SPECIAL GUEST NORTHERN HIGHLIGHT - BECKY SWAIN

SPECIAL GUEST NORTHERN HIGHLIGHT

Becky Swain, Director of Manchester Poetry Library, Manchester Metropolitan University

Can you tell us about the North West’s first public poetry library? 

Well, the power of poetry and libraries combined. I always have to take a moment to breathe in and out when I think of the infinite possibilities. 

Manchester Poetry Library is home to a poetry collection of over 10,000 titles and a year-round public programme. We have had such a positive response to creating the library. Working with people across and beyond the region, we want to ensure that poetry from over 200 of Manchester’s community languages is represented within the collection. It will be open to everyone, with visitors able to enjoy and borrow from the collection of contemporary poetry; written, spoken and on film. If you think of anything that you feel we ought to have in our collection, then let us know.

Although we are not able to open the physical doors to the library until Covid restrictions ease, we are creating virtual poetry lay-lines. We welcomed an audience of over 1500 people for events last Autumn in partnership with Manchester Literature Festival, National Black Arts Alliance, and the Poetry Translation Centre.

Where is the poetry library based in Manchester and what are the advantages of being based in Manchester? 

You’ll be able to find us on Oxford Road as part of the new Arts & Humanities building at Manchester Metropolitan University. There are so many advantages to being based in a city that has taken poetry to its heart. With poet Carol Ann Duffy as Director at Manchester Writing School, we are also home to so many other wonderful poets writing for children such as Jackie Kay, Tony Walsh, Matt Goodfellow, Dom Conlon, Louise Fazackerley, Paul Cookson and many others. Poetry is everywhere in the city, from Lemn Sissay’s poems on the pavements of the Northern Quarter, to over 800 literature events each year in libraries, cafes, pubs, community centres across the city, and online. Manchester is also home to a host of award-winning independent presses, festivals and writing organisations. As part of the UNESCO City of Literature network, we work in partnership with organisations across and beyond the city. 

How was the children’s collection chosen? 

Each part of the collection is developed with a poet as co-curator. Poet and illustrator Mandy Coe has written a brilliant blog, ‘The Adventures of Co-Curating a Poetry Library Collection for Children,’ about the process of choosing the starting collection. Of course, a library is never finished so all suggestions of books and recordings are welcome.

What children’s events, workshops, performances do you have planned?

We have an exciting programme of events for children and families linked to our children’s collection – including book launches, CPD sessions and workshops, the Mother Tongue Other Tongue multilingual poetry competition, and community days planned for Summer 2021. We collaborate with Kaye Tew and Manchester Children’s Book Festival to curate our events with a mixed audience in mind – parents and children, and also teachers and librarians. 

Our next event on Tuesday 26 January 7-8pm will welcome poet Val Bloom and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max in conversation with Charlotte Hacking from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education. The event will celebrate Val Bloom’s latest poetry anthology ‘Stars with Flaming Tails, an anthology of poetry for children published by Otter-Barry Books. Adults and children are welcome, and all who sign up for the event will receive a copy of a teaching resource specially designed to use poems and illustration in the anthology as inspiration for creative work in the classroom or at home.

Val Bloom, Ken Wilson-Max, Stars with Flaming Tails, published by Otter-Barry Books

What for you is the 'spirit of the North’? 

In my experience, the poetry community is very supportive. We always notice how many poets there are in the audience, and how active they are in their support on social media both before and after events. Organisations like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Golden Egg Academy North, and Children’s Books North are crucial to making sure that northern writers and illustrators can access the same opportunities that writers have historically benefited from in other areas of the country. 

Who for you are the great Northern children’s poets? 

Well, there are so many to choose from. Today I would have to mention Mandy Coe again as I am still smiling from ear to ear after reading her stunning new collection Belonging Street, and the great ‘tree that saves a town’. 

Manchester is also home to Young Identity, The Writing Squad and Commonword. The local poets who come through these programmes are crucial in bringing poetry to local schools, children and young people - and to develop a new generation of writers. 

Belonging Street by Mandy Coe, virtual book launch

What would you like to see from children's publishing in the North? 

I would like to see more poets of colour, and poets from the region that are writing for children, being supported and published. Recent moves to see publishers heading north is such a positive step to improve diversity in children’s poetry, making opportunities more accessible to writers. As well as supporting established poets, our team discussed today that we would like to see publishers investing in lesser-known local poets who have a lot of support and could do really well with the right promotion. Schools that we work with have highlighted the need for more anthologies of poems by children, and themed poetry anthologies for teachers and home educators, including ‘How to’ poetry publications aimed at teachers.

Multilingual Mushaira poetry event at a Longsight Library

You can sign up for the Manchester Poetry Library monthly newsletter for the latest on news, opportunities, writing workshops and events, and blogs: www.mmu.ac.uk/poetrylibrary

Follow us on twitter @McrPoetryLib and instragram @mcrpoetrylibrary 

We are always interested in what you'd love to see in the library and any ideas for working in partnership. Email poetrylibrary@mmu.ac.uk