A bit of parlez-vous...

Today, 26th September, is European Day of Languages.

This is an annual thing, which started in the early noughties, whereby the EU encourages us to celebrate the diversity of European languages. It's also to draw our attention to the importance of learning a language - especially one of the 23 official languages of the European Union - and of lifelong learning in general.

Of course, many people like to take a holiday on 'the Continent', and some people travel there for work. As citizens of the EU, we all have the right to go and live in another EU country, and seek longer-term employment there, too, if we wish.

But how often do you hear travellers muttering to themselves 'Oooh, you know, I do wish I could talk to them in their own language' - or even, 'I was never any good at languages in school'. Maybe you are one of those people?

The trick is not to get fluent, but just to get by. It creates a better impression, it makes your trip more enjoyable - it is incredibly satisfying to order some food (or, even better, drink) completely in a foreign language, and have the waitress understand you. (When we went to Amsterdam last Spring, I managed to order and pay for a sandwich completely in Dutch, which made me feel great. The sandwich was nice too.)

It can also introduce you to aspects of the other country's culture and way of thinking that just aren't possible to express in English.

So, why not pop in to the library and investigate our wide collection of language-learning resources? Or maybe pick up a book on some more obscure by-ways of language, or on the history of English? There are also some freebies to take away, on languages and the EU - and, if you are inspired to take things to another level, prospectuses from local colleges, where you can find out about formal language courses.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Are you sitting comfortably?........then I'll begin.
Actually before I do, go and put the kettle on, make yourself a nice cup of coffee and return because I have a treat in store for you!
Coca Cola have their diet coke break, well if you prefer a warmer beverage Carte Noire now have their "Carte Noire Moment".

What does this have to do with books or readers I hear you cry, aaaah well quite a lot as it happens. If you're longing for more seduction and passion in your life and the Gold Blend couple aren't enough for you then log on to Carte Noires website www.cartenoire.co.uk/the-carte-noire-moment where you can choose between Dominic West, the cult star of The Wire, Greg Wise of Sense and Sensibility or Dan Stevens of The Line of Beauty. Then choose a love scene from a mix of classic, modern and emerging novels. Relax back with a rich, velvety mug of Carte Noire and when you're sitting comfortably, then he'll begin.

Having done this myself I imagine you'll begin by finding it hilariously like an adult Jackanory spoof before being captivated by their smooth seductive mellow tones as your coffee goes cold.

There is something completely comforting about being read to that I believe dwells in the heart of all of us and I often find that the experience is enhanced by a delicious beverage. However I am undecided as to whether Kraft have indeed been crafty with this promotion and will achieve increased product sales because although I know I'll be returning to my reader of choice Dominic West, whether I'll be supping Carte Noire from now on is undecided.

Whatever their motives I'm enjoying their efforts and applaud anything which brings reading and books into the limelight.

Of course in this golden age of equality it would be remiss of me to neglect the fact that all the Readers are men. Surely there are plenty of chaps out there who would relish a chapter of Wuthering Heights being read to them by their favourite female thespian? If so, who would it be, or who would be your bete noire? :)
Now if you'll excuse me I seem to have been overcome by a raging thirst.

Summer Sun Fun

Ah, August.

Balmy evenings, sun-kissed sand and maybe a cheeky little novel for the beach.

Or, as we went to Scotland - wind and rain, blasted heaths and gathering round the fire in the evenings. Yes, it was cold enough to light the fire.

One of the places we had a look round was the John Buchan Centre - a renovated church in the very pretty village from which the author's mother came.
Buchan is most famous for "The 39 Steps" - and it is true that I have never seen so many copies of the same book (different editions) in one place. But there were also displays about his early career in South Africa in the aftermath the Boer War, his (First World) War service and his later appointment as Governer-General of Canada in the 1930s. Apparently, Buchan also wrote several autobiographies and history books, worked for Military Intelligence and did post-graduate research at Oxford. All in all, a man almost as multi-talented and exciting in real life as the heroes of his novels...

As I said, it was cold enough in the evenings to light a fire and all sit around talking. My family like talking - it's the Celtic blood - and we shared plenty of jokes and stories. It's good to do so occasionally - it brings you together, it's entertaining, and there's nothing quite like telling a ghost story while the wind's rattling the window frames behind you. It occured to me afterwards that language and stories can be very entertaining - and what a great job it is to be surrounded by them day in, day out.

For information on our extensive John Buchan collection - and to find a whole host of other stories for reading by the fire, or sharing with friends and family - check our catalogue.

Choices..........

As I’m sure you all know our fabulous Library service allows us to borrow 12 books all on 1 ticket. A fact which my groaning shelves are well aware of (yes inanimate objects have feelings too, but that’s another blog another day!)
I currently have my full quota of Library books, plus books that I’ve been given, bought new and not so new, all looking at me longingly pleading their case to be the next one to be read. They squeal (go with me here)
“Pick me, pick me, I’ll take you to Medieval times”
“No, pick me I’ll show you how to stop your dog doing that unsocial thing”,
“Oh but I want to take you around the Victorian slums, you know you love a bit of misery”
“Aaah yes but I have all this lovely poetry with which to enchant you”

“And I have all the answers to what to do with those bits of fabric you’ve got cluttering up that cupboard in the back bedroom……………..”

Oh the dilemma, where to turn? Not that I’m complaining faaaaar from it, I revel in the delight such choice provokes, such diversity of opportunity.

I’m sure I’m not alone here, I know I am not the only bibliophile whose day is brightened by the acquisition of another book. This to me is the absolute joy of Libraries, the opportunity to sample so many different facets of life for free. So far this year I’ve accompanied travellers, artists, zookeepers, doctors, dog trainers and manic depressive artists to Italy, Cornwall, Portugal, Berlin, Australia, Spain and it’s been a heck of a ride.

The point I’m very slowly approaching in this here blog is that I have actually heard people by using my own ears in Libraries utter “ooooh 12? I’ll never read that many!” and I love to hear it because this is where I whisper ‘the secret’ discreetly in their ear “ooooh well I’ve heard that you don’t actually have to read all of them, apparently you can take some just to look at the pictures, or to see whether you’ll enjoy a trip to the plague era, or some you can take just to dip into whilst you’re stirring the gravy that Jamie Oliver taught us how to make (there’s some of his books there too) some you can even read together with your friends or family as Jamie himself would say Pass it on……..”

And here’s the revelation, whether you’ve loved some of them and hated others, it doesn’t matter because there’s 12 more waiting to be sampled and 12 more after that and oh you get the picture. So this is a little gem of advice I’m passing on here, just between you and me mind! Fill yer boots! But… come a little closer… shhh don’t tell anyone else or they’ll all be wanting em J

Rotherham by the Sea

If you get chance this week, why not pop down to Rotherham Town Centre with your bucket and spade and have some fun at Rotherham by the Sea. I was there yesterday to promote the library service and to tell a few stories. I had a thoroughly enjoyable time: the weather was positively Mediterranean and we succeeded in joining some new members. I was pleased with the number of people who flashed their Library and Quest Seeker cards at me. I've never had such a big audience for storytelling (over 150 at one point) and had to indulge in much Freddie-Mercury style call-and-response to keep them on their toes. A big thank you to all the volunteers who became monkeys, sheep-shearers, egg-collectors, scythe carriers, cow-milkers and the cast of characters stuck to Jack's golden goose with nothing but my words and their imaginations to help them along!

It was great to see the Town Centre so bustling and with such a positive atmosphere.

Dusty Tome goes Digital

The British Library recently announced the launch of its digital version of the world's oldest Bible - and one of the oldest surviving books. It is a collaboration between the BL, and three other libraries in Germany, Egypt and Russia - all of whom hold different bits of the surviving manuscript. As the pages are scanned and uploaded to the project's website, they are made available to view, with a transcription and other details about the page. A translation will follow in due course, apparently.

For anyone who likes books, this is quite exciting. Not only is the Codex Sinaiticus an important book in itself (and a very significant milestone in the history of the book), its digitisation represents the bringing together of two technologies - both revolutionary in their own ways.

Without a doubt, and whether we like it or not, the recent explosion of digital technology is changing our society - particularly in the way we create, store and access knowledge.

The same was true of the book, when it was developed. Suddenly, a great deal more information than could be contained in a scroll was able to be kept together in a handy, transportable and storable format.

A format, incidentally, which has survived without any fundamental variation for 2000 years. I wonder if the same could be said of our MP3 players and e-book readers in the year 4009...

(Thanks to the British Library Online Gallery for the image.)

New Booker Prize Longlist

Here is the Longlist for this year's Booker Prize.

Who'll be the first person (un?)lucky enough to read all 13?

The Longlist was drawn from a grand total of 132 books - pity those poor judges, they'll never again want to come within a barge-pole's length of a book!

I'm very interested in reading The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds, which is about the poets John Clare and Alfred Tennyson. I only recently became aware of the work of John Clare after attending an event - On Common Ground - organised by our colleagues at Kirklees Library. Storyteller/poet Hugh Lupton and folk musician Chris Wood performed a devastatingly powerful piece linking Clare's life and madness to the Enclosure Acts.

Does anything else on the Longlist look appealing to you?

Now I'm off to ensure we have them all in stock!

Feel free to search for Booker titles on our library catalogue here.