The award-winning performance poet, playwright and children’s author Joseph Coelho is on an epic cross-country mission to join a library in every local authority in the UK – more than 200 libraries in total – with the aim of encouraging people, young and old, to join their local library
Coelho has now visited 165 libraries across the UK as part of his ‘Library Marathon’ tour and will be stopping at Cowes Library on the Isle of Wight next Tuesday (13th June) at 15:30 where he will register for a library card, borrow a book, as well as read to and perform for the children in the library.
For the Island leg of the journey he will be travelling on his bamboo bicycle from the ferry.
Coelho said:
“As an avid cyclist, I can’t wait to gear up for the first bicycle leg of my Library Marathon tour! Libraries made me a writer and make communities thrive. They have been a vital part of my life: from living on estates where I had a library next door, to my 1st Saturday job, to working at the British Library whilst studying at UCL, to touring theatre shows designed to be performed in libraries.”
“I’m immensely grateful to libraries and the services they provide, so I want to use my platform as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate to champion these essential launchpads of learning. I want to hug every library, these miraculous institutions where new horizons line the shelves, where minds go to grow.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet member responsible for libraries said:
“We are very much looking forward to Joseph Coelho’s visit to the Island. His work as Children’s Laureate in raising the profile of the importance of libraries to children and families is to be welcomed. We know the relevance of literacy in achieving positive life outcomes and the council aims to provide engaging children’s areas with a range of activities to encourage library participation. We hope Joseph’s visit will help encourage even more families to our libraries.”
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as long as he isn’t peddling that disgusting book of filth “grandpa’s pride” by harry woodgate which shows bondage and bangs on about trans rights to little children. Waterstones need boycotting because of this filth on their shelves…
Are you a publicist for the author of the book you mention? Nice way of letting more people know about the book!
No doubt Waterstones in Newport will see extra custom since you’ve brought to everyone’s attention that their shelves are filled with ‘filth’.