Three authors will help the village of Wing celebrate the start of its Community Library in a feast of words and fun on Saturday.
Children and adults are being invited to come dressed as their favourite storybook character, local groups will stage displays, there will be a story-writing competition, and a celebratory cake donated by county councillor Netta Glover will be cut.
And to snip the ribbon on a new era for Wing Library will be one of the best customers of the library – but organisers say this will be an on-the-day surprise!
Saturday also marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of Wing’s purpose-built library annexe by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild whose family has had a 140-year connection with the village through neighbouring Ascott House.
Sally Chapman, chairman of Wing Community Library Steering Group, said: “This is a great day for Wing, and we’re very excited about our library’s future.”
To help Saturday’s celebrations go with a literary swing author Julia Jarman, who lives near Bedford, will host a morning children’s hour; Claire Steele, who has worked with Overstone School, Wing, will inspire creative writers at a special workshop; and thriller writer S J Bolton, shortlisted for several international awards, will host a session in the afternoon.
During the day volunteers will swap borrowers’ library cards for newly designed colourful versions with a free key ring attachment.
Programme includes:
10am - library opens, new library cards available.
10.15am - Rhythm and Rhyme session for small children.
11.am - Children’s Hour, with author Julia Jarman, who likes pigs and plays, cats and computers, food, books, wine and gardening.
12noon - Refreshments, raffle, local group displays, ‘Graffiti Wall’ (have your say about your library) - until 3.30pm.
12.30pm - Grand opening with cake cutting, and judging of storybook characters.
12.45pm - Creative Writing Workshop, with author and creative writing tutor and judge Claire Steele - until 2.45pm.
1pm - Book signing, presentation question & answer session - until 2pm with S J Bolton
2.30pm - Author session with thriller writer S J Bolton, who lives in the Chiltern Hills and whose latest book, Dead Scared, was published in April - until 3.30pm.
4pm - Library closes.