LiBlog

This is a somewhat bleary blog written on a short breather from the Heritage Lottery bid millstone. Can I say thanks to laura, christine and helen for keeping the old blogging blarney stone warm here at GWL? (What is this stoney theme about so early in my message? Ask Shakespeare’s sister - or perhaps one of our proposed GWL bibliotherapy consultants…)

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Am I in an episode of ‘One Foot in the Grave’?

Recent letter received at Glasgow Women’s Library, addressed to:

BULLDIKE PROMOTIONS, 2nd Floor, 81 Parnie Street, Glasgow, G1 5RH

GWL’s address, right enough, but Bulldike Promotions??

Girded my loins for opening the letter, expecting abusive, sarcastic or homophobic correspondence and read the following:

Dear Sir

Would you please send me your free catalogue of Hobby Horse CDs

Thanks very much

Dear correspondent, if I could, I would, and in the meantime I will make enquiries as to where this letter belongs and hope that your CDs arrive in time for Christmas.

Ah, that’s better. A bit warmer now and just about to resume work on our Heritage Lottery Bid, applying for funding to create a proper archive in our new Mitchell Library premises. Two weeks to go before the deadline, but progress is good and Adele and I are working very hard. A good week this week - great meeting with Karen Cunningham (Head of Libraries at Culture and Sport Glasgow) and colleagues to progress our Mitchell Library lease. Also attended the launch of the book, ‘Travelling the Distance’, at the Scottish Parliament - a beautiful publication by artist Shauna McMullan on her fantastic sculpture celebrating the lives of women in Scotland - see the Scottish Parliament website. Shuana cites GWL as being pivotal in her research for the commission of the sculpture, and we were pleased to be able to help. Right - back to work. Quick cup of tea first, though!

I’d love to know what it’s like to work somewhere warm - to feel enveloped in cosiness as soon as you walk through the door from the cold outside air. Our office was just over 10 degrees when I came in this morning and it’s not even winter proper yet. Our electric heaters do their best to boost the temperature to an acceptable 16 / 17 degrees, but at a cost - about £180 in 10 days. I kid you not. We are freezing and it’s costing us a fortune in electricity. If anyone out there can help, we need some perspex secondary glazing to keep the heat in. Otherwise we will have icicles hanging from our snouts come January. HELP!

Check out the following snippet taken from the Scottish Parliament website:

S3M-713 Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab) : Freedom of the City of Glasgow for Aung San Suu Kyi— That the Parliament welcomes the decision of Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Councillor Robert Winter, to recommend Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of Burma who has been under house arrest since 1990, for the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in recognition of her achievements in the service of democracy, as a further signal of Scotland’s support for her immediate release and restoration of Burmese democracy; congratulates Glasgow Women’s Library and Amnesty International Scotland for their successful campaign; calls on all parties and civic organisations in Glasgow to support the Lord Provost’s initiative, and further calls on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government to highlight the situation in Burma and campaign for an end to oppression.

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Well the Halloween Party was a success. Lots of women came along and took part in the fun and games so I thought a couple of photos would be called for.

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It’s just occurred to me that we moved here and opened the doors to our Parnie Street premises exactly a year ago - where did that time go? 

Imagine where we’ll be this time next year. Still here, I imagine, BUT with daily visits to our Mitchell space donning hard hats to check on the progress of our building work. Wonder if it’ll be an all-women building site, Irn Bru bottles and empty Yorkie wrappers placed in neat piles. Bliss. 

I am going a little blog crazy at the moment, but I wanted to share another course with the blog readers. Last February I did a drumming workshop and enjoyed it so much that when I read about this course I thought I would share the love.

Djembe Drumming – new 6-week course for women beginners starting on Thursdays from Thursday 01 November at 7.45pm to 9.15pm, it costs £30 for 6-week course including hire of drum, bargain!

For more information and to book a place go to: www.gatheringlasgow.co.uk

Happy drumming people.

Hallow….een to all.
We’re having a wee party on Wednesday 31 October between 12pm and 5pm. The party is open to all Library users and is a great opportunity to meet other women who use the library, tell us what you have enjoyed over the past year and find out what is planned for the future - and don’t forget to have some FUN!

Please drop in any time between 12pm and 5pm and stay for as long as you want or are able. If you really feel like getting into the spirit of things, why not wear fancy dress

Hope to see everyone there.