Published: 04 Oct 2016
The full programme for Scotland’s fifth national celebration of books and reading was announced today, Wednesday 5 October, at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh. Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust will deliver a feast of activities and events across the country during the 2016 edition of Book Week Scotland, all rooted in this year’s central theme of Discovery.
The key focus of the week will once again be a rich and varied events programme for all tastes and ages. Author events will abound with the UK’s best-loved writers and illustrators visiting libraries in every local authority, a programme funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), and appearances from such bookish heavyweights as Will Self, Lisa McInerney, Jenni Fagan, Jill Mansell, Simon Scarrow, Isabel Greenberg, Clare Mackintosh, Jodi Picoult, Alexander McCall Smith, whose event isprogrammed by East Lothian Libraries,and Liz Lochhead and Christopher Brookmyre, whose events are programmed by Cove and Kilgreggan Book Festival. Well-known personalities such as Alan Cumming, programmed by Literary Dundee, Nick Crane and Tony Robinson will also make special appearances in locations across the country.
As part of the theme of discovery, a brand new Book Generator quiz will be available on the Book Week Scotland website, enabling participants to uncover the perfect book match for themselves or the ideal present for a friend. Celebrities and authors such as Simon Mayo, A.L. Kennedy, Susan Calman, Julia Donaldson and Lemn Sissay will provide additional inspiration by revealing which book they would give to everyone in Scotland for Christmas.
Booklovers far and wide will also be encouraged to take on a Reading Dare, with the joint aim of helping others to begin or continue their reading journey, and of challenging themselves to try something new. Those who need some inspiration can visit www.bookweekscotland.com to try out the Reading Dare Randomiser, which might suggest anything from gifting a book to a stranger, to proposing to the person you love with a line from your favourite poem.
To ensure that Book Week Scotland is accessible to as wide a range of people as possible there will also be an outreach programme working with 20 local and national organisations. These partnerships will be tailored to specific audiences, and will include Dyslexia Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, 5 local authority Community and Learning Development teams and organisations like Fare Scotland, Sunny Govan FM, the Maker’s Bistro, Open Book and many others. Participants will take part in a range of activities including finding out what friends and family like to read and gifting a specially chosen book, running book/film discussion nights, sharing and celebrating adult learners’ reading achievements, running a “write to recovery workshop” to encourage people to use creative writing to improve mental wellbeing and a “Reading, Writing and Self-Management” event to celebrate people using reading and writing to manage their long term health conditions.
For those who have an interest in discovering new writing talent, 150,000 free copies of a new short story and poem collection written by the people of Scotland, Secrets and Confessions, will be handed out during the week via libraries, bookshops and other outlets.
School pupils across the country can also get into the Book Week Scotland spirit, with the three free picture books shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize gifted to every Primary 1 pupil in Scotland in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag, and free bags of books, writing materials and counting games gifted to all Primary 2 and Primary 3 pupils. The bags, produced in partnership with Education Scotland and the Scottish Government as part of Read, Write, Count, provide materials for parents and children to use to have fun learning at home.
Additionally, children across the country can tune in to watch award-winning children’s author and Ruby Redfort creator Lauren Childin a special free Authors Live webcast on 24 November at 11.00am. Several secondary schools will also enjoy a personal visit from hip hop artist Dave Hook of Stanley Odd fame, who will tour schools around the country during the week.
The week will conclude with the unveiling of the nation’s 10 favourite Scottish book to screen adaptations – will cult movie Trainspotting triumph, or will Robbie Coltrane’s Gruffalo snap up the top spot? Voting is open now at www.bookweekscotland.com – film, TV and book fans can choose their number one page to screen adaptation from an eclectic shortlist of 40.
For more information about Book Week Scotland 2016 and how you can get involved, visit www.bookweekscotland.com, where you can find information about all the events taking place in your local area, vote for your favourite book to screen adaptation and discover all sorts of ideas to help you celebrate and share whatever it is you love to read.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It’s a fantastically positive endorsement of Scotland’s thriving literary scene that Book Week Scotland is now entering its fifth year, bigger, better and bolder than ever before. Authors, booksellers, libraries, readers and partners too numerous to mention have really taken this national festival to heart and made it what it is – a joyful, democratic and inclusive celebration of reading’s unique capacity for empowerment, enrichment, education, solace, pleasure and growth. The 2016 programme is our best yet, with world-class authors and more programmed events than ever before.”
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: “Book Week Scotland has gone from strength to strength since it was established in 2012, gaining the support of some of Scotland’s leading authors, including Christopher Brookmyre and Liz Lochhead. The importance of reading for pleasure cannot be underestimated, it can be a force for good in so many ways, helping people realise their potential.
“The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging reading in all our communities and, over the last four years, thousands of people have enjoyed events and free books during Book Week Scotland. It’s now a firm fixture in the calendar for thousands, and I encourage people the length and breadth of the country to embrace Book Week Scotland 2016”.
Leonie Bell, Director, Arts and Engagement, Creative Scotland, said: “The fifth year of Book Week Scotland promises to be a real celebration of Scotland’s incredible literary culture, from new writers to old favourites. With an outreach programme ensuring that everyone across Scotland is able to enjoy the magic of reading and a plethora of book-related events, talks and dares to embark on, Scottish Book Trust is taking us on a reading adventure like no other.”
Author Jodi Picoult said: “I am delighted to be part of Scotland’s celebration of books and writing, and love coming north of the border to meet my fans. I can’t wait to be there!”
Initiated by the Scottish Government and supported, along with a Reading Champions programme in libraries, by £200,000 from Creative Scotland, Book Week Scotland will be delivered by Scottish Book Trust. Book Week Scotland in public libraries and Further Education College libraries is funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council.
For more information about Book Week Scotland, visit www.bookweekscotland.com. Follow @Bookweekscot on Twitter, check out #bookweekscot or like the Book Week Scotland Facebook page.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland and @creativescots
The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is the independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on library and information services. It leads the implementation of Ambition and Opportunity: A strategy for public libraries in Scotland 2015–2020, develops innovative projects like Film Education in Libraries and provides support for libraries in the form of advocacy, consultation and research. It administers Scottish Government funding for public libraries (Public Library Improvement Fund) and funding for the wider library and information sector (Innovation and Development Fund). It supports public libraries to participate in Book Week Scotland by providing Scottish Book Trust with event funding for every public library service and Further Education College Libraries.
The Bookbug P1 Family Bag was produced by Scottish Book Trust in conjunction with Education Scotland and the Scottish Government as part of Read, Write, Count – a new literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at children in Primary 1 to 3.
The Read, Write, Count bags for Primary 2 and 3 pupils were produced by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Government. Read, Write, Count is a new literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at parents of children in primary 1, 2 and 3 and includes bag gifting, social marketing and an outreach programme.
