National Year of Reading 2008

2008 is an important year for books, reading and libraries. That’s because it has been selected to be a National Year of Reading. The last National Year of Reading was in 1998 and we, at Wigan Libraries, are determined to shout about it!

► National Year of Reading News Page
► National Year of Reading Events Page
► Links to Useful Websites

Cre8 a Story n Win £50 4 Xmas!

Looking for a seasonal challenge? Why not try our Christmas micro-fiction text competition?

What is micro-fiction?
Well, Ernest Hemingway once wrote a 6-word story and is said to have considered it his best work: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

We are being rather more generous, however! To celebrate the end of National Year of Reading, Wigan Libraries are asking for your stories on the theme of “Christmas Future”.
The prize for the best, and most original, entry will be £50 worth of High Street vouchers!

The Rules

You do not need to give your story a title if you don’t want to.
The competition is open to all ages and entries must be in English.
Stories must be all your own work and must not have been published anywhere else.
Your story can be as long or as short as you like, as long as it fits within a maximum of two text messages and has a Christmas Future theme – we reserve the right to disqualify any that do not meet these requirements.
You can use standard text abbreviations in your stories to give you more flexibility. The use of punctuation is open to personal choice, however the story should be ultimately readable.
Please ensure that your entry is suitable for a mixed audience – we reserve the right to disregard inappropriate material.
Please only send your story – we will not enter into any other correspondence.
Entries must be in by midnight on Tuesday 16th December – no entries received after this time will be considered.
You do not need to give any personal detail unless you are shortlisted, in which case we may text to ask for your first name and permission to use your story on our web pages.
The shortlist will be drawn up on 18th December and the winner contacted on 19th December.
Unfortunately this competition is not open to Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust employees.
Remember not to withhold your phone number, as this is the only way we can get back to you.
All numbers will be securely held, then deleted at the close of the competition, once the winner has been notified.

If you are still a bit unsure of exactly what micro-fiction is, we thought it might be helpful to give you a few examples to help you out...

Another example of a six-word story:
It’s behind you! Hurry before it - Rockne S. O’Bannon

Alternatively, here are three examples of 50-word stories, which could easily be abbreviated down to two texts. They give you an example of how much can be done in just a few words...

Keeping Stick Insects
Once they laid eggs. We put them in jars, changed the privet daily in case they emerged hungry. Nothing hatched. We forgot. Somewhere in dark lockers the summer temperature attained their liking. They escaped bullet-hard spaces into re-enclosure. Died. We found them heaped, gone crunchy, six-each-screwed-up legs sealing our guilt.
© Pauline Masurel 2002, http://www.tangents.co.uk/50words/

WHAT ABOUT HYPHENS?
“What about hyphens?”
“Uh?”
“Does a hyphenated word count as one or two?”
“One. Two.” She sighed. “Whatever.”
“It really matters,” he said, agitated. “If it’s one, I’ve got forty-nine words. If it’s two, I’ve got fifty-one.” “What about numbers?” she asked, mischievously. 49? 51? Now he was really worried.
© Tim Footman 2001, http://www.tangents.co.uk/50words/

The one time I came up to your room – empty. Walking in I smelt the damp of the books I thumbed through, touched all the cold ornaments on your shelf, peered into your mirror, got into your bed then tried to smooth it out again – the exact wrinkles like before.
© Julia Calver 2001, http://www.tangents.co.uk/50words/

Note: Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust is not responsible for the content of external websites.

When you have created your masterpiece, just text it to through to us on 07531509197 and hopefully you could our first Wigan micro-fiction story winner. Good Luck!

Join the celebrations!

Latics star Kevin Kilbane and friends

We will be planning lots of events, for all age groups, across our borough’s libraries. Some of the events may be familiar to you, whilst others will be brand new ideas! Above all 2008 is a year to celebrate reading, and the celebration officially kicked off in April.

Read a good book recently? Why not share your thoughts about it with us by sending a review of it to bookreviews@wlct.org? Don't forget to include your first name, your age and your local library. We'll feature the best reviews on our website.

Each month throughout the year has a theme, and on these pages you will be able to see what’s happening in the borough to mark the occasion. We’re also working closely with the rest of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, so the events planned will take place in lots of different venues across the borough, and there really will be something for everyone.

Want to get involved?

There are plenty of ways you can get involved, but here are just a few ideas we’ve come up with:

1. If you’re not yet a library member, what’re you waiting for? It’s free to join and a great way to get reading!
► Library Membership Form [PDF]

2. Check out what’s happening in your local area – the library is a good place to start – so that you can be part of the action.

3. Why not bookmark this web page, so that you can check back throughout the year for updates?

4. Why not join – or set up – a reading group?

5. There’s plenty that’ll be happening over the year, so please feel free to volunteer so that you can help make 2008 a year to remember.

6. Write a review of your favourite book, and call into your local library with it. A selection of our favourite reviews will appear on this website, and you'll be given a special wristband (whilst stocks last!) to thank you for your contribution.

► Book Review Form
► Book Review Hints and Tips
► Sample Book Reviews

What surprises are in store?

Well now, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Let’s just say that there’ll be one or two major events each month, that we’ll feature on this website as soon as we can tell you about them!

Image: Stuart Maconie and Leah Hackett
Stuart Maconie and Leah Hackett celebrate National Year of Reading 2008

Image: Latics footballer Kevin Kilbane with WLCT Executive Director Pete Gascoigne
Latics footballer Kevin Kilbane with
WLCT Executive Director Pete Gascoigne