Crimes and rhymes to mark Libraries Week
CELEBRATORY EVENTS AIMING TO INSPIRE LOVE OF READING
A SERIES of events will be taking place across the city this week to mark national Libraries Week, covering topics including crime writing, poetry and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The events run until Sunday, October 10 and incorporate National Poetry Day on Thursday.
The aim is to inspire and encourage reading and discussion, recognising reading as a life-changing activity which can help people to take action and make a positive difference to their communities.
Among the events on offer are a conversation with Leicester-based crime writer MP Wright, hosted by crime fiction afficionado and author John Martin. This will take place at Central Library tomorrow at 6pm.
Also at the Central Library, on Wednesday at
6pm, there is an evening of poetry with poet Emma Lee, a workshop on writing a novel and talks from authors on how getting published has changed their lives.
An event at Westcotes library, on Thursday at 3pm, will allow readers to reflect on the importance of poetry and reading in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement, focusing on the 2020 work Black Lives Matter – Poems for a New World.
Visitors to any city library between now and Thursday will also be able to contribute to a community poem to mark National Poetry Day. Matthew Vaughan, from the city council’s libraries service, said: “We’ve provided a four-line starter and to take part, simply drop your words into the ‘poetry drop box’ at any city library. “On Thursday, all contributions will be combined into a poem for Leicester, which will then be posted online, printed and displayed in libraries.” Assistant city mayor for neighbourhoods Councillor Kirk Master said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome people back into our libraries.
For Libraries Week, we have a chance to celebrate the vital role that they play as spaces where communities can join together to share knowledge, engage in discussion, learn and simply socialise.
“Libraries Week events will give people the chance to meet local authors, discover how reading can inspire action and join in with National Poetry Day.
“But above all, they will help people to rediscover how something as simple as a visit to the library can bring joy.”
Visitors to any city library will be able to contribute to a community poem to mark National Poetry Day