Book Week Scotland 2013 announced

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop and Scottish authors Denise Mina, Richard Holloway and Mairi Hedderwick show off their treasures, as Scottish Book Trust launches a hunt for the nation’s cherished objects. The Treasures campaign invites Scots to submit a piece of writing about the item they hold most dear, with a free book featuring the best stories and poems to be given out during Book Week Scotland, running from 25 November to 1 December this year. Photo credit Rob McDougall

 

 

Scotland will host a second national celebration of reading in 2013, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced today. Following the success of last year's event, the second Book Week Scotland (BWS) will be delivered by Scottish Book Trust from November 25 to December 1, 2013. One of the best features last year was My favourite place, a writing project which resulted in a free book for distribution during BWS, and this year the same project is taking place with the theme Treasures - see the photograph above. Entries can be submitted online for inclusion on Treasures website, and possible inclusion in a printed anthology, until July 31 at 5pm. Further details of BWS events will be released later in the year. In the meantime, keep an eye on the website, follow @Bookweekscot on Twitter, check out #bookweekscot or like the Book Week Scotland Facebook page. BWS is initiated by the Scottish Government and supported by £250,000 from Creative Scotland.

Photo credit Rob McDougall

This is a great initiative, especially for fostering a love of reading in children. Many children's authors, such as Mairi Hedderwick, seen here with her treasure, take part in events in schools and libraries all over Scotland. As Fiona Hyslop said, last year: "more than 30,000 pupils engaged with Book Week Scotland activities. All of this has supported the development of our nation’s important relationship with books and reading. Teachers have told us that Book Week Scotland had a positive impact on their pupils’ interest in reading and writing and that it was well supported in schools." I can't wait!


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