We’re in the midst of Book Week Scotland, and we’re pretty busy here in the Special Collections Centre with all the various events and activities we’re running this week!
On Monday, we were very excited to announce the winner of the Special Collections Centre Flash Fiction Competition. Judge Wayne Price awarded Julie Pallesen first place for her story “Animal Behaviour”. Julie will receive £50 in book vouchers, courtesy of Waterstones who generously provided the prize for the competition. You can read Julie’s story and the rest of the competition entries on the Special Collections Centre website.
On Tuesday evening we ran a bookbinding workshop and talk with our book conservator Brannah MacKenzie and Rare Books Cataloguer Jane Pirie. Under Brannah’s tutelage the participants made their own little books using bookbinding techniques in the Glucksman Conservation Centre; they then got a fascinating introduction to the wonderful bindings in our rare books collection. Jane discussed different materials, techniques and decoration, and the participants got up close with magnifying glasses to examples of bindings from the medieval period up to the modern day.
Also on this week is the book exchange in the Hard Back cafe on the ground floor of the library. We’ve got a selection of recommended reads going free to whoever wants them – all you have to do is bring a book you like and would like to share in return. It’s been great to see the titles changing every day as people are exchanging their favourite reads!
You can also get involved on Twitter. We’re tweeting a different book-related question every day, and we’d love to hear you answers! Yesterday’s question was all about the best fictional villains, and today we’re asking what your favourite “duvet book” is – one of those books you just love to read over and over again. Let us know at @sccaberdeen.
And lastly, this Saturday we’ve got Family Fun on from 1-4pm – we’re making felt book covers and writing a giant story on the wall. It’s free, drop-in, and for all the family so why not join us – you’ll find us in the events space behind the gallery on the ground floor. Hope to see you there!
UoA Collections 