Book Marks
Book Marks explored the vital role that books and libraries play in people’s lives.We captured the precious memories of readers at Druids Heath, Stirchley and Selly Oak Libraries with film maker Soheila Javaheri, talented local poets Bradley Taylor, Hayley Frances and Ruben Whitter as well as a talk by former librarian Richard Albutt.
Readers of all ages shared their library stories in workshops at their libraries through poetry, film and artwork, working with partners Arts Forum Selly Oak and Birmingham Community Libraries Services in a project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery Players.
The stories are part of a film shown at the culmination of the project in May 2025. The film and oral histories we collected, along with poetic responses are shared online below and will be archived to be part of the Community Library collections at Library of Birmingham Archives so the value of books and the impact of the spaces where people read and share them is kept for the long term.
Graham: ‘…during the covid period, it wan’t very nice, with the libraries empty. I did have people [in the library] I knew and they knew me, I knew them by name.’
Victoria: ‘This is a wicked library, I wish it was open some more!’
Amy: For early language development it’s hugely important to have a resource where you can swap in different books’
Joan: ‘I read a whole eclectic choice, I particularly enjoy crime fiction…’
Carl: ‘When I was a school I didn’t enjoy it so much…I’ve always loved reading though, recently I’ve been trying to read more. If you don’t keep libraries open it’s a sad situation.’
Helen & Laura: ‘The Kings Heath Library did such a lot for children…a place to go and sit without having to buy coffee. Libraries are more than just books.’
Druids Heath Wise: ‘We all used to meet up in the Church, but that’s closed, it got sold…It’s a good place to meet, we quite like it.’
Raheela: ‘I’ve been a bookworm since I was a child…I was dyslexic as a child so my teacher said ‘read Raheela’, and I did.’
Phil: ‘It was Yardley Wood Library when I was a child…I especially was borrowing non-fiction books, and I remember my parents saying I should read more fiction.’
Jodie & Kaitlin: ‘I normally find, if there’s arts and crafts I go to there: If there isn’t I try and read.’
Lucy & Rosie: ‘Rosie has her dance class and we usually get some books.’
Terri and Aiden: ‘I moved from South Africa to England for work nine years ago and the first place I came to with my six month old daughter was the library.’
Freshteh: ‘For having a meaningful life you need to improve your knowledge and point of view…’
Alfed: ‘I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a reader, but I do like coming to a Library.’
Fatima: As I’ve got older I’ve got more introverted, I’ve become more…unless I’m going to somewhere, unless I’m going to Uni I’m just, I stay at home. But with the library I’m pushed to come out of the house, to take my daughter to things, also a chance to interact with other adults.’
Helen: ‘I take Ruth to school and then Hannah and my youngest and I come to the library for storytime. It’s always filled with parents and carers and grandparents and lots of children.’
Sandra: ‘I’m like my Father, I buy them, I’ve got a house stuffed with books…It’s interesting to read about other places.’
Celia’s Poem: ‘Fill the space…’
Jen: ‘So I’m the volunteer and community coordinator here, so I look after the volunteers that are already here. If anyone wants to volunteer here…’
Amy and Eleni: ‘We’ve been coming since she’s six weeks old, not every week but what they put on is amazing.’
Emma & Joy: ‘It’s a really good atmosphere and it’s really nice to have the cafe to see people at the end.’
Andrew & Lewis: ‘I’ve always thought from day one that this should be something available for everyone.’
Sophie & Raffi: ‘I do love reading, I don’t think a particular author…I love reading with children and for pleasure myself.’
Patrick: ‘I left school in 1963, so a long, long time ago and it was in a time when it was easy to get a job wherever you were. I just wanted to get a job…’
Carole: ‘My daughter is a Librarian and an artist, and her qualification is Librarian, it’s information science, so it’s information.’
Margaret: ‘It’s certainly changed from when I was a child, when it was just a place you got books. I like what they do now.’
Jackie: ‘They seem full of young families, activities for children. It feels like it’s more…bringing the community together.’
Francoise: ‘It’s when I came here, in England, before that I didn’t really go because I lived in France and…at the time you had to pay to use libraries.’
Phil: ‘I’m not from round here but I remember going to the library with my Mum…’
Norise: ‘The thing about a library which is so different…you can browse and you come across books you never thought of reading.’
Full stories are available on request to PHC and is being deposited at Birmingham Archives and Collections, The Library of Birmingham.
