LiBlog

It’s been a wee while since my last blog, although I have been full of good intentions. I thought I would let people know about a couple of opportunities I have recently been informed of.

The first is Women’s Self Defence Classes being held at Urban Oasis in Ruthven Lane on 22 or 29 April from 6pm to 8pm (both dates). If you are interested in finding out more then click on this link: Self Defence for Women Workshops. While you’re on there check out the other events they have going on - there is a wide variety so you might find something that tickles your fancy!

Or if you fancy getting out and about now that Spring has sprung…well, the clocks have changed and there is more sun - even if it is still freezing most days…then why not try one of the Necropolis Tours and learn a little about Glasgow’s History. If you are interested then click this link to go to their website and book on: Friends of the Necropolis

Happy Spring time to everyone and bring on the Summer

After nearly a year away in a hazy, crazy place called motherhood, I’m back! It’s the end of my first week and I feel like I’ve never been away. GWL is like an old friend, you can just ‘pick up where you left off’, no matter how long its been.

So much has been happening whilst I’ve been off, I can’t quite work out how our reasonably small team of staff and volunteers manage it.They’re super human! There’s been tonnes of fab courses and events as always, a HUGE funding application, new ESOL provision for a host of lovely new library users, the list goes on…. New staff members Laura, Syma, Pauline and Claire seem like they’ve always been here. How did we manage without them?

I’m hoping that within the next few weeks I’ll be back up to speed with everything so that I can carry on the brilliant work that Christine and her classification posse did in my absence. Well done folks! I’m also looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into some work relating to our move to the Mitchell. As much as I love the home we’ve made at Parnie Street, I’ve always, always, always wanted to work at the Mitchell library, so I can’t quite believe my luck!

Being ‘me’ again as opposed to ‘me and Will’ for a whole 2 or 3 days a week is going to be a bit of an adjustment. For instance:
a) remembering I can go to the toilet wherever the fancy takes me, without Will clinging desperately to my leg
b) eating my lunch without having to fend off his infeasibly long arms and sticky fingers
c) getting the bus home without breaking into a cold sweat at the thought of manoveuring my wonky shopping trolley of a buggy on whilst getting the evil eye from the bus driver
d) reaching the end of the day without being covered in various food stuffs (unless we’ve had a particularly rowdy pot luck lunch)

Being back at work is going to be great. And at the end of a weird and wonderful day at the library, I get to go home and see my gorgeous wee poppet, Will. The joys of librarianship and motherhood all in the one day. Magic.

Yep, it’s on the horizon - the annual collective thud of women in trainers, pounding the Tarmac to a backdrop buzz of chitter chatter. Each woman has her own motivations and reasons and ours is to raise money for your beloved GWL. Team GWL are on the run and will enter the Women’s 10K on Sunday 18th May. Some of us will run, some of us will walk, but we will all be seeking sponsorship to raise as much money as possible, so PLEASE SPONSOR US. You can do it easily and securely on-line at http://www.womenslibrary.org.uk/news/womens10k.html or you can contact us and pledge the old fashioned way by sponsorship form. Will keep you posted on progress.

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Forgive me website for I have sinned. It’s been an age since I last blogged. Too long and now it’s nearly the end of March, and Easter. We have been so so so busy. The Lifelong Learning Team’s work output brings tears to my eyes - the Lifelong Learning Programme is jumping, the Literacy and Numeracy Project is helping to positively change women’s lives in front of my eyes and Syma is steering our great BME ship towards great things. Alas, I too have been busy and have no time to twiddle my proverbials. As we patiently await the outcome of our Heritage Lottery Grant application (June!!), I am submitting further bids. And we have a team for the Women’s 10K, all in training and gathering sponsorship so please support us - we will have info on our website soon. In the meantime, we will close for a long weekend to scoff us eggs and watch Ben Hur. Or something. And I will Blog again very soon, I promise.

The Women’s Support Project has just launched their new training programme. There are a range of courses on this for staff that work with a variety of different women. Have a look at their programme and if you are interested there is a booking form to send off and this details any costs to the organisation you work for.

The training programme is available throught their website: http://www.womenssupportproject.co.uk/training.php
If you have any problems accessing these please drop me an email and I will forward PDF versions on to you. laura.dolan@womenslibrary.org.uk

Well we are back in the Library after a wee break to enjoy all that the festive period had to offer and things are starting to hot up already! The planning for the Spring 2008 Programme is well underway and there are already a few things taking shape for end of February and early March. Of course, International Women’s Week takes place at the beginning of March so we will have some events based round this as always, we are also holding a couple of walks, talks and events around Glasgow’s Women and the Abolitionist Movement. The programme should be with you at the end of January 2008.

While I am on I thought I would let people know about the following course:

Writing is a powerful tool for self-exploration and change. It can detect unconscious messages you miss, help clarify goals and aid in making transitions. Start the New Year by discovering the imaginative power at your fingertips!

We’ll use a range of inspiring exercises and blend them with concerns you raise in the group. These might include relationships, body issues, breaking bad habits, confidence etc.

Beginners welcome. The focus is on writing for wellbeing rather than writing skills.

Tutor: Frances Campbell* BA
Course No: G184 £81.50 Reduced rate: £40.75
19.00-21.00 Tuesdays from 15 January (10 meetings)
BOOKING: - contact Glasgow University: tel 0141 330 1860

Participants at similar courses have said:
- You made me think in fresh ways.
- You were great at creating a relaxed, open inviting atmosphere where I felt comfortable to write.

* Frances Campbell: novelist, short story writer & poet. Her novel,The Past is Another Country - was nominated for a Saltire Award. Her short stories and articles have featured in publications from Chapman to The Independent. She is editor of Hidden Voices, a report on the inaugural conference of Lapidus Scotland [Literary Arts in Personal Development], is on the management committee of Lapidus Scotland and is Scottish representative to Lapidus UK.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!  Hope that 2008 is a great year for all.

Hello, it’s been awhile and now it’s already time to settle the year 2007 down to its’ bed.Awww.

My time has been most enjoyable with 6 new classification bee volunteers, a rare and lovely bunch of women, all keen to help the library. Thanks very much to them for their amazing efforts! We have classified 2352 books.Well done!Also to Claire for her labelling abilities.And the anonymous donor of my now famous plastic shopping trolley, which I can be found pushing along gaily like a wee girl wi’ a pram!

Personally I am enjoying the post-dissertation freedom of being able to read NOVELS, yes those wee things that brighten and deepen your experience of living, most recently The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger and now am halfway through the Lovely bones by Alice Sebold. Both wonderful in their own way, taking me into a deeper isolated space within, which paradoxically opens me up in a universal compassionate way. This is just what Joseph Gold, the master of bibliotherapy stated it would do!!Self-Bibliotherapy at work!

In ma house, on 25th December we are having a ‘James Brown Day’ and eating only brown food and soul food.So, whatever your thing is, I hope it is peaceful, warm and loving.Happy New Year!

This small guide is a useful beginner’s guide to the current state of the world on women’s rights issues. It is written from a perspective of anti-poverty for women. It promotes human rights and political awareness on diverse issues that relate to women all over the world. For example, a chapter on religious influences looks at racist attitudes in the world. The issues of AIDS and violence against women are also outlined and these are interconnected with the idea of cultural relativism.

The layout includes text-boxes which enable easier reading and the content is potentially a great resource for secondary schools and further education in Scotland. It is also accessible for the general reader.

Published by Pluto Press and they offer a 20% discount from www.plutobooks.com or by calling 0208 348 2724: PLUGLASGOW