Wigan's biggest ever reading campaign is now on!
This year is officially the National Year of Reading and the council and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust want everyone in the borough to bury their nose in a book. And there’s no better place to do this than at your local library as two of the borough’s home grown stars found out.
Writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie and Hollyoaks actress Leah Hackett recently launched the Year of Reading with special storytelling sessions at the Wiend Children’s Library and Leigh Library.
Patron of Wigan’s libraries Stuart Maconie admits he’s a complete bookaholic. “Reading is one of the few pleasures in life that offers no prejudice no age restriction and no cost,” proclaimed the newly crowned ‘bard of Wigan’.
“The only limitation is your imagination so I would encourage one and all to get involved, visit a library, and start turning those pages.”
Leah Hackett knows only too well how good libraries are, because she used to work in one. Before hitting the big-time as Tina McQueen in the Chester-based soap Leah was an assistant at Tyldesley Library and she’s not forgot the benefits of a good book.
“Despite my busy lifestyle I still make time for a good read,” Leah says. “Reading can put you on the path to personal success and I hope this year will help many people to develop a love of reading.”
The borough’s 18 libraries offer a range of free services from book loans to learning opportunities. You could join one of the many reading groups or surf the web for free. To find out more visit www.wlct.org/libraries
Libraries on the move down your way
The borough’s new library could be coming to a street near you….
A new mobile vehicle is on the road five days a week and Saturday morning every two weeks, all with the aim of turning more people on to the love of reading and books. Library co-ordinator Tracey Stirrup explains: “The mobile library can have an old fashioned image but this new van brings the service bang up to date. It can cater for a range of services and we hope to put computer access on board in the near future as well.”
The petrol-powered page turners were originally intended to serve outlying communities or older or vulnerable people who could not make it to their local bricks and mortar version. But Tracey says they intend to add new routes to the service.
“We already stop outside schools in the morning and at home times for the children and for their parents and carers,” she says. “But we have plans to pull up outside popular businesses at lunchtimes to give workers the chance to hop on. We are also looking to park up at some of the borough’s supermarkets at busy times.”
For more information you can contact the Mobile Library Service on 01942 486995.
