A major discussion on the future of libraries, hosted by the University of Aberdeen, will take place at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Libraries have preserved our words, culture and intellectual heritage for centuries. But important questions remain about their role in the modern world of the internet, Google and digitalisation. How, for example, will they serve the communities of the future? And what do they mean to writers and their work?
Acclaimed Canadian novelist and poet Margaret Atwood and former chair of the Booker Prize John Sutherland will tackle all those questions and more at The Future of Libraries event on August 15. The Edinburgh debate will also offer the opportunity to hear more about plans for Aberdeen's new £55.5 million library at King's College.
Professor Chris Gane, Vice-Principal, said, "We are delighted to announce that we have joined forces with the Edinburgh International Book Festival for the fist time to present such a major and important discussion. The event will provide the opportunity to hear more about the new library for King's, one of the most significant and important public commissions in Scotland.
"It's testament to the importance of the project that such esteemed writers as Margaret Atwood and John Sutherland have agreed to take part in a discussion that all book-lovers will be interested in."
The library commission was awarded through an international competition to the Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen, whose track record includes many award-winning public buildings. It is the flagship project of the second phase of the University's Sixth Century Campaign – the biggest fundraising programme ever undertaken by a Scottish University. The ambitious campaign aims to raise a total of £150million by 2010.
Margaret Atwood's works have been translated into over 30 languages. Her novels have received many awards, with Alias Grace, The Handmaid's Tale and Cat's Eye all short listed for the Booker Prize. The Blind Assassin was successful in winning this prize in 2000. Her most recent books are The Tent (2006) – a collection of fictional essays; and The Door (2007) – her latest collection of poetry.
John Sutherland is Eremitus Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College, London. Author of many books and articles, his interest lies in the areas of Victorian fiction, the history of publishing and 20th century fiction. He writes for The Guardian and is a well-known literary reviewer. His book, Stephen Spender: The Authorized Biography (2004) was shortlisted for the Whitbread Biography Award.
The Future of Libraries event takes place at the RBS Main Theatre at 4.30pm on Wednesday, August 15. For more information on the Edinburgh International Book Festival programme visit: www.edbookfest.co.uk