Bard’s anniversary captivates local residents

Local library staff giving out their free books

The area was a hive of cultural activity over the weekend as local people celebrated World Book Night and also marked the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death.

Rochdale Borough Council’s library service, in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester and Northern Rail, handed out hundreds of free books to passengers at the town’s interchange and train station for World Book Night, which is celebrated each year on 23 April. The event is run by The Reading Agency, a national charity.

And the Bard’s life was remembered across the borough’s libraries as visitors posed with famous quotes from the great man’s extensive works to create their own ‘Shakespeare selfies’.

To complete the weekend’s events, acclaimed Manchester-based author Colette Snowden spoke about her novel The Secret to Not Drowning at Touchstones.

Philip Cooke, Rochdale Borough Council’s libraries, communities & townships manager, said:
“World Book Night is all about encouraging people who might not otherwise read to give it a try.

“Our staff members had a great response from passengers at the stations and we had some brilliant books to give away this year by the likes of Carol Ann Duffy, Stephen E. Ambrose and Elizabeth Buchan. Bookmarks, promoting the wide range of free services offered by libraries across the borough, were also given out.

“The ‘Shakespeare selfies’ were popular with library customers young and old, showing that timeless classics like Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello are as relevant today as 400 years ago.

“In life and in death William Shakespeare has captivated and charmed millions of people. It was fantastic that people across Rochdale played their part in remembering the life of a truly great Briton.”

Howard Hartley, head of bus at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: "It’s great that we played a small part in the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, as well as World Book Night, and that so many passengers were able to get some fantastic books at Rochdale’s interchange and train station.

“Being able to enjoy a good book is just one advantage of travelling by public transport. Hopefully this initiative will encourage more people to board public transport with a book.”