Book Marks in our Libraries.Turning Pages, Shaping Lives

Our new project recording the importance of the book, the library spaces where they are and the marks they have made and make on people’s lives across Birmingham. 

People’s Heritage Co-operative is delighted to announce their £16,000 award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to record people’s experiences of books and reading spaces at three Birmingham community libraries in Druids Heath; Selly Oak and Stirchley, working with partners Arts Forum Selly Oak and Birmingham Community Libraries Services,  

These experiences will be documented with workshop support from a community film maker, an oral historian, local poets to creatively engage workshop participants to share their stories of libraries, the book and community spaces.  

These stories will be part of a film which will be shown as the culmination of the project. The film and oral histories we collect, along with poetic responses will be shared online on the Project blog/website and will be archived to be part of the Community Library collections at LoB Archives so the value of books and the impact of the spaces where people read and share them is kept for the long term. 

Local communities are invited to get involved in sharing their stories of books and libraries and documenting their experiences with us during March and April. Our project launches on World Book Day, 6th March at Druid’s Heath Library and on 8th March at Stirchley and Selly Oak Libraries.

People’s Heritage Chair, Rachel Gillies said:

“We are so excited to get this award from the Natinoal Lottery Heritage Fund so we can celebrate, record and preserve for the long term the fantastic educational, personal, creative and community impact of Birmingham Libraries on its communities at such a changing moment in the history of the City, the country and beyond. Thanks to the National Lottery Players for making this possible.”