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Poetry Issues

Scottish Poetry Library Poetry Issues

SPL Loves Reading

Do you want a poetry section that your readers love? Steadily climbing borrowing statistics? Great new poetry titles in stock? A poem ready to discuss at tonight's book group?

Oh - and another three librarians to do it all? We understand. This e-quarterly will help you start on some of this wishlist right now. If it's helpful, tell colleagues - and if they like it, they can subscribe themselves.

What works… to boost your loans figures? Try this!

"Either on or very near the issue desk, have a small collection of poetry books. Think of it as the sweetie counter at supermarket checkouts!

In Aberdeen we use an 'Opening the Book' desk display which holds six titles comfortably with a poetry bite-size poster in place behind the collection. It's important to change all the titles regularly, otherwise the collection, if not borrowed, becomes 'wallpaper'. Eye-catching brightly coloured covers help attract (regardless of poet). Use themes too, especially ones not associated with poetry - for example, sport - I have a couple of football collections."

John Smith, Central Library, Aberdeen

What should I buy…?

Lots of you asked us for a recommendation for at least one poetry book to buy every quarter. You don't have time to go searching!

Here's one solution - the Poetry Book Society's quarterly pick of the new UK poetry books. And they've got a special offer for those of you who take part in our 'Poetry in the Branches' training sessions.

PBS Choice: Winter 2007

Pessimism for beginners

Pessimism for Beginners

Sophie Hannah
ISBN 978-1857548785
RRP £8.95

Pessimism for Beginners is the Poetry Book Society's Selectors' Choice for the quarter.

They say, "Sophie Hannah is one of the very few British poets who have chosen to write 'light' verse and who have the skill and judgement to make of it something disarmingly complex, subtle and dark."

Visit the PBS website and browse their quarterly recommendations:

PBS Special Offers

The Poetry Book Society think that what you do is so important in developing poetry readers, they are offering two special deals for everyone who takes part in Poetry in the Branches (Scotland) training.

1. Magic wand required for poetry stock selection? If you'd like five new poetry titles to arrive on your desk every three months for the next year, have a look at the special offer on a year's Charter Membership.

2. Or would you like to get a head start on making your own selection? Try out the virtual benefits of PBS membership for a year, absolutely for free, not a penny, nothing, and see how the PBS Bulletin will give you the low-down on a range of new titles. Enjoy!

Email Lilias Fraser to set up either of the following special offers, with PitB Scotland Offers in the subject line.

OFFER 1: 15% trial discount on PBS Charter Membership

You'll be sent each quarterly PBS Choice title plus the four Recommendation titles, for a year. This works out at 20 books over the year - and you get copies of the PBS Bulletin with the Selectors' reviews and poets' comments free.

› More about PBS Charter Membership

OFFER 2: FREE online access to the PBS Bulletin for a year

Find out how PBS membership, and all the extras in the PBS bulletin, will help keep you up to date with new poetry titles, and give you well-written guidance on content. You'll need a membership number to log on, supplied.

› More about the PBS Bulletin

New Poetry List

Check out our listings of the newest Scottish poetry and related titles.

What shall we read…? Reading group suggestions

Why not try 'A Long Shot' by Andrew Greig, one of this year's Best Scottish Poems? Our helpful PDF includes some questions to help start, and develop, a discussion around the poem.

Remember, with Shared Inquiry, the facilitator is not there as 'teacher' with all the answers - you just need to get that discussion going, then keep it on track!

If you want to share some introductory information with your group, why not show them the poem, with poet's and editor's comments, in Best Scottish Poems 2007?

Lost for words…?

Lizzie MacGregor tracks down lost poems for readers. As the Scottish Poetry Library's Assistant Librarian, she has been asked to find poems from the sketchiest of descriptions, half-remembered subjects and even descriptions of the book jacket. Sound familiar?

Here are just a few of Lizzie's suggestions:

  1. Ask the reader to describe everything they can remember about the poem; when and where they first heard or read it, to give a rough idea of date or source; any remembered words or phrases; an idea of the subject; if they think it is Scottish, or for children. 'They can always remember more than they think!' says Lizzie. And that extra information will help you.
  2. There's no harm in searching for a name or phrase on Google to start with, and on the invaluable Columbia Granger's World of Poetry or Chadwyck-Healey's English Poetry database if you have access; there is also the thematic index to children's poetry, Where's That Poem (Simon & Schuster).
  3. Check our 'popular poems' section, www.spl.org.uk/popular to see if it's one of the poems people regularly ask us about.
  4. It helps to ask colleagues if the words ring any bells, but sometimes there is no substitute for just slogging through anthologies of long-forgotten favourites.
  5. Direct your readers to our Lost for words service.

Poetry Library Poetry Box Update your Poetry Box…

Get refreshed with:

Search SPL Catalogue for…

Are you already thinking of events for Spring, Burns Night, or love poems for a display on Valentine's Day? Or maybe some quick ideas for Christmas anthologies… Did you know that using our unique online catalogue INSPIRE you can search for poetry by theme?

Search the SPL catalogue or search ScotBib by year

And did you know you can use the ScotBib feature in our catalogue to see Scottish poetry titles listed by year of publication?

 

Join us for the next Poetry in the Branches training

'Poetry in the Branches' is a training session for librarians, helping you add poetry know-how to your skills. Get the confidence to try poetry with your reading groups, explore event formats, swap tips on display and promotion, meet our Poets in Residence and rediscover your enthusiasm for including poetry in the life of your library!

Originally developed by Poets House New York, they've helped us adapt the training specially for Scottish library colleagues. Here's what librarians said about PitB Scotland:

'Interesting … enjoyable … practical … opens up poetry and takes away the fear factor!'

Places cost just £40, including catering and the invaluable course handbook developed by Poets House. Contact Lilias Fraser to find out about booking your place early.

Edinburgh, 5 / 6 June 2008

The next 'Poetry in the Branches' training will be in our purpose-built poetry library in Edinburgh.

An outline schedule and booking forms will be available in the next issue.

Autumn 2008

PitB training venue outside Edinburgh to be confirmed.

This year's external training session was hosted by Elgin Library.
 

Benefits for Library Friends

Get a Library Friends subscription for £40 per year and receive:

  • Copies of all Poetry Box tip sheets to date on joining
  • 10 copies of Poetry Reader, our biannual newspaper with poetry news, SPL updates and reading ideas - individual subscribers receive 1 copy
  • Discount on our 'Poetry in the Branches' librarians' training events - 50% off the course fee for up to 4 people from your library (training in 2008 and 2009)
  • Full New Scottish Titles list for the last six months, listing all the Scottish poetry publications we are aware of, including ISBN and price and a brief description of each publication (only Library subscribers receive this full information listing for the most recent six month period)
  • Subscribe to SPL Friends

Who'd like Poetry Issues?

Please forward this to any library colleagues you think will be interested. (Only registered PitB participants can take up the PBS special offer.)

What do you think of Poetry Issues?

Send comments on this issue and suggestions for the next issue to Lilias Fraser, SPL's Reader Development Officer.


Issue 1, November 2007

What works…?
Tested display and promotion ideas that cost next to nothing, really work and you can do straight away! Can it be true? Share yours!

What should I buy…?
Poetry titles recommended by the Poetry Book Society, PBS special offers and more.

What shall we read…?
Recommendations, ideas for your bookgroup, PBS special offers.

Lost for words…?
Tracking down a special poem for a reader? Start here.

Update your Poetry Box…
Latest listings, poetry review tipsheets, feedback and evaluation cards. Download now!

Search SPL catalogue for…
Get ahead with your next display by searching SPL's unique online poetry catalogue, INSPIRE.

Poetry in the Branches
Include poetry in the life of your library. Swap tips, explore event formats, and meet our Poets in Residence.

Benefits for Library Friends
Become an SPL Library Friend for discounts on training, full publications lists, and more.

Who'd like Poetry Issues?
Subscribe now to receive your regular e-newsletter.

BOOKMARK THESE!

www.poetryfoundation.org

www.poetryfoundation.org
The online home of the Poetry Foundation, USA.

http://www.poetcasting.co.uk

www.poetcasting.co.uk
On air… Listen in to a website devoted entirely to poetry podcasts.

Reading room - poetry talk, ideas, reviews, community.

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