Lucky

Sometimes even those of us who work in libraries need reminding how lucky we are. 

Last week the author Neil Gaiman gave the second annual Reading Agency Lecture  and in an impassioned speech he spoke of the increasing importance of literacy, the benefits of reading fiction, the need to encourage children to read for pleasure, and the vital role of libraries in ensuring  that all members of society have access to books. 

 Books are the way that we communicate with the dead. The way that we learn lessons from those who are no longer with us, that humanity has built on itself, progressed, made knowledge incremental rather than something that has to be relearned, over and over. There are tales that are older than most countries, tales that have long outlasted the cultures and the buildings in which they were first told.  - Neil Gaiman 

 The power of books to connect us to the vast store of human knowledge and to allow us a glimpse into the experience of others is something those of us who are literate and have access to books take for granted. It is hard to imagine how difficult it must be to negotiate an increasingly text based world without being able to read -  or how frustrating and disadvantaging not to be able to access the books you want or need. 

The Orkney Library and Archive are proud to be able to work in partnership with local groups  to make sure everyone has access to essential skills and information. The Learning Link    provide free and informal tutoring for literacy, numeracy and basic computer skills, and  local CitizensOnline  co-ordinator Janette Mackie, offers free training and support  through Get IT Together Orkney to local folk needing help to get online. 

Imagine a world without libraries - no don't actually, you'll give yourself nightmares:

We have an obligation to support libraries. To use libraries, to encourage others to use libraries, to protest the closure of libraries. If you do not value libraries then you do not value information or culture or wisdom. You are silencing the voices of the past and you are damaging the future. - Neil Gaiman

You can read an edited version of the lecture on The Guardian website, or watch a recording of the lecture on the Reading Agency's website to hear more of Neil Gaiman's inspiring words. 

We would like to thank him for reminding us that what we do is important, that we are lucky enough to be the facilitators of access to books for all.

So come to the library - borrow a book, use a computer, read the paper, look something up in the reference section - enjoy the freedom to explore the wonderful world of books, and all for free! 

Travel North

We thought our readers might be interested in an online event which will also include a physical venue in Orkney. On Wednesday 28th August the Northern Studies Virtual Conference 2013 will take place and this year's theme is Travel North. Speakers from across Britain and Europe, including three from Orkney, will give papers on a range of subjects from Archaeology to Literature and these will include several with a direct connection to Orkney.

You can download the full conference programme from the NSVC website to see the full range of subjects being covered but those of particular interest to our local readers might be a paper on Busta House in Shetland, one on North Ronaldsay, and one looking at Orkney as a fictional location in literature.

Guest speaker at the conference will be Dr Louise Sørensen from the University of Sheffield whose talk Virtually impossible? The challenges of connecting Norwegian-Americans to their heritage in a 3D environment, will give an insight into her work on the Ola Nordmann project,  which uses virtual reality to recreate the experiences of Norwegian emigrants to America during the nineteenth century.

There is the possibility for folk to view the conference by arranging to connect from your own computer, for details about this please contact the organisers via email: northernstudiesvirtualconference@yahoo.com

However for those who can get to Orkney College on the day you will be very welcome to join the Orkney speakers in the college's conference room, where you can watch the conference proceedings and take part in the question and answer sessions at the end of each panel. There is no obligation to stay for the whole event - you can just drop in for individual panels.

Of course if any of the papers spark your interest, and you want to find out more about any of the  subjects, then your local library should be your first port of call.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Love Scottish Libraries,

Because they love you!

Love is in the air

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching our thoughts naturally turn to romance - proof that working in a library does not preclude you from a life of passion!

To get you in the mood we've set up a display of "Heart Warming Reads for February", everything from love poetry and Mills & Boon, to classic novels by Jane Austen and the Brontës.

So even if the 14th of February comes and goes without a single card or rose, you can still buy yourself some chocolates and curl up with a good book - another reason to love your library.

Orkney feasts

With memories of the Tall Ships and Shopping Week slowly fading and more than a week before the Dounby Show  there is time to catch our breath and consider the other pleasures of summer.

The weather may be somewhat temperamental but even if barbecues end up indoors, and picnics involve woolly hats and waterproofs, this is the time to enjoy Orkney produce at its best. Whether you need inspiration, are looking for new ways to cook old favourites, or are in search of the definitive recipe for bere bannocks or clootie dumpling then our selection of Orkney cook books is bound to have what you're looking for.

In our quest to promote the importance of public libraries we are not above bribing you with food - we have been known to tempt unsuspecting passers-by into the library on the promise of a certain staff member's famous meringues!

We would love to hear your favorite recipes using local produce - we might even have a shot at making them and share the results with you if they are suitably mouthwatering.