Children’s poet and author Joseph Coelho is coming to Halton as part of a mammoth working national library marathon, aiming to join a library in every authority in the UK.

He will be joining Halton Libraries at Halton Lea on Saturday 24 August in a quest to celebrate the inclusive, vital role libraries play in our lives – and he wants to meet you.

And to encourage as many people as possible to #JoinYourLibrary.

He’ll plot his progress on a giant library marathon map on his website at https://www.thepoetryofjosephcoelho.com tweeting and blogging his journey around the UK.

Joseph has long been a passionate and vociferous supporter of libraries in the UK. His debut picture book, Luna Loves Library Day, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers and published by Andersen Press, celebrates his love for libraries and his own childhood spent in libraries:

He said: “It was in my local library where I studied for exams with friends, browsed books about beach combing and imagined living by the sea, bought second-hand encyclopedias that I’d otherwise never own and where I had my first Saturday job.

“It was in my library that I got to know and connect with my local community, where I read, studied and wrote.”

The Library Marathon will be undertaken with the support of CILIP and Libraries Connected with special activities being planned for Libraries Week, which runs from 7th – 12th October with the theme Celebrating Libraries in a Digital World.

There are around 3,600 public libraries across every part of the UK, serving more than 200m physical visits a year and over 90m online. Libraries have a more diverse audience than any other arts/culture sector with the demographic most strongly correlated with library use being 15-24 year olds.

Nick Poole, Chief Executive CILIP says, ‘What a marvelous way to celebrate and promote libraries. We are delighted to support Joseph in his library quest, that showcases the important role of libraries in so many people’s stories.

“As an avid library supporter and advocate Joseph demonstrates the joy the library can bring and we will be watching and supporting his journey with enthusiasm.

“We look forward to celebrating with Joseph and libraries across the country during Libraries Week this October.”

Libraries Connected has been instrumental in connecting Joseph with individual Library Authorities, and facilitating his mammoth marathon across the UK.

https://www.thepoetryofjosephcoelho.com

Twitter @Poetryjoe