Oswestry Reads winner has been framed!

The winning title chosen by the people of Oswestry to help celebrate the new library and support the National Year of Reading is "Framed" by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

It is a funny, heartwarming story set in a small village in North Wales, and had received almost half of the 700 votes which were cast in the recent poll at the library.

500 copies of "Framed" have been ordered, and they will be placed around the town in a variety of venues which will include schools, shops, factories, surgeries, cafes and the library. Everyone will be able borrow a copy even if they are not a library member. After they have read it they can return it to the place they borrowed it from, pass it on to friend or take it back to the library.

Councillor Barbara Craig, Shropshire County Council's Cabinet member for community services, said "We are absolutely delighted with the enthusiastic response to Oswestry Reads, and for the invaluable support we have received from local organisations and businesses. We are particularly grateful to the champions of the five shortlisted books: Oswestry School, Walford and North Shropshire College, Oswestry Town Council, Whittington Castle, The Marches School & Technology College and Oswestry Youth Cafe.

“We would also like to thank Richard Burbidge Ltd and Oswestry Borough Council for their help in promoting the idea. By supporting Oswestry Reads, everyone can play a part in celebrating the new library and the National Year of Reading”, Councillor Craig added.

Oswestry Library is also asking people to support the campaign by sponsoring a copy of the book and by taking part in some of the related events and activities. These will include competitions, quizzes and talks, and they will culminate in September when the author, Frank Cottrell Boyce, visits both the library and The Marches School & Technology College.

If any individual, organisation or business would like to find out more, and is interested in supporting Oswestry Reads in any way, they can do so by contacting the library.

7 March 2008