World Book Day 2014

Swansea Business School Library Staff

 

In case you didn't know, Thursday 6th March 2014 is World Book Day! People all over the world will be celebrating everything that is great about books and reading. School children in the UK will be dressing up as their favourite book characters...and not wanting to miss out on all the fun, our UWTSD Swansea library staff decided to take matters into their own hands!



Staff from the Griffith Library at Dynevor

 

Staff chose to dress up in a vast array of costumes themed around children's literature, from Harry Potter and Peter Pan...to Mary Poppins and the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland...

Townhill Library Staff

 

We also put up some themed book displays on 'World Travel', 'As Seen on Screen' and 'Children's Reading'...not to mention yards of bunting for added decoration! We hope you had as much fun as we did! 

 



World Book Day 2012

As well as being Saint David’s Day today (come and buy your Marie Curie daffodil here at the Owen Library!) you may be interested to know that it is also World Book Day, when we celebrate all things related to books and reading. Last year the library staff shared some of their favourite reads with you here on the blog and you responded in your droves to let us know what books you loved too. This year we thought we’d go all hi-tech and focus on e-books!

Advances in technology mean that we can now have a portable library in our pocket; we can read our favourite books on virtually any mobile device, anytime, anywhere (I have many of the classics on my iPhone!). But perhaps the most exciting feature of e-book technology is its ability to add fantastic interactive dimensions to the reading experience. We can now see our favourite characters literally come alive on the page, sound effects and atmospheric music can be added, maps and diagrams can be manipulated by the reader, and children can ‘step into’ and actively participate in the fantasy world created by their bedtime stories.

We’d like to know what you think about e-books; whether you’ve used them, what devices you read them on (Kindle, iPad, iPhone), what you like and dislike about them etc. Imagine your favourite book...what interactive features would you like to see on an electronic version? I’m a big fan of gothic literature and I’ve found a great example of Bram Stoker’s Dracula as an e-book for iPad. Have a look at the video above to see some of the fantastic interactive features that are now possible and let us know what you think...

By the way, many of the core textbooks for SMU courses are also available as e-books. Have a look at your subject area on the library webpage to access them for free!

Happy World Book Day from all your SMU library staff.

World Book Day 2011

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thursday March 3rd 2011 is World Book Day, intended to bring together publishers, booksellers, libraries and readers alike in a worldwide celebration of books and reading. To mark this occasion the SMU library staff thought they would share some of their current/favourite reads with you, our library users!

Alison (Assistant librarian) - I am currently reading Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkein - both for myself and for my LOR obsessed son! Having watched the films, we're now delving deeper into the history of Middle Earth and the story of the Ring of Power. Exciting chases, myth, lore, romance, great deeds, goodies, baddies, big battles, beasts and magic! I've also got to get together a hobbit outfit for my son to wear to school on World Book Day - now, the big question, do hobbits have pointy ears or not??!

Amanda (Library Assistant) - One of my favourite books is Bliss by Peter Carey. He is my favourite author and this is the first book of his that I read. I like it because it is funny and sweet and meticulously crafted. I have lovely memories of reading it in a harbour in Australia, when the themes were fresh and current...and I had dolphins swimming around my feet - so that helps too!

Alison (Deputy Head of Library & Learning Resources) - I'm currently half way through reading The Long Song by Andrea Levy. Shortlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize, the narrator tells us her story of slavery in early nineteenth century Jamaica. I'm enjoying reading it as it's engaging, beautifully descriptive and transports me to a different time and place!

Caroline (Clerical Assistant) - I'm reading two books at the moment. The Rough Guide to California (researching my latest holiday!) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson... a bit weird, not quite sure why I'm reading it, probably because it had Vegas in the title, but I've started so I'll finish!

Linda (Library Assistant) - One of my favourite books is Notes On a Scandal by Zoe Heller. A compelling read...don't watch the film, the book is far better.

Maggie (Library Assistant) - An all time favourite read of mine is Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach. An inspirational short story that leaves a lasting impression.

Natalie (Library Assistant) - I've just finished reading Think Dog by John Fisher. A friend lent me this after we had our puppy and I enjoyed reading it because it gives an insight into why dogs behave the way they do, with lots of advice on how to deal with common dog problems!

Philippa (Assistant Librarian) - My favourite book is The Princess Bride by William Goldman. What's not to like about this book? It's got action, adventure, true love, satire, pirates, a giant... to quote the tag line of the 1987 film (also a favourite of mine), it's "not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fairytale" and I love it!

Sue (Library Assistant) - I am currently reading Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia by Chris Stewart. It has been described as "the best good life abroad book in years" by the Sunday Telegraph. It's a bit slow to start with but gets better as you read on.

Wendy (Library Assistant) - I'm reading Room by Emma Donoghue at the moment (shortlisted for the Man Booker prize 2010). Hard to put down - unlike any book I've read before. Makes you look at the world in a completely different way.

As for myself...I love reading biographies (because I'm nosey!) and I'm currently reading Always Looking Up by Michael J Fox. It's the follow-on from his first autobiography Lucky Man. Despite dealing with some difficult issues, namely his well publicised struggle with early-onset Parkinson's disease, both books are light hearted and very funny, choosing to highlight his personal triumph over adversity.

So there you have it, a pretty varied selection of reading material! Hopefully we've inspired you to try something new this World Book Day. Why not drop us a line and let us know what you're reading? Leave your comments below...we look forward to hearing from you!