6.30pm on Thursday, November 21; and a Christmas fayre from 10am to 4pm the following day.

Meanwhile, Airdrie library will then be transformed into Beanotown next Saturday, November 24; the event from 11am to 12.30pm includes a screening of Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed, games, activities and a storytelling session.

All events are free but booking is advised for some – for further details, contact the libraries or see culturenl.co.uk/bookweekscotland

Book Week Scotland runs from November 19 to 25 and includes hundreds of free events and activities across the country.

Residents at St Andrew’s Gardens sheltered housing complex in Airdrie will also be treated to a special session of songs and stories with storyteller Gerry Durkin to mark the annual festival.

The national celebration of books and reading, now in its seventh year, is run by the Scottish Book Trust, with events being funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council.