Blogs Libraries

As part of Rekindle, we’ve been challenged to put on what we've lovingly called “The Big One”. This is a large-scale event and it offers us the opportunity to really understand how to put an event of this scale on in the library service. As you may have guessed from the title of this blog post, “The Big One” is Aylesbury Sci-Fi Day.

Promising to be an out of this world experience, Aylesbury Sci-Fi Day will celebrate all things science fiction, fantasy and superheroes. You’ll get to meet your favourite characters around town and visit prop exhibitions, artist workshops, quizzes, comic book stalls, games and more. We’re encouraging you to come dressed as your favourite character - sci-fi and fantasy cosplayers, stormtroopers and superheroes are all welcome. I know I’ll be taking the opportunity to don my best fantasy outfit!

I feel very lucky that I get to work this event, especially as we’ll be welcoming a new colleague just for the day in the form of Sparky the robot. Sparky is a genuine robot with no human parts and tons of personality. At two metres tall, he talks, dances, plays music, squirts water and causes a sensation wherever he goes. Perhaps we’ll have to keep him away from all the books! For all of us who have ever wanted to be in a video game, The Actual Reality Arcade will be on hand to help you live out your electric dreams. The Actual Reality Arcade is a life-sized interactive zone inspired by classic arcade games where you play for real. Dodge barrels and lasers, build Tetris walls, shoot aliens and become Pac-Man. A highly engaging mix of fun, laughter and physical play, The Actual Reality Arcade brings back nostalgic memories and creates many opportunities for new happy ones.

Best of all, the entire event is totally free.

We are so grateful to WhizzFizz, Bucks New University, the staff at Aylesbury Library, all the community groups and businesses who have put such thought and effort into planning our “Big One”. I cannot wait to see it all pay off, and I cannot wait to see you all there!

On top of this, we have a very exciting new piece coming to Burnham Library called 'The Other Library'. From October 22nd - November 2nd, there will be a special bookshelf installation made by the unique Freewheelers, a disabled led arts company, sharing their stories. There will also be a free creative writing workshop on the 22nd October to celebrate this piece, lead by acclaimed writer Sara Clifford. The Other Library is an incredibly special piece for the Rekindle project too, as it is one of the first pieces we commissioned, and it is rooted in Buckinghamshire. As the birthplace of the Paralympics and after an incredible summer of sport, Freewheelers invite you to reflect on disability with this installation.

Elsewhere across the county we also have celebrations in full swing for Black History Month. Whilst we celebrate Black history and literature all throughout the year, we’re using this time of heightened awareness to uplift and celebrate, culminating in the return of Island Movements. Island Movements is a short ballet that tells the story of Windrush and explores the impact of this generation’s experiences on their families, communities and society. Beginning with a young Caribbean soldier in WW2 Britain, this moving tale follows him and his family through their life in the UK up to the current Windrush scandal. The piece is choreographed by Darren Panton, who was the first black British dancer to graduate from the Royal Ballet School and Patrick Williams, who danced at Alvin Ailey and the Paris Opera. It features original music by the groundbreaking Kinetika Bloco, driving the story with a pulsating mix of reggae, calypso and contemporary black British music. The show will be followed by a Q&A with the dancers and creators. If you’ve never seen a ballet before, then this is the one for you!

Phew! Lots happening at the moment in Buckinghamshire Libraries! I am so excited that we’re able to offer you all of these wonderful cultural experiences right on your doorstep. There is lots more to come from Rekindle yet, and I can’t wait to talk to you more about it soon. Thanks for reading!