Published on:
07
January 2016
Libraries across the UK will be celebrating National Libraries Day on Saturday 6th February 2016 with a range of events for library users and supporters to enjoy.
The day is a celebration of the work done in school, college, university, workplace and public libraries to promote learning, literacy and the enjoyment of reading to all. It is supported by a range of organisations including the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals, the Reading Agency, the National Federation of Women's Institutes, library campaigners and publishers.
National Libraries Day is a great reason to visit the library - whether it's for the first time or you go every week. We want as many people as possible to discover something new about their local library and sign up for some of the great opportunities on offer. Even if you can't make it to your local library, you can still get access to a range of services via ClacksWeb including ebooks.
To celebrate National Library Day Clackmannanshire Library Service has invited talented Scottish author Alan Bissett to come and speak. Alan won the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Writer of the Year 2011.
Alan was born in 1975 and grew up in Hallglen, the setting for much of his later work. He studied English at Stirling University and after graduating he worked very briefly as an English teacher, before deciding to study for a PhD, supporting himself by selling books in Waterstones. He didn't get the PhD, but he did publish his debut novel.
This was Boyracers, released in August 2001. He was offered a position lecturing in Creative Writing at Leeds University soon after, which is where he wrote The Incredible Adam Spark. In 2004 he moved to Glasgow, originally to take up a teaching position on Glasgow University's Creative Writing MLitt. In 2007, Alan collaborated with the singer-songwriter Malcolm Middleton (Arab Strap) on the song 'The Rebel On His Own Tonight', for the Ballads of the Book album project. He left Glasgow University in December 2007, and has been working as a full time writer ever since.
Novel number three, Death of a Ladies' Man, shortlisted for the Scottish Arts Council Fiction of the Year prize, was published in 2009, also the year in which Alan started working in theatre. His plays The Ching Room and The Moira Monologues were critically acclaimed.
Tickets for Alan's event are free and can be booked either in branch or over the phone, by calling 01259 450000.