BwD libraries to host family events to mark Jubilee

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne, Blackburn with Darwen libraries will be celebrating with a range of activities and events for all the family to enjoy.

In the days leading up to the national festivities, Jubilee themed fun days are set to take place, these will include story times, making cardboard crowns and bunting and a reminiscence session.

Theatre group Pendle Productions, The Storytellers Theatre Co. will also be making a welcome return after a long absence. The Company bring Lewis Carroll’s master piece of literature to life with memorable songs, fantastic costumes and sets. Alice Through the Looking Glass has a sense of fun, comedy, and dance routines.

Darwen Library will be taking part in a regional programme of events called ‘Jubilation’ along with 21 other libraries across the North West.
Artist Thomas Daniel Byrne has been commissioned to bring a ‘Jubilation Station’ to each participating library where customers can sit and talk/write/share their stories of jubilation throughout the day.  Thomas will also run a 1-hour creative writing workshop with a community group, which uses the library.
The stories submitted will be compiled into a ‘Book of Jubilations’, a hard copy of which will later be made available from Darwen Library as well as digital copies being available to download via BorrowBox, the libraries’ usual eBooks platform.
Look out for date and time details.

Library Services Manager Adele Karwat said:

BwD libraries are very excited to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. With celebrations taking place nationally it feels a fitting tribute from our end to host a range of family events which can be enjoyed by everyone.

We’re especially pleased to welcome back The Storytellers Theatre Co. who will be performing Alice Through the Looking Glass, live at both Blackburn Library and Darwen Library and promises to be a highlight of our Jubilee programme.

Please note all libraries will be closed on bank holidays – Thursday 2nd June and Friday 3rd June.

See below for confirmed library events:

• Saturday 28th May, 10 am – 2 pm, Jubilee family fun day at Darwen Library
• Tuesday 31st May, Pendle Productions The Storytellers Theatre Co. presents ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’.
  10.30 – 11.30 am at Blackburn Central Library and 3 – 4 pm at Darwen Library.
  Free tickets available from the relevant library up to 3 weeks before each performance.
• Saturday 4th June, 10 am – 4 pm

Find out more about events happening across the borough:
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – What’s On Guide! | The Shuttle: Blackburn with Darwen Council News

The libraries are also encouraging residents to take part in The Big Jubilee Read.

The Big Jubilee Read is a reading for pleasure campaign celebrating great reads from across the Commonwealth to coincide with Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee.

An expert panel of librarians, booksellers and literature specialists has chosen seventy titles from a “readers’ choice” longlist with ten books for each decade of HM the Queen’s reign.

The campaign will be delivered in partnership with BBC Arts and The Reading Agency. It received funding from Arts Council England and is supported by Libraries Connected and the Booksellers Association.

Find out more: BBC Arts – BBC Arts – The Big Jubilee Read – 2012-2022