Our Shetland Library Calendar 2007 Hidden Corners of Lerwick is now sold out: thanks to all who bought it and we hope you enjoyed it. In connection with the library’s current initiative to arouse increased interest in local history, this calendar illustrated how even in the last two decades there have been considerable alterations to Lerwick’s built environment and surrounding seascape. You can still see some of the photos here: Hidden Corners revealed

Thanks to writers Donald Murray, Laureen Johnson, Christian Tait and Mark Smith, who read their poetry and prose at the New Shetlander Yule Evening on the 6th of December 2006. Music was by Erin Sandison & Brian Nicolson and Alan Mackay & Robert Bennet, and the audience were delighted by another lovely evening of words and music in the library.

The winner of the 2006 Shetland Arts and New Shetlander Writing Prize was announced on National Poetry Day. The theme for this year was placenames. You can read the winning poems here:

Winner: Seein baith sides: Hoofield, Cunningsburgh by Christene de Luca

Runner-up: Living Legends by Tom Childs

And thanks to local poet Donald Murray, who wrote this wonderful library van poem for us!

September 2006: Shetland Library has been successful in maintaining the Investors in People Standard for a further three years. In his report, the national assessor 'found high levels of encouragement for staff to input and be involved in all aspects of the Library and its planning'. He also found an 'emphasis on the provision of a high quality service to their customers and the recognition that well trained staff are vital to the success of the library'.Commenting on the award, Silvija Crook, Library and Information Manager said 'we are all delighted at the outcome of the assessment. Our priority is to make our libraries as good as they can be, encouraging as many folk as possible to make use of the services available. It's good to have someone come in from the outside, look at what we are achieving and find it to be of a high quality'.

For Up Helly Aa 2007 Shetland Library, with the assistance of graduate placement worker Trevor Jamieson, gave away ‘Build Your Own Galley Kits’. The kit included a page of cutout components, easy to follow instructions and colouring suggestions, along with a brief history of Up-Helly-Aa. We hope that the ‘Build Your Own Galley Kit’ not only amused youngsters and adults alike, but served to better inform about the ins and outs our great festival, not to mention the proper names for some galley parts!  We gave away nearly 700 of the galley kits and believe they found their way all over the world. The galley's role in Up-Helly-Aa.

Thanks to all who entered our limerick competition for National Poetry Day 2006. We picked three winners: Barbara Fraser, Persephone Poulton and Kyle Rognaldsen. Read the winning limericks here.

On 26 June 2006 members of the local scrapbooking group, Shetland Scrapbookers, showed off their craft in the library, and Joanne from Shetland Archives also brought along some old scrapbooks of local interest.  It was a rare chance to see these precious collections which are normally stored in the archives.  A lovely contrast between the old and the new, and both activities were really enjoyed by the people who dropped in.  Just get in touch if you think you would like to demonstrate your craft or interest in the Library.

We hosted some delightful events in May 2006.  At a drop-in music night we promoted our music books and DVDs and even had live music from some brave perfomers!  In partnership with Shetland Arts, we hosted the launch of a new book of poetry postcards, and the audience was treated to a thrilling perfomance from Jen Hadfield, who read new poems, sang and played mandolin. We ended the month with an Art Night, when Mike Finnie (pictured) displayed some of his wonderful watercolours, painted and chatted to customers.  Thanks to all the people who made these evenings so enjoyable, please get in touch if you have ideas for events in the library.

Early in June 2006 we opened our reserve stock areas to the public for two nights. For those folk who have always been fascinated by the piles of books that are conjured up on request from a mysterious basement, this was the chance to see where they reside.  The opening up was a great success, giving happy browsers an extra collection of books to rake amongst. We had lots of comments urging us to do it more often, so are going to continue with openings every month during the winter months, as staffing allows.

In April 2006, the Library was delighted to host a Stitch and Chat Day with members of the Embroiders' Guild. They were in the library all day to talk to people about fabric crafts and demonstrate their skills: folk could also have a go at a starter embroidery pack.  And it was a good chance to browse all the library's craft books.  There was also a music evening, poetry evening and art evening during Adult Learners week.

If you would like to demonstrate your craft or hobby in the library, please get in touch.

Authors Hamish Macdonald and Matthew Fitt delighted the audience at the library on Wednesday 22 March 2006 with readings from their work and other humorous Scottish poetry and prose.  They also introduced many of the Scots language books for kids that are produced by the Itchy Coo collective.  Mary Blance read Shetland poetry and Donald Anderson provided the music, in what was another successful collaboration between Shetland Arts Trust and the library.  Thanks to all who took part.  www.itchy-coo.com

Thanks for all who contributed to our World Book Day 2006 events, including the story-writing exercise and the 'Write a Blurb' competition.  You can read some of the best blurbs here.  The Library at the Edge of the World evolved into two lively tales with some unexpected twists and turns.  Click on the links below to read the stories.

The Library at the Edge of the World - Children's version

The Library at the Edge of the World - Adult's version

Valentine 2006: thanks to all who wrote about their favourite love stories for us - all ages entered their suggestions for books, songs, films and poems.  Read the full list here.

In January 2006, Jen Hadfield's poetry project Love's Dog proved a popular and entertaining event in the library.  Based on the poem 'A View of Things' by Edwin Morag, many people contributed individual lines which were formed into a new group poem called 'Love's Dog'.  You can read it here.

Right: Jen and the Chatterbooks book group add to the poem.

Shetland Library hosted the national launch of Raven Black, the latest novel by well known crime writer Ann Cleeves, on 3 February 2006.  The book is a murder mystery set in Shetland, and Ann revealed that she is to write three follow-up novels, each set in Shetland in a different season.  The launch was a big success, with about sixty people attending.

Read a review of Raven Black.