Simon Brett books

I've read quite a few murder mysteries by Simon Brett and enjoyed them. They are easy to read, not too gruesome and have some good characters.
I saw 'The Penultimate Chance Saloon' in the library the other day so thought I'd give it a try. I enjoyed it, it was light hearted and funny and had some nice characters who you could laugh at but still like. I'd recommend it as a cheery quick read.



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Book Club - Friday for a change.....

We had our first Book Club meeting for the new academic year - it's not quite as grand or as officious as that - we have a meeting in Sept when all the children are back at school, college or uni.  As a special one off it was decided that it could be held on a Friday night so that I would be back from Edinburgh for the weekend and wouldn't miss it. It was a good turn out actually with most people there. (but we cant have it Friday eve everytime as some people want to spend time with their husbands or family on Friday evening - yes, really :( I would have thought that Book Club was way higher in the priorities....).
The books we were meant to read were The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (suggested by me) and The Thread by Victoria Hislop. There was general grumbling about The Moonstone as there often is about books I suggest but some people had made the effort and read it and enjoyed it. You do have to sift and scan through some parts of it but I enjoyed it especially at the end when it all comes together and the mystery is revealed. I like who dunnits - I like crime and thrillers but only if they're not scarey - i like the puzzle of finding out the answer from the clues. It has been interesting to discover that lots of books that i like are considered boring or a bit old fashioned by others - luckily we are all friends so can be honest yet kind about it.
I hadn't read The Thread but I think everyone else had. They enjoyed it but didn't say much about it although it did prompt a long discussion about Prince Philip and his mother and a tv programme about them which is supposed to be definitely worth watching.
For next time we are reading The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker.
Also The Hundred Year Old Man who climbed out of the window and disappeared which I have actually started reading a couple of weeks ago and am enjoying so far.

Edinburgh Central Library

I have been in Edinburgh for a month now - this is the longest I've ever lived anywhere without joining the library. Edinburgh Central Library is about 15minutes walk from where I am living so I went along to join. The library is a big old building and quite impressive.






I went to the main area on the ground floor and asked to join. They don't have a big enquiry desk but have roaming staff and a pod of staff computers and a small desk. The staff are very helpful and the assistant said it would be quickest if I went downstairs to the bottom floor. This seems to be the Scottish floor with Scottish related books and stuff. Anyhow there was an interesting conversation going on between the assistants and a man who had lost his book 'in the drink'. I asked for a card to join and was given one - the assistant was a bit suspicious of me at first but thawed out gradually and explained everything I could do with my library card and how to get ebooks or access computers or the Internet.
I went back upstairs and resisted the temptation to get lots of books. I chose two and used the self issue machine which worked well.



I'll explore the building more next time. There was a display of some tiles on the staircase. I liked the look of them but can't remember what they were.

Working in a library

I have been in my new job for a month now and although the Student Information Points are based in the libraries, my role is not a library management role. It is more of a general management post based around enhancing student support.
I miss working in a library but I'm not sure whether I miss library management or whether I miss being able to do my work in a library. I think it is a bit of both and luckily the latter is easy to address at times. I can go and work in the Main University Library for a couple of hours. So that's what I did one afternoon last week. I like academic libraries, I like the peace and quiet associated with people getting on with their work purposefully and reading, I like the books and I like working in a place where other people are working but no need to interact. I'm lucky that I can get my library 'fix' as part of my working life.



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Gateshead Library

Yesterday on the way back from South Shields I made a detour to Gateshead in order to visit the Shipley Art Gallery and to visit Gateshead Central Library. The Shipley art Gallery is probably my favourite art gallery as it always has interesting exhibitions, is beautifully unpretentious, has helpful staff, a good gift shop (useful for Christmas presents) and grand toilets. The current exhibition is 'Journeys in Beadwork'. http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/shipley/thingstoseeanddo/exhibition/2012/04/21/journeys-in-beadwork-dialogues-in-contemporary-style
There were even some dresses with QR codes made from beads.
On to the library - it was raining so I didn't spend time looking at the outside of the building but it is an old building with a new modern interior.

It is very welcoming and as soon as you walk through the main door you want to explore further.
At the left hand side is a multimedia area - I'm not sure what they call it but it has glass automatically opening doors and when you go in there is music playing!! On the doors it said 'Playing Vividly'. Lots of CDs, DVDs - popular ones, the latest ones, boxed sets - Wednesdays all DVDs £1!! There were music scores too. It was great and busy with people of all ages and knowledgeable staff. it had the wow factor.

The main section was non fiction - set out in a simple yet effective way with cool stripy seating.

There was an extensive selection of books both non fiction and fiction and very up to date and appealing. The books had a feeling of relevancy and that they were suitable for a wide range of people. I liked the layout with seating areas and the shelving used to break up areas without closing them off. Through the fiction area with audio books and quick choice stands was the childrens area and garden. Then onto the teen area which made me wish i was a teenager again - books - computers - games consoles - high bench seats. This area was easy to look into but not part of the thoroughfare. There was a relaxed but purposeful air to the teen section by the people using it.

The main library area leads through to the tourist information area and to the Information services which is the reference library, IT support, local history and quiet study facilities. There is also an art gallery and cafe.
There are a few enquiry desks which are easy to find but not imposing and there are self service issuing / returning machines.

The library had a great feel to it and was busy with users. It has obviously had a lot of resource invested in it and is important as a central library rather than a branch library. I enjoyed visiting it.

Adele Parks at Teesside High School

Today I went to hear a talk by Adele Parks. She is an author of 'chick lit' best sellers.
Last year she gave a talk at Teesside University and she was brilliant. She has a Honorary Doctorate from the university and grew up in the local area at Eaglescliffe. I went to the talk at the university with Geoff and with my friend Roisin.
Roisin is an English teacher at Teesside High School and had been so impressed with Adele she had emailed her and asked if she would come and talk at the school especially to 6th form students studying English.
Adele's talk was very interesting and she focused it on areas that would be informative for the students. She explained how she has become an author through reading and being fascinated by words. She also described how she had become successful through dedication and hard work and that there was nothing wrong with being a 'swot', that it was essential in order to achieve. Hopefully her talk will inspire and reassure some of the students to become writers or at least study English at university. Most of the pupils at the school are all girls and it's good to see cool and successful role models.



While I was there I had a quick look in the library (don't like to miss an opportunity) which is only small but has a great selection of books. It is a great school and it was interesting to visit.



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No luck at Clare College

Last weekend I stayed at Clare College Cambridge when I was taking Joe back to Churchill. It was a nice place to stay although the beds were not as comfortable as they could have been. The gardens were beautiful. In the booklet for bed and breakfast guests they said you could access the library common room and could use computers in various places. So I went and asked the porter. I said 'Is it possible to look in the library, please' and he said 'No'. I admit it is my fault as I should know by now that it is necessary to email or phone in advance to gain entry - I have filled in quite a few request forms. The porter was very helpful about everything else.
This is the outside of the library from the room where I stayed.






and the University Library