Magi

Hidden Treasure!

GWL is so much more than just a library. It’s a veritable treasure trove. And here’s where much of the treasure is hidden. As well as being filled with wonderful books on every aspect of being a woman, our library is choc-a-bloc with…

Naughty Postcards!

According to my dictionary, the word ‘naughty’ means, amongst other things, ‘disobedient’. And the women who sent these postcards in the early part of the twentieth century – not to mention those who designed and produced them – were certainly being disobedient. That is, they were challenging the social rules of the society they were living in. And what fun they had as they did!

Quines, Hens and Spare Ribs too

GWL doesn’t just have books on its amazing shelves. We also have a fantastic archive of magazines past and present; publications which have pushed forward the cause of gender equality.

I was delighted to discover SPARE RIB. Spare Rib emerged in June 1972. Its purpose, as described in its editorial,

LOL – GWL’s Secret Code

The Suffragettes sometimes used coded messages on their postcards, so why shouldn’t GWL have its own secret code? In fact, at the moment this one’s so secret – LOL – that only I know it. But keep following this blog. The secret will be revealed on… drumroll please… Wednesday 6th February.

Guerilla Authors – Girls on a Mission!

TOP SECRET – BURN THIS POST AFTER READING As part of this week’s Book Week Scotland celebrations I parachuted in to Bridgeton in the east end of Glasgow with fellow […]

Memories

When Sue Lyons read my initial ‘Remember me’ post, she was moved to share the poem below with me. Another very moving poem, but although it’s on the same theme of remembering it’s tackling it in a completely different way.

Book Week Scotland With GWL!

Yep! The first ever Book Week Scotland has launched and it includes some amazing events with Glasgow Women’s Library – all free too! First up we have our Guerilla Writing […]

Remember this?

A couple of weeks ago I posted Remember me, a poem by Alice Walker, with some guidance on how to write your own poem. Well, I’m delighted to say that Nicola Burkhill rose to the challenge and has given me permission to publish her poem here. Plus suggestions on poetry reading – where to start.

Feminist Top 10 Erotic Fiction?

‘Between The Sheets is an erotic fiction campaign designed to push the boundaries of library users and challenge their reading horizons.’ Coming to a library near you…
Aaargh! Have you come across this ‘campaign’ in your local library? And who are these mysterious ‘library users’?

Book Addicts Anonymous – Do you need help?

Recently I was buying some chocolate at Thornton’s on Sauchiehall Street, and the slim young woman assistant plied me with free tasters from a couple of plates on the counter. She obviously knew an addict when she saw one. Of course, I expressed surprise that she could work amongst all that chocolate and not have turned into Two Ton Tessie. ‘Oh,’ she replied, flashing me a filling-free smile, ‘after the first few days you grow sick of it. Then you’re not tempted any more.’

This made me think. Would I get to this point at Glasgow Women’s Library? There are so many books in so many flavours. Is it possible that one day I won’t be tempted any more?