Steve Antony

My Role as Patron to Swindon Libraries Children’s Reading Services

As Patron to Swindon Libraries Children's Reading services I regularly meet with my local librarians and hold events throughout the Borough of Swindon. We brainstorm fun event ideas and competitions. Sometimes we just meet up for a chat over coffee. As Patron my main driving force is to help encourage families to engage more with their local library. Moreover I want communities to really benefit from the excellent services provided by their local librarians.

At least once I year I run a creative competition with help from Swindon Libraries Outreach Librarian Deborah Jackson. This is a fun way to get families to engage more with their local library. So far we've had Design A Doughnut, Make Mr Panda's Hat and Create a Planet. We also held a When I Grow Up art competition in which children were invited to draw what they would like to be when they grow up.

With each competition we can receive anything between 500-1000 entries. 14 winners are chosen by me, that's one for each library, and each winner receives a small bundle of books including a signed copy of one of mine. The overall winner also receives a school visit from me. 

I've held and partaken in numerous events at several of my borough’s libraries. I’ve introduced a drag queen and watched her read The Queen's Handbag to a sold out ticketed event at Swindon Central Library. I have presented awards for the Summer Reading Challenge and even joined HRH The Duchess of Cornwall for an event with the National Literacy Trust at North Swindon Library.

In 2018 I was called-upon to design a new children’s library card. The card, featuring Mr Panda, is being issued through the registry office, so all newborn children in Swindon will receive one. Pictured below is Arlo Blake with his new library card.

I sometimes hear people say things like 'Libraries are the beating hearts of our communities.' And it’s true, but it appears as if the UK government doesn’t agree because according to an article in the Guardian, dated Dec 6th 2019, Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010.

In 2016 the Borough of Swindon was shockingly set to lose 14 of our 15 libraries. Save Swindon Libraries, headed by Sarah Church, made an incredible impact in saving the town’s libraries and ensuring that public funding continues to the largest 5 libraries.

The Bookseller Magazine kindly published my open letter to Swindon Council, which you can read at the bottom of this page.

At present the Swindon Borough Council manages five of the borough’s libraries, and they are as follows:

• Central Library

• Highworth Library 

• North Swindon Library

• Park Library

• West Swindon Library

The remaining libraries are serviced by Parish and Trust groups:

• Beechcroft Library

• Covingham Library 

• Even Swindon Library 

• Liden Library 

• Moredon and Rodbourne Cheney Library

• Old Town Children’s Library

• Penhill Library 

• Pinetrees Library

• Wroughton Library

Suffice to say, we all have the right to a quality library service and to be heard. You can visit My Library By Right for more on the nationwide campaign. I for one am very grateful for Swindon Libraries and thoroughly enjoy working with them. Below is a quick selfie I took of me and Outreach Librarian Deborah Jackson minutes before we rocked up at Crowdy Hill School for a fun outreach event.

Libraries week

Here are a short series of videos I filmed about Swindon Libraries for Libraries Week

My Open Letter to Swindon Council

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write in response to Swindon Council’s plans to close 10 of our borough's 15 libraries.

As Swindon Libraries Patron to Children's Reading Services I want to speak up for the hundreds of children whose lives could be negatively impacted by these plans.

Since the publication of my first children's book, in 2014, I've visited many libraries in towns and cities across the UK, including my hometown of Swindon, and I have seen first-hand just how effectively our librarians positively impact the lives of children in their local communities.

I've seen how Swindon librarians inspire and nurture a love of reading amongst children by reaching out to local schools, holding weekly story time sessions, running regular contests and competitions, celebrating nationwide reading campaigns, and so much more.

By making reading fun and accessible in a free and welcoming space, our librarians equip and empower children with lifelong learning and literacy skills, which help close the gap between social advantages in children.

Only recently I took part in a story time session at my local library in Old Town and spoke with some of the parents who expressed just how important and beneficial these weekly sessions are to them. One parents said she would be lost without her local library.

At Swindon's Upper Stratton Library I held an interactive story event for KS1 pupils from a nearby school. For me, the one hour session flew by; but for the pupils, it stimulated a weeklong activity which resulted in the library displaying their artwork for several weeks. One of the things I've noticed the most since engaging with libraries in this way, is just how crucial the relationship between a school and its local library is. I've heard many a teacher express how important their local library is to the wellbeing and personal development of their pupils, especially those with disadvantages and special needs.

Unsurprisingly, the fate of our libraries has been weighing heavily on my mind. The proposed closure of 10 out of 15 libraries, along with the reduction in hours, will inevitably deprive our borough of a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Like many people, I can't make sense of this drastic proposal, but what I do know is that libraries are invaluable, each and every one of them. A way must be found to keep as many of our libraries open as possible.

I call on Swindon Council to reconsider the closure of two thirds of our borough's libraries, and Department for Culture, Media and Sport to take responsibility at a central government level for the impact closures would have on Swindon’s children.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Antony