Meetings coming up

Our next programme of speaker meetings gets under way very soon.

On 16th October we are looking at the history of Liverpool's libraries.

John Tienan, a retired Assistant Director of the City's Libraries and an active library historian joins us to talk about the establishment and growth of public libraries in Liverpool from 1852.  He'll look at the importance given to libraries by our civic fathers and by patrons like Andrew Carnegie.

On 27th November we meet the winners of our children's writing competition and hear about the work of Carol Ann Duffy.

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Erica Kemp will present awards to the winners of our summer competition.  We'll then hear from Dr Mar Hughes-Edwards from Edge Hill University who'll be talking about the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy.

On 29th January we'll be joined by local author Dave Joy, who has produced one of the most recently published works about Garston history.

Each meeting is at the Enterprise South Liverpool Academy on Horrocks Avenue and starts at 6 30 (for 7).  We finish at or by 8 30.  There is a small charge which helps us cover our costs.

If you want to get e mails about our events, and don't already get them, please let us know and we will add you to our list.  You can e mail us on friends-or-garston-library@hotmail.co.uk

Library closures update - reprieve for Garston

We're delighted to report that the Council's report on library cuts is recommending that although some libraries will close, Garston will not.  Garston is listed as one of the more popular libraries in Liverpool and so is listed as one of seven that should be retained (others in South Liverpool in a similar situation are Parklands, Allerton and Childwall). 

The report still has to be voted on by the Council's Cabinet (15th August) and then there are other steps before it all becomes final.

Obviously what we don't know at the moment is whether there are any planned changes to opening hours at Garston or elsewhere, but for those who have been campaigning to protect this library, it is good news.

We'll update as and when we can - but meanwhile thanks are due to everyone who spoke up for Garston during the consultation phase.

Can you help us?

The Friends of Garston Library will be running a stall on 3 August at an event organised by The Reader Organisation on 3 August.  It's a great chance for us to meet people and sounds like a fun event to be at.

Can you help by giving us an hour or two of your time?

We need to make a rota for our stall , which will be operating from 10 am to 5pm.  Paula, our Chair, is delaying her holiday to do the first few hours (what a martyr!!) but we do need more people to help with the other times.

If you can do a stint, do please let us know.  You can e mail us at paulakeaveney@yahoo.co.uk

Another great authors' evening

Big thanks to our local authors who read their work (all poetry) at the most recent Friends of Garston Library literary evening.

We heard from Bill Cooke, Mike Axworthy, Norah Rawlinson (hope that's right Norah, cant read my own writing), Tina Ford and Ray Redfern. 

We heard poems about Garston characters, about our area, about the effects of war, about love and marriage, about patriotism - about just about everything really.

We'll post photos when we have them.

There'll be another season of literary evenings in the Autumn.

Writers' evening - 10th July

10th July sees the next Friends of Garston Library literary evenings with a chance for you to read out your own work.

Our poetry and prose evening includes local poets Bill Cooke and Mike Axworthy as well as a section for others to read out their material.

There is still time (not much) to volunteer for this.  So if you do want to read please e mail us at friends-of-Garston-library@hotmail.co.uk  (please put poetry evening in the subject heading).

And if you don't write, you are still welcome to come and listen.

The venue is the Enterprise South Liverpool Academy on Horrocks Avenue in Garston.  The time, 6 30 for 7.  We make a small (£1) charge to help cover costs but you do get a soft drink for that!

If you've any questions, do let us know.  You can also come and have a chat at our stall at the Garston Fun Day on 21 June (Garston Park 11 am to 2pm)

Summer writing competition

We're running our summer writing competition again this year.  Open to anyone under 18, all you need to do is write a poem or a piece of prose.  It can be about any topic you like as long as it is no longer than two sides of A4 (it can be quite a bit shorter).

The winners will take part in a special presentation evening, will have their work published on line and in our event programmes and will get a prize.

All you need to do is

Be under 18
Let us have  your work by 12 September
Tell us your name, address, age and school (and e mail address if you have one)

You can send your entries to writing competition, c/o Paula Keaveney, 75 Canterbury Street, L19 8LQ or e mail it (word attachment pleas) to friends-of-garston-library@hotmail.co.uk

We would prefer typed work but we will accept handwriting as long as it is very neat.

If you have queries, you can e mail paulakeaveney@yahoo.co.uk  or come and see us at our stall at the Garston Fun Day on 21 June - Garston Park 11 am to pm.

Chidren's writing competition

Last year two young people won our first ever writing awards for children and young people.

We'll be running the competition again this year, so watch out for details.  We're writing to local schools but will also post information on this site.