Édouard Glissant - Discover the roots to open itself to the world

Portrait of the writer of Martinique dead recently at the age of 82

Discover the roots to open itself to the world

Édouard Glissant, the patriarch of the Caribbean literature, on last February 3rd is dead in Paris at age of 82. In his writings Glissant has strongly expressed that the World is lacerated between the fear of the globalization (it conforms and it cancels the differences) and the exasperation of the differences (that is it brings the people to stay isolated and to hate each others).

Once he wrote: “The roots do not sink into the darkness of ancestral origin, searching the purity, but they widen in surface as branches of a plant, to meet other roots and to shake them as hands."

This thought is direct expression of the " creolization." This word refers to the Creole, this language which is a mix between the French dialect spoken by master of the slaves and the language of the slaves themselves. It became the frank language of the Caribbean.

In the literature of Glissant we can find therefore the influences of the black slaves picked up from Africa, of the French masters of the slaves, of the Caribbean and of the people who later arrived, including the Indians, the Chinese and the Syrians.

Glissant has written numerous essays and novels. His masterpiece is The Fourth Century (1964), a narration of that four centuries in which the slaves' humanity, in the hold of the slave ships, leans out to life and history.

Édouard is hard in his report of the slavery but he is immune entirely from the vengeful resentment that would remove his interior liberty and his work.

This great author, well known in France and in the USA, accepted the limits of mutual human understanding (we have to learn to live with that limit) and in one of the last interviews he said: “we need to learn to live with the other and to love him, accepting to not be able to understand him and to be able to be understood by him.”

Adapted by Alberto Fostinelli, internship student with Galway Libraries, from an article in Corriere della sera written by Claudio Magris.

Westside Library Seisiún

Library Ireland Week 2011 & Seachtain na Gaeilge - Westside Library

As part of Library Ireland Week 2011 and Seachtain na Gaeilge, Westside Library will host the following events
.

‘Get into Reading’ – a reading group with a difference

The first ‘Get into Reading’ event will be held at Westside Library on Tuesday 8^th March 2011 between 6.30 pm and 8.00 pm. Get into reading is a reading group with a difference. Prose and poetry are read aloud on the night and it is then followed by a discussion on what was read. You don’t have to read aloud or even speak but if you like to hear literature read aloud, come along on the night. Guest readers from the BAFFLE Poetry Group will read at this first event. The event is free and all are welcome.

Seisiún at Westside Library
As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, Westside Library is delighted to present local musicians, singers and creative writers for a medley concert. The Seisiún will take place on Friday 11 March 2011 between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm. The will also be storytelling for children. The event is free and all are welcome.

For more information please contact Westside Library at 091-520616

Concord Exhibition at ED Ballinasloe Library

An exhibition by the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development CONCORD is on view at the Europe Direct Centre, Ballinasloe Library, until the end of March.

CONCORD represents over 1600 European Development and Relief NGO's and has a common drive to fight poverty and injustice. It aims to influence the policies and practices of the European Union so that the Union and its member states enhance social justice, equality and human rights throughout the world.

The confederation includes organizations such as :Dóchas, World Vision, Oxfam, Terre des Hommes, Caritas Europa, Save the Children, MVRO Slovak ngdo platform, NG Italiane to name only a few.

The photographs in this extensive exhibition give some idea of its work throughout the world today.

Europe Direct Centres were set up by the European Commission in partnership with the Library Council to make information on the European Union readily accessible to citizens.

The Babel Lecture: ''Exploring the Book' - Galway City Library

The first Babel Public Lecture Series entitled 'Exploring the Book' will come to a close with a lecture by Dr Kate Quinn on Tuesday, 1 March, at 6.30pm in Galway City Library.
Titled ’Criminal Passions: The Perennial Appeal of Death and Detection’ it will be delivered by Dr Kate Quinn, Spanish, NUI Galway.

The lecture is open to members of the pubic and entrance is free.

According to Dr Lillis Ó Laoire, Head of the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, “Dr Kate Quinn’s enticingly ’noir’ title manages to mention two of the great themes, passion and death, and promises to bring the first series to an appropriately intriguing completion. Her talk will deal with crime fiction and inform us about why it is we are so drawn by books in this genre.”

There will be a reception before this final lecture from 6.00pm to 6.30pm. The series will be formally closed by Dr Edward Herring, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, NUI Galway.

Over the Edge - City Library

Library Ireland Week

'One Book, One Tuam'

One Book, One Tuam”, a community based literacy project was launched in Tuam Library on Friday 11^th February by Storyteller Niall de Burca. This year is the third successful year and the book chosen for 2011 is ‘The Secret of Kells’ by Irish author Eithne Massey. This project involves classes from local primary and secondary schools along with Ability West, St Oliver’s and local groups all enjoying ‘The Secret of Kells’ and partaking in associated activities.
Events organized in conjunction with the project include music, art, drama and history workshops, all of which are free to attend. Author Eithne Massey will visit Tuam and read from her book and the finale of the project will be the viewing of the film. The objectives of the project are to promote literacy in the community, to involve local groups, clubs and schools in activities which promote inclusion in the community and to highlight the joy of reading for pleasure.

Ten Things You Should Know About Slow

Don't rush through life. Dian Duchin Reed is a writer and poet who loves to garden and always takes time to smell the roses, lilacs and jasmine. Among "Ten Things You Should Know About Slow" she recommends that:

One of the most delightful (and insightful) ways to slow down is to take the time to read poetry daily. "And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow," wrote William Butler Yeats in "The Lake Isle of Innisfree."

Savour poems of all eras, categories and styles by choosing a book from our poetry section (we have hundreds by poets from all over the world on our shelves) and read one poem slowly.

10th Anniversary for Oranmore Library

There have been over 500,000 visits to Oranmore Library since its opening ten years ago. New figures released as Oranmore Library celebrated its tenth birthday have shown that the public library registered 16,343 members and attracted over half a million visits through its doors since the facility opened in 2001. During the ten-year period since the facility opened on 19 January 2001, 546,156 books were also issued to readers.

The library project is the result of co-operation between Galway County Council and the Saint Mary’s Old Church Restoration Committee. The Old Church Restoration Committee commenced work on restoring the disused former Saint Mary’s Church in the early 1990s and won support from the National Heritage Council, Coillte Teoranta, the Irish American Partnership, FÁS and many local people.

In 1995, the Church Restoration Committee approached Galway County Council with a request that the restored church should house a new public library for Oranmore.

Following consultations initiated by Angela Kelly, Chairperson of the Church Restoration Committee, the building was leased to Galway County Council who, with assistance from the Department of Environment, completed the refurbishment of the building as a public library.

Reflecting on the milestone, Oranmore Librarian John Lawlor said that “the library looks forward to further successes through providing relevant and timely book collections, access to new technology and to hosting educational and cultural programmes.”

Mr Lawlor said the library is always keen to encourage new users and he welcomes all Oranmore residents or those working in the area to avail of what has become a much loved resource and community space.

Poetry as a Bridge to Romania - Portumna Library

Poetry of Belgium in Glenamaddy Library

Cinema Club in Gort Library

2011 Newbery and Caledecott Awards

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (ages 9- 12, Delacorte Press, 368 pp.) is the 2011 Newbery Medal winner. Manifest, Kansas, comes to life as plucky protagonist Abilene Tucker investigates a mysterious WWI correspondence The John Newbery Medal is awarded for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.

The runners-up were: Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm.
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus .
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Philip C. Stead (ages 4-8, Roaring Brook Press, 32pp.) is the 2011 Caldecott Medal winner. The unselfish effort that Amos McGee has poured into the care of his zoo friends is lovingly reciprocated by these animals when Amos is feeling under the weather. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the most distinguished picture book for children.

The runners-up were:
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill,
Interrupting Chicken, written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein, published by Candlewick Press.

Loughrea Library marks 10 years

Readers have taken home 366, 856 books from the Public Library in Loughrea since the facility opened in 2001. In the same period over 300,000 visitors have come through its doors.
The library usage figures were revealed on Thursday last, January 13th, when the Mayor of the County of Galway, Councillor Jimmy McClearn, visited the Loughrea Library to celebrate 10 years of library service from the refurbished Church building.

The Loughrea Librarian, Ann Callanan, who has led the library project from the beginning and under whose stewardship 366, 856 have been issued and returned since 2001, said the library has thousands of regular users whom she and her colleagues would like to thank for their support.
“But we must always look to the future, she said, and we always encourage new users. I would like all Loughrea residents or those working in the area to visit us and see the wide range of services we offer."

The Mayor, Councillor Jimmy McClearn thanked library staff members Sheila Reilly and Gretal Sullivan for their work and said that through their efforts the library was a cultural space, a place of education, a special place for children and a social space.
At the conclusion of the event, the County librarian thanked former staff members Elizabeth Keane, who now works in the Westside Library and Mary Cullinane, who is now retired.

The photograph details are: Seated is Anne Marie Callanan, Loughrea Librarian with the Mayor of the County of Galway, Councillor Jimmy McClearn. Standing, left to right are: Sheila Reilly, Library staff, Gretal Sullivan, Library staff, Maureen Moran, Senior Executive Librarian, Phil Bean Uí Chuimín, Canon Trevor Sullivan, Pat McMahon, County Librarian, Justin Mitchell and Claire Besnoye.

The Babel Lectures - 'Exploring the Book' - Galway City Library

The Babel Lectures -'Exploring the Book' continue in Galway City Library with Prof Paolo Bartoloni on Tuesday,25th January 2011 at 6.30pm. All are welcome and admission is free.

"Joyce’s Italian Book of Choice: Svevo’s Zeno’s Conscience"

James Joyce arrived in the city of Trieste with his wife Nora in 1904, at a time when Trieste was a vibrant hub of commerce and culture. It was in Trieste that, while teaching English, Joyce completed Dubliners and started jotting Ulysses. He loved Trieste’s multicultural melting pot, and indulged the company of local authors and businesspeople. Amongst them there was an industrialist by the name of Ettore Schmitz, who in his spare time, and under the pseudonym of Italo Svevo, wrote novels that nobody seemed to care about. Joyce admired Svevo’s third novel, La coscienza di Zeno ( Zeno’s Conscience), so much that he took upon himself to promote it. All of a sudden Svevo and his writing became a literary case, and La coscienza the masterpiece of Italian modernism. But why is it that Joyce, a person and a writer so apparently different from Schmitz/Svevo, chose to champion this book? What does a writer who chose self-imposed exile abroad, linguistic experimentation and multilingualism have in common with an author who aspired to the purity of language, and felt that real exile is at home? This talk will discuss these and other issues related to the peculiar history and life of Svevo’s Zeno’s Conscience.

Slovenian Poetry in Ballybane Library

Today, as part of the EC's ‘Communicating Europe Initiative’, Ballybane Public Library presents Slovenian poetry in translation with poet Yvonne Cullen. This is part of the project entitled 'Being Irish, Being European, Being Human' and involves placing works in translation by native writers of EU countries in selected libraries to promote public awareness of the literature and culture of countries within the EU.

Yvonne Cullen will be in Ballybane Library to present some Slovenian poetry in translation. The Slovenian poet Meta Kušar has written:

“I hear a soul crying poignantly outside the door, wanting to come in.” What world is it that the poetry of Meta Kušar and other Slovenian poets communicates? Meta Kušar writes about the self-regenerating power of life.
Yvonne Cullen promises a very interesting 40 minutes of the poetry of Slovenia. Please join us!

Eight years since Over The Edge was born in Galway City Library in January 2003.

Finnish Night in Galway City Library

In September, as part of the EC's ‘Communicating Europe Initiative’ Galway City Library hosted a Finnish literature and music evening. Our project was entitled 'Being Irish, Being European, Being Human' and involved placing works in translation by native writers of EU countries in selected libraries to promote public awareness of the literature and culture of countries within the EU.

As well as featuring poets and poetry from Finland, the Nordic group, Cafe Minor performed some fantastic Finnish folk music.

Wilson Web on Galwaylibrary.ie

Can’t get to the library?

On our website www.galwaylibrary.ie we provide access to WilsonWeb. This is an online database system that provides researchers and students with access to the contents of millions of articles published in a wide variety of periodicals.
If you have a Galway Public Library card, access it here