City of Culture - City of (Mobile) Libraries

We're just back from a long weekend in Liverpool - where I was involved in the judging for the Branch and Mobile Group's Annual MobileMeet.

I enjoyed my experience at this event last year (in Wales) so much that I decided to inaugurate a new prize (for the best small mobile library); and attended this year to award it.

The event was held at Aintree race course, and a superb turnout saw well deserved victory for the entry from Shetland in the best small mobile category. You can see more photos of the event and the other winners in the Liverpool 08 photo album. Author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce spoke to delegates and together we awarded the prizes.

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying some of the events organised to mark Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture. Including two plays, 'Running the Silk Road' at the Everyman a very thoughtful and highly recommended collaboration between Yellow Earth and Beijing Opera Theatre (it is touring and due at the Barbican at the end of June); and a Watermill production 'London Assurance' a witty look at society and social mores in the 1840's - again its on tour but not (yet) coming to London.

In addition to this we also caught some of the art on offer including 'Gustav Klimt: painting, design and modern live in Vienna 1900' at the Tate - which whilst very good, maybe overplays the coverage of Klimt in the show; Anthony Gormley's captivating 'Another Place' on the beach at Crosby; Richard Wilson's 'Turning the Place Over' a dramatic intervention to the facade of an office block in the City centre; and Ben Johnson's 'Liverpool Cityscape' an amazingly detailed photo-realistic panorama of the Liverpool of today at the Walker Gallery - a fascinating and intriguing 'portrait' of the modern city that is now beginning to emerge.

We had a wonderful time in Liverpool, and this report should make it clear that there is a great deal going on throughout this year of culture which makes it, I think, a perfect time to visit.

There are photos in the Album Liverpool 08.