Apr 2, 2020
On International Children’s Books Day (April 2nd), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with the Books Council of Wales are delighted to announce that they have awarded a PhD scholarship in the internationalisation of children’s literature to Megan Farr from Penarth.
On International Children’s Books Day (April 2nd), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with the Books Council of Wales are delighted to announce that they have awarded a PhD scholarship in the internationalisation of children’s literature to Megan Farr from Penarth.
Over the next three years, Megan Farr will develop a strategy for the internationalisation of children’s stories for the publishing sector in Wales.
Megan will explore the appropriate strategies that the publishing sector in Wales needs to develop in order to strengthen its operations at an international level in the field of children’s literature. The project will focus on three specific aspects: import; export and co-production.
Megan has a wealth of experience of working in publishing industry and is delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the industry through her research.
“Having worked in the literature and publishing industry in Wales for the past six years, and many years in England before that, I am grateful for the opportunity this scholarship brings for me to increase and consolidate my knowledge and learn new skills,” said Megan. “With the Welsh Government’s increased focus on growing the creative sector in Wales and exporting Welsh culture, I hope this research will be useful to the publishing industry in Wales and beyond.”
Discussing this unique research opportunity, UWTSD’s Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones said: “This is a very exciting and timely project for the publishing sector in Wales with a new emphasis on international activity. As a supervisory team, we are very proud of this partnership with the Books Council of Wales and are delighted that someone as experienced and skilled as Megan has been awarded this scholarship.”
The Books Council of Wales is pleased to partner with UWTSD on this project and looks forward to working with Megan on this important international research.
“A good story can travel the world, unhindered by geographical borders,” said Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales. “By sponsoring Megan Farr’s doctoral research, the aim is to find which children’s books from Wales travel best and why. What are the universal themes which attract young readers and what styles of writing are most successful? Megan has more than 20 years’ experience in the international publishing industry and the findings of her research will enable us to further develop talent from Wales in this important field as well as draw inspiration from literature outside our own country.”
This scholarship is one of two creative industries based PhDs awarded by UWTSD. The scholarship includes UK / EU tuition fees plus stipend starting at £14,628. Megan Farr has now embarked on her PhD scheme which is funded by the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS 2 East).
For further information on this research, please email Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones elin.jones@uwtsd.ac.uk.
Apr 1, 2020
During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us will be reaching for a good read. And while independent bookshops across Wales may have temporarily closed their doors in line with official guidelines, the good news is that many are still offering postal and online services.
During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us will be reaching for a good read. And while independent bookshops across Wales may have temporarily closed their doors in line with official guidelines, the good news is that many are still offering postal and online services.
We’ve pulled together as much detail as we can on this page and will update the list as we receive new information. As this is a fast-moving situation, we may not always have the most recent and up to date information so do check with your local bookshop.
If you’re a bookseller in Wales and would like to add or update your details, please e-mail: post@llyfrau.cymru
Awen Meirion, Y Bala – www.awenmeirion.com / @AwenMeirion / www.facebook.com/awenmeirion / Shop closed at present
Awen Menai, Menai Bridge – www.facebook.com/awen.menai / arystrydfawr.co.uk / awenmenai@gmail.com / 01248 715532 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Awen Teifi, Aberteifi – www.awenteifi.com www.facebook.com/Awen-Teifi Shop closed at present
Book-ish, Crickhowell – www.bookish.co.uk / @Bookishcrick / 01873 811 256 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, through social media or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Browsers Bookshop, Porthmadog – https://www.facebook.com/Browsers-Bookshop-114707588547811/ / 01766 512066 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Burway Books, Church Stretton – www.burwaybooks.co.uk / 01694 723388 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or over the phone / Postal delivery offered
Bys a Bawd, Llanrwst – Shop closed at present
Caban, Caerdydd – https://www.facebook.com/CabanPontcanna / Shop closed at present
Cant a Mil, Cardiff – www.cantamil.com / @siopcantamil / jo@cantamil.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online, via email and through social media / Postal delivery offered
Cover to Cover, Mwmbwls – www.cover-to-cover.co.uk / https://twitter.com/CovertoCoverUK?lang=en / 01792 366363 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone, through social media / Postal and local delivery offered
Cowbridge Books, Y Bontfaen – cowbridgebookshop@btconnect.co.uk / https://www.facebook.com/thecowbridgebookshop/ 01446 775105 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone or through Facebook / Postal and local delivery offered.
Chepstow Books, Chepstow – www.chepstowbooks.co.uk / @chepstowbooks / 01291 625 011 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Cwpwrdd Cornel, Llangefni – Shop closed at present
Debbie’s Jewllers, Castell Newydd Emlyn – https://www.facebook.com/AnrhegionCymraeg/ Shop closed at present
Elfair, Rhuthun – Shop closed at present
Great Oak Bookshop, Llanidloes – https://greatoakbooks.co.uk / https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatOakBookshop?fref=ts / Shop closed at present
Griffin Books, Penarth – www.griffinbooks.co.uk / info@griffinbooks.co.uk / 02020 706455 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery and local delivery offered
Giggles, Barry – www.facebook.com/Giggles-Barry-479792188748220/ / Shop closed at present
Gwisgo, Aberaeron – www.gwisgobookworm.co.uk / info@gwisgobookworm.co.uk / www.facebook.com/Gwisgo Bookworm / 01545 238282 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone and social media
Hintons, Conwy – @hintons.conwy / Shop closed to the public / Order through Instagram
Igam Ogam, Llandeilo – www.igamogamgifts.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Inc, Aberystwyth – https://www.facebook.com/Siop-Inc-121059026497 / mail@siopinc.com / 01970 626200 / 07834957158 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone, email or through social media / Postal delivery offered
Llên Llŷn, Pwllheli – 01758 612907 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Na Nog, Caernarfon – www.na-nog.com / @SiopNanog / www.facebook.com/nanog.gymraeg / 01286 676946 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
No 1 High St, Y Drenewydd – www.no1highstreet.co.uk / 07866259710 / Shop closed to the public / Postal delivery can be offered
Palas Print, Caernarfon – www.palasprint.com / @PalasPrint / eirian@palasprint.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery offered
Pen’rallt, Machynlleth – www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk / penralltbooks@gmail.com / 01654 700559 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by email or by telephone
Pethe Powys – https://www.facebook.com/Pethe-Powys-107932897356116/ / Shop closed at present
Siop Clwyd, Dinbych – www.facebook.com/Siop-Clwyd-468077820051483 / Shop closed at present
Siop Cwlwm, Croesoswallt – www.siopcwlwm.co.uk / Shop closed to the public / Order online
Siop Eifionydd, Porthmadog – Shop closed at present
Siop y Felin, Caerdydd – siopyfelin@gmail.com / Shop closed to the public / Order by email or through social media / Delivery service offered
Siop Lewis, Llandudno – www.facebook.com/sioplewis/ / www.sioplewis.cymru / @sioplewis / Shop closed to the public / Order through Facebook or Instagram
Siop Lyfrau’r Hen Bost, Blaenau Ffestiniog – Shop closed at present
Siop Ogwen, Bethesda – @siopogwen / https://www.facebook.com/siopogwen/ / siop@ogwen.org / Shop closed at present
Siop y Pentan, Caerfyrddin – https://www.facebook.com/SiopYPentan/ / Busnes@ypentan.co.uk / 07951 610278 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone or email / Postal delivery offered
Siop y Pethe, Aberystwyth – www.siopypethe.cymru / post@siopypethe.cymru / 01970 617 120 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered
Siop Tŷ Tawe, Abertawe – https://www.facebook.com/Ysioptytawe/ / Shop closed at present
Siop Sian, Cymych – https://www.facebook.com/SiopSian/ / Shop closed at present.
Siop y Siswrn, Yr Wyddrug – https://www.facebook.com/siopysiswrn/ / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by email
Siop Siwan, Wrecsam – https://www.facebook.com/siopsiwan/ / Shop closed to the public / Order through social media / Postal delivery offered
Siop y Smotyn Du, Llanbed – Shop closed at present
St David’s Bookshop, St David’s – Shop closed at present
Tenby Bookshop, Dinbych y Pysgod – https://www.facebook.com/tenbybookshop / 01834 843514 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone
T-Hwnt, Caerfyrddin – Shop closed at present
Tŷ’r Gwrhyd, Pontardawe – www.facebook.com/Tyrgwrhyd/ / 07990153730 / Shop closed at present
Verzon Bookshop Gallery – www.facebook.com/VerzonBookshopGallery / Shop closed at present.
Victoria Bookshop, Haverfordwest – https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaBookshop / 01437 762750 / Shop closed at present
The Hours, Aberhonddu – www.thehoursbrecon.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Cwtsh, Pontyberem – www.facebook.com/Y Cwtsh / Shop closed at present.
Seaways, Abergwaun – Seawaysorders@gmail.com / 01348 873433 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered
Dragon’s Garden, Llandeilo – www.facebook.com/Books at the Dragon’s Garden / www.dragons-garden.com / mandy@dragons-garden.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by email / Postal delivery offered.
College Street Books, Rhydaman – 07434 975578 / www.facebook.com/CollegeStreetBooks / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone / Postal delivery offered.
Cyfoes, Rhydaman – www.facebook.com/Cyfoes / Shop closed at present
Ystwyth Books, Aberystwyth – 01970 639479 / 07590 764115 / www.facebook.com/Ystwyth Books / Shop closed at present
Rhiannon, Tregaron – www.facebook.com/Canolfan Rhiannon Centre / www.rhiannon.co.uk / Shop closed to the public / Order online
Anrhegaron, Tregaron – www.anrhegaron.cymru / Shop closed at present
Goldstones, Caerfyrddin – www.goldstonebooks.co.uk / www.facebook.com/Goldstone Books / Shop closed at present / Order online
Llyfrau’r Enfys, Merthyr Tydfil – Shop closed at present
Cofion Cynnes, Ystradgynlais – Shop closed at present
Ffab, Llandysul – www.ffabcymru.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Narberth Museum Bookshop – www.narberthmuseum.co.uk / 01834 861719 / Shop closed at present / Order online
Apr 1, 2020
The Books Council of Wales has welcomed emergency funding of £150,000 from the Welsh Government to help the books sector during the current coronavirus crisis.
The Books Council of Wales has welcomed emergency funding of £150,000 from the Welsh Government to help the books sector during the current coronavirus crisis.
The fund will be administered by the Books Council, the national charity responsible for supporting the book industry and promoting reading in Wales.
The additional money for the book sector is part of a comprehensive £18m package of support for the culture, arts and sport sector Wales announced by Welsh Government Wednesday 1 April 2020.
In announcing the fund, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “We’ve listened to our many stakeholders in these vulnerable sectors. We understand that these are uncertain times for business and organisations across Wales and fully recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges Coronavirus is having on the fabric of Welsh life. The Welsh Government is committed to doing everything possible to support the resilience, creativity and partnership which is being shown by the sector.
“Taking this further step will enable this sector to withstand this difficult time and to hopefully thrive again – and bring communities together once more when the emergency has passed.”
The emergency package will include support for independent bricks-and-mortar bookshops in Wales to help them respond to cash flow pressures and minimise the impact of coronavirus.
The Books Council will now be consulting with the wider publishing industry to identify other areas experiencing the most significant disruption as a result of the pandemic.
The Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “We warmly welcome the emergency funding announced by Welsh Government today to support the books sector in Wales. These are extremely testing times for any business and we are particularly concerned about the impact on independent bookshops who make such an important contribution to our communities and our economy, especially in rural areas. We will continue to work closely with them and the wider publishing sector to support our industry throughout these difficult times.”
The emergency fund is in addition to the support for business and the self-employed already announced by the UK Government.
“In these testing, turbulent times the health and well-being of people has to be the overriding priority, but we also need to ensure that when we come through this pandemic we still have a thriving publishing industry in Wales. Not only does it make a significant contribution to our economy and creative industries, successive studies have also demonstrated the wider benefits of reading in terms of our mental health as well as the development of key skills and knowledge acquisition,” added Ms Krause.
Gwales.com books website
The Books Council of Wales also confirmed that its books website gwales.com would reopen for individual orders from the public from Wednesday 1 April 2020.
The move is aimed at helping the publishing industry as well as meeting demand for books during self-isolation, at a time when many bookshops have had to temporarily close their doors.
People who buy from the gwales.com site can nominate a local bookshop of their choice who will then receive their usual commission on each sale.
There are more than 11,000 titles in Welsh or about Wales on the gwales.com website, and availability will depend on stock levels in the Distribution Centre as no deliveries can be received at present and some publishing schedules are being revised.
A list of independent bookshops in Wales offering an online mailing service for books is available on the Books Council website.
