Book Week Scotland is a big success at East Renfrewshire libraries

The line-up featured Meet the Author events with renowned Scottish writing talents, celebrations of the best ‘Rebel’ books, kids craft and Primary 1 bookbag gifting sessions.

The week culminated in Big Book Bash celebrations, with everyone encouraged to attend dressed as their favourite characters for a fun-filled afternoon of party games, arts and crafts and, of course, books.

Award-winning writer and television presenter Cameron McNeish presented ‘Scotland’s Great Outdoors’ at Giffnock Library and talked the full crowd through childhood, climbing Munros and his very successful career.

The Govan-born author, who was editor of The Great Outdoors magazine for 20 years, presented his latest book, an autobiography entitled There’s Always the Hills.

Cameron said: “I’m in a very fortunate position to earn a living by exploring and mountain climbing – it’s been a dream of mine from such an early age that I’ve followed and it’s been very good to me.

“I’m delighted to be speaking as part of Book Week Scotland. Libraries have always been very important to me and books first inspired me to climb Scottish mountains.

“The library is such a rich resource and in this time of digital world, there’s something very reassuring about holding a book in your hand.”

Meet the Author events also featured multi-award-winning Scottish songwriter and musician Karine Polwart, who visited Barrhead Foundry and Mearns Libraries to read her first children’s book A Wee Bird Was Watching to primary one children from Barrhead’s Cross Arthurlie Primary and St. Cadoc’s Primary.

Karine hosted an interactive session, discussing her book’s woodland characters, singing and playing the guitar and folk music to her captivated audience. She also presented the primary one classes with their Bookbug family bags as part of Book Week Scotland.

Author Paul Murdoch visited Giffnock Library to talk to pupils from Braidbar Primary and Woodfarm Secondary, exploring his new book Sunny, a fast-moving crime thriller for young people aimed at tackling Scotland’s sectarianism and racism.

Award-winning author Simon Puttock visited Giffnock Library and Barrhead Foundry to delight primary one pupils with readings from his popular picture books.

The libraries also hosted a series of arts and crafts sessions for the ‘wee rebels’ to enjoy, including sketching scenes from their favourite books, robot modelling and origami.

Scott Simpson, from East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, said: “We have enjoyed every minute of our Book Week Scotland events, bringing some of Scotland’s best writing talents to the local areas with inspirational talks and interactive sessions for the public and local school pupils.

“It’s been wonderful to have all the children taking part in our craft sessions and the week culminated in a party, with our Big Book Bash which took place at Giffnock Library and Barrhead Foundry. We want to encourage everyone to make use of our libraries, which promote reading, support learning and encourage creativity.

“We have a range of valuable resources that people can access right in the heart of our community.”

To find out more about upcoming activities at East Renfrewshire libraries visit www.ercultureandleisure.org/libraries.