University library to inspire community with open day event

Teesside University is turning to residents and visitors across the region for inspiration as it celebrates National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February with an open day event for all ages at its landmark library from 1pm-4pm.

Teesside University is making a major investment in its four-storey library with an extensive refurbishment plan which will see new study areas and facilities in place for September 2012.

Liz Jolly, Director of Library and Information Services, said: 'As part of the open day we are inviting people to share with us a book, or trip to the library, that has inspired them. We will capture this on the day and select the best to include in script on a ‘feature wall’ as part of the refurbished library.'

Renowned BBC script writer and author Wally K Daly, of Grangetown, Middlesbrough, is getting behind the Library Open Day at the University. An exhibition from the Wally K Daly archive, which includes scripts and audio reels from Wally’s much loved national radio and television projects, will be on display during the open day. His writing credits include Juliet Bravo, Byker Grove and Casualty.

Writer Wally, also an Honorary Graduate of Teesside, puts his fondness for libraries down to his childhood experiences and the many hours he would spend in them.

Wally added: 'My passion for reading and research began when exploring my school library as a young boy, leading to an intense hunger to devour book after book from the science fiction section of my local library as an aspiring young writer in London. These books – and my time spent in the hushed tones of a library – continued to shape my writing, be it for Doctor Who or my Radio 4 plays.

'Joining (at great expense) the marvellous London Library where I was allowed to take out up to twenty books at a time and to sit in leather armchairs surrounded by famous writers remains one of my most memorable indulgences. I am an enormous enthusiast of libraries – and all they stand for.'

The ‘day of inspiration’ will also play host to storytelling from authors including Liz Geraghty, Val McGee and Teesside University’s own Bob Beagrie, a senior lecturer in creative writing.

As well as complimentary tea, coffee and cake refreshments, visitors can also enjoy a library treasure trail, a ‘design a bookmark’ competition and a quiz sponsored by Blackwell Books. Plans for the forthcoming refurbishment will also be on display.

National Libraries Day aims to bring local communities together and encourage them to visit their local library with celebratory events scheduled up and down the UK.

Liz Jolly said: 'We’re delighted to be a part of National Libraries Day. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the value of libraries and share with all members of our community the excellent facilities and services we offer.'

Teesside University Chancellor, Lord Tom Sawyer of Darlington, picked out the book that inspired him:

“I first read The Making of the English Working Class by E P Thompson when I was in my twenties and had become a trade union and political activist. Thompson’s book was a revelation to me. It provided a history on context to all that I was discovering in life and I realised for the first time, that the working class had a long history and tradition of political involvement.

Our history was not about Kings and Queens, but about ordinary people. I followed Samuel Bamford, Henry Hunt, and William Cobbett on the most exciting adventures and identified with the workers and learnt about our history along the way.

I had a great time and still do whenever I read this print.”

Find out more about National Libraries Day at www.nationallibrariesday.org.uk.

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