Libraries Inside Out - Burnley

The third location for the Libraries Inside Out Project is Burnley - writer and tutor Alison White tells us about her experiences working with the Burnley writers to create writing that will, in a matter of days, be lit up on the outside of Burnley library.

It is one thing to say words out loud, it is another to commit them to paper, but to put your words in light on stone? Well, that’s a brave and wonderful thing to do.

In late October a group of young adult and adult writers worked with creative writer Alison White to produce a range of short writings including comments about life and how they’ve lived it so far, hidden autobiographies, flash fictions and partial stories that we are privileged to eavesdrop on. The work is presented in a range of ways, from rapid writing capture on Post It notes to hidden sentences overwritten so that they are tantalisingly obscured partial revelations about their lives to photographic capture of things that are written on hearts and made visible for one day only to the world.

All the contributors were thrilled to be part of the Learning Revolution; many of the contributors are still in full time formal education but embraced the opportunity to profile their creative work in a public space and learn beyond the walls of a traditional learning space. The results of their endeavours will literally break out of the traditional space and manifest itself on the outer walls of Burnley Library. We hope you will come and enjoy their creative sparks.

Their creativity will be projected onto Burnley Library on the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th November.

Free Writing Workshops in Chorley and Preston

After a flying start with the first two workshops, Lancashire Libraries are pleased to announce the second set of creative writing sessions held in libraries as part of the Adult Learning Revolution.

On Wednesday 21st October novelist and award-winning blogger Jenn Ashworth will be holding creative writing workshops in Chorley and Preston as part of her month-long residency for the Lancashire Library Service.

For the early birds, the first workshop takes place in the meeting room at Chorley Library between 9.30 and 11.30am. It's called 'A Sense of Place' and is aimed at beginners or more experienced writers who want to build up their confidence in creating strong descriptions and settings in their writing - poetry or prose. The workshop is FREE and to book yourself a place all you need to do is contact Chorley Library on 01257 277222.

Later on in the afternoon from 2.30 - 4.30pm Jenn will be in Preston at the Records Office on Bow Lane. She'll be working with some of the archive material available and using gentle creative writing prompts to help participants create short pieces of fiction or poetry. Again, this workshop is suitable for complete beginners or more experienced writers, is open to the public and is completely free to attend. To book yourself a place, contact the Records Office on 01772 533039.

All participants of both workshops will have the opportunity to submit work for inclusion in a book, which we hope to publish at the end of the residency.

FREE Black History Month Events

As October is Black History Month, Lancashire Library and Information Service, in partnership with Rainbow Beach from Lancaster, is presenting a series of poetry, music and drama workshops in branches across the County
In celebration of Black History Month in 2009, throughout October the Rainbow Beach team, featuring poets, actors and musicians will be presenting a series of workshop performances in libraries across Lancashire.

Their unique blend of music, drama and poetry highlights the plight of migrating share-croppers from the Mississippi Delta to their “promised Land” in Chicago.
The Rainbow Beach story is set against a background of historical events that brought about fundamental change in civil liberties in America in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Each workshop will explore the power of words in relation to equality and diversity culminating in the recording of a newly created poem followed by a 30 minute presentation of Rainbow Beach songs and dramatisation.

With funding from the Museums, Libraries and Archives as part of the Adult Learning Revolution, Lancashire libraries are holding events at the following libraries:

22nd October: Leyland Library 2.30 - 4.30pm
23rd October: Haslingden Library 10am -12pm
24th October: Nelson Library 10a.m. – 12.pm
26th October: Fleetwood Library 10am - 12pm
28th October: Ormskirk Library 10am - 12pm
28th October: Skelmersdale Library 2.30 - 4.30pm
29th: Heysham Library 10am – 12pm
30th October: Clitheroe Library 10am – 12pm
30th October: Burnley Library 2.30 - 4.30pm (no disabled access)
31st October: Chorley Library 10am - 12pm

To book your free ticket, please contact the individual libraries, oand for more details email gill.irvine@lancashire.gov.uk