We’ve now got a book-swapping shelf in the library for, yes, you guessed it, women to swap books with each other. As well as being a great way to save money and discover new authors, book swapping can also help us to make a positive change in terms of our environmental impact.

In 2003, Greenpeace produced evidence that the UK publishing industry was inadvertently fuelling the destruction of ancient forests in Finland and Canada. It found that one Canadian spruce produces just 24 books, which means that if you read one book every two weeks, your habits destroy almost one large tree every year. Scary stuff. In contrast, swapping books means that each book is maximised.

So if you’re popping into GWL, why not bring some books that you’re finished with that you think other women might enjoy? Swapping books with others is a great way to widen your reading horizons, and it’s good to know that it’s also helping to save a few trees into the bargain.

Just ask a staff member to show you where the shelf is. It’s looking abit empty and unloved at the moment, so please fill it up with gorgeous books that will inspire, entertain and enlighten!

To find out more about book swapping, you can check out these websites:

http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/

http://bookmooch.com/

http://www.bookhopper.com/

This is just to line it up with a few changes we’ll (I’ll) be making to the main website over the summer.

Try increasing or decreasing the text size in your browser (View > Text size in Firefox) - it should change size smoothly.

Some shots of the team after the event…

You can phone in a donation and we’ll take your details - 0141 552 8345 OR You can write and send a cheque made payable to ‘Glasgow Women’s Library’ OR You can make a donation online at https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/donation.asp?ref=155735 or through the Library’s website at http://www.womenslibrary.org.uk/news/womens10k.html Just follow the link. This is facilitated by Charity Choice and is safe, secure and quick.

No amount is too little or too large. We need every penny to count towards the £800,000 needed for the refurbishment of our new premises at the Mitchell Library.

For our elevenses treat, Kay has bought us all Pastel de Nata (Portuguese Tarts) as a reward so we are off to put the kettle on.

From their MySpace page:

“Bringing the crème of the city’s independent and creative crop together for the first time, the vision of ‘Made In The Shade’ is to showcase young design talent, to encourage customers to relish in the exclusivity of the handmade one-off and to promote the local businesses who are working hard to carve out creative identities amidst a mountain of mass-produced and carbon-negative products.”

If you’re interested in buying handmade crafts from local craftpeople, but can’t make it to the market, try looking on Etsy’s ‘Shop Local‘ section. Etsy is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade, connecting small business and individuals with buyers.

(Etsy has a growing reputation online as an example of the increasing specialization of e-commerce (and commerce generally) - taking advantage of the ‘long tail’ model… ah, I’ll stop there - it’s basically just a good place to find cute handmade stuff online)

Click here for info on Helke Sanders from Wikipedia

Both politically and artistically, this pioneer of the German women’s movement and of filmmaking has always been far ahead of her time. She began to examine social structures and political visions consistently
from the perspective of women and children and has continued to follow this principle to the present time. The radically unconventional films evolve a new, experimental filmic language and elude simple readings.

“I am a woman in her 50’s who is interested in creating an alternative way of living in the West End of Glasgow. Ideally a house share environment, providing a balance between privacy and an opportunity for informal companionship. Living independantly and compatibly. I would like to meet other women who are considering a change in their living circumstances over a tea or coffee!”

If this sounds like something that you are interested in finding out more about then drop the library an email or give us a call and we can make the connection.

Contact
info@womenslibrary.org.uk
0141 552 8345

Show Scotland
5th May, 11am- 4pm
Scotland Street School Museum
225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB

Creative Writing Workshops (Adults)
With Brian Whittingham and Zoe Strachan
Monday 5th May
1 -3 pm (readings 3 - 4.30 pm)

Do you have a story to tell? Would you like an opportunity to develop your creative writing skills? Scotland Street School Museum is offering free creative writing workshops as part of our Words Out event on Monday 5 May.

The workshops are open to adults of any level of experience. The workshops will be led by Brian Whittingham and Zoe Strachan. Brian has 3 written plays, various short stories and 5 poetry collections. Zoe teaches at the Edwin Morgan Centre for Creative Writing at Glasgow University and writes novels and short stories.

You will also be able to take part in a reading of work at the end of the day (3 - 4.30 pm). Tea and coffee will be provided.

If you would like to take part, please book in advance to make sure a place is reserved for you. You can make your booking by phoning 0141 276 9310 or emailing GMRCBookings@csglasgow.org.

Also, the theme for the New Writing to be published in their issue 39 is “Bugs” and the deadline for this is 13 June 2008. They pay £25 for every poem they publish and £15 per thousand words of prose.

Hope that this inspires some to get writing, and please let us know if you get anything published in the magazine, or blog about it, or let me know so I can blog about it!

Happy writing :o)