Wales: A Reading Nation – Launching the Books Council of Wales’s 5-year Strategic Plan

For 60 years the Books Council of Wales has advanced its purpose to support the publishing industry in Wales and to promote reading for pleasure.

As we mark our anniversary, we are proud to share our new strategy that sets out our ambitions and vision for the next 5 years.

It outlines how we will progress with our mission to support the publishing industry and promote reading in the context of a Covid recovery, contributing to the Welsh Government’s Programme of Government and Well-being Statements and supporting the industry to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the future.

Read our strategy HERE

Two Rivers from a Common Spring: The Books Council of Wales at 60 published today

Two Rivers from a Common Spring: The Books Council of Wales at 60 is published today to mark the organisation’s anniversary.

The beautiful volume tells the story of the Books Council over the last 60 years, from its origins in the 1960s to the present day.

The volume is edited by Gwen Davies, with original linocuts by artist Molly Brown. It is presented in memory of Alun Creunant, the first Director of the Books Council of Wales.

There are contributions from a variety of voices within the publishing industry, including Professor M. Wynn Thomas, Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, publisher Richard Davies, bookseller Eirian James, and writer and poet Hanan Issa.

The beautiful hardback volume is now available from your local bookshop.

Here’s a taste of a chapter by Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales.

https://www.flipsnack.com/cyngorllyfraucymru/two-rivers-from-a-common-spring.html

Hooked on books… Books Council of Wales turns 60

The Books Council of Wales celebrates 60 years of supporting Wales’s publishing industry and celebrating reading with a week of activities from 1–5 November 2021.

From looking back to its origins as a charity set up to promote the Welsh publishing industry in 1961, to announcing its vision for the future with the launch of its new 5-year Strategic Plan, Wales: A Reading Nation, the Council will be exploring all aspects of the sector in Wales during a whole week of celebration.

The creative, vibrant and exciting world of publishing in Wales will be uncovered through an anniversary book, films of the publishing industry at work, celebrating excellence with the Mary Vaughan Jones Award and reminiscing about brilliant books, the Sbondonics reading club and 60 years of celebrating reading.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “I am honoured and delighted to be leading this organisation during this milestone celebration, as we navigate the uncharted territory of Covid recovery and look forward to the next five years. These last 18 months have highlighted the immense contribution books make to our well-being and mental health. A published book is always the result of the creative collaboration of the many different people who make up the sector, which includes booksellers, and we will continue to support the industry here in Wales to ensure that the many stories that reflect our country will continue to be told.”

A full week of activity is planned . . .

Monday 1 November – Happy Birthday!

Launch of 60th anniversary book – Two Rivers from a Common Spring
The week begins with the publication of a brand-new volume of essays to celebrate the anniversary. Two Rivers from a Common Spring tells the story of the Books Council, from its foundation in the 1960s to today. Edited by Gwen Davies and with brand-new illustrations by printmaker Molly Brown, the book charts the legacy and work of the Council through contributions by Professor M. Wynn Thomas and other figures from the sector. A companion volume, O Hedyn i Ddalen, is available in Welsh.

Tuesday 2 November – Celebrating excellence

Menna Lloyd Williams wins the Mary Vaughan Jones Award
Menna Lloyd Williams is the recipient of the 2021 Mary Vaughan Jones Lifetime Achievement Award. A digital event to celebrate Menna Lloyd Williams’ contribution to the field of children’s books in Wales will be held on the Books Council’s channel #carudarllen AM amam.cymru/carudarllen at 7pm on Tuesday, 2 November as part of the week’s celebrations.

Wednesday 3 November – looking to the future

Wales: A Reading Nation. Launching the Books Council of Wales’s 5-year Strategic Plan
For 60 years the Books Council of Wales has advanced its purpose to support the publishing industry in Wales and to promote reading for pleasure.

As it publishes its new strategy the Council sets out its ambitions and vision for the next 5 years. It outlines how it will progress with its mission to support the publishing industry and promote reading in the context of a Covid recovery, contributing to Welsh Government’s Programme for Government and Well-being Statement, and supporting the industry to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the future.

Thursday 4 November – a nostalgic look back

Celebrating 60 years of books, stories – and Sbondonics!
The Books Council team will browse the archive and share images and memories of the last 60 years on their social accounts @Books_Wales (Twitter) and Llyfr Da / Fab Books (Facebook / Instagram). From the Distribution Centre vans to former Tir na n-Og Award winners and the Sbondonics Book Club, they’ll share fond memories of the Books Council’s activity over the last 60 years.

Friday 5 November – the industry at work

Our Story – publishing voices today
The week ends with the sharing of two short films (10 mins) that have been commissioned especially for the anniversary: Our Story – publishing voices today and Ein Stori – lleisiau cyhoeddi heddiw. They are a showcase for the publishing industry and the world of books in Wales. Through the voices of Lynda Tunnicliffe, Jannat Ahmed, Alex Wharton and others, the films explore the role and contribution of the Books Council to the field of publishing in Wales and its ongoing support as this important creative industry looks towards the future.

HONOURING CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS – MARY VAUGHAN JONES 2021 AWARD

Menna Lloyd Williams is the recipient of the 2021 Mary Vaughan Jones Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is presented every three years by the Books Council of Wales in memory of Mary Vaughan Jones, who died in 1983, to a person who has made a special contribution to the field of children’s literature in Wales.

Born in Llanfaethlu, Menna Lloyd Williams was educated at Ysgol Ffrwd Win and Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch. She was a student at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and graduated with an honours degree in Welsh. Following a teaching practice course she taught for a year at Dr Williams’ School, Dolgellau, and in 1970 was appointed Head of the Welsh Department at Holyhead Secondary School.

In 1976 she came to work in the Culture Department of Dyfed Library in Aberystwyth, and in 1979 was appointed Director of the Children’s Literature Centre Wales, the first of its kind in Britain. In 1990 she was appointed the first Head of the Children’s Books Department of the Welsh Books Council.

During her time as head of the department she was mainly responsible for organizing annual conferences to discuss various aspects of children’s literature, the Tir na n-Og Awards, as well as book clubs and reading competitions for schools. In collaboration with S4C’s Children’s Department and Urdd Gobaith Cymru she was responsible for establishing the Welsh-language Children’s Poet Laureate scheme.

Menna Lloyd Williams said: ‘It is a great honour to receive this year’s Mary Vaughan Jones Award. Every day of working in the field of children’s books was a real pleasure. I continue to take an interest in this area and now take great pleasure in collecting first editions of hardback copies signed by authors and illustrators – including Roald Dahl books signed by Quentin Blake and one of my greatest treasures, a first edition of Sali Mali by Mary Vaughan Jones.’

‘Menna Lloyd Williams’ contribution has been key to the development of children’s and young people’s books in Wales,’ said Helen Jones, Head of the Books Council’s Children’s Books and Reading Promotion Department. ‘It is difficult to gauge the extent of her influence over the years. In honouring her with the Mary Vaughan Jones Award – the highest honour in the field of children’s books in Wales – we recognize her invaluable contribution and thank her for her work over many years.’

For this year’s award, an original piece of artwork was commissioned by the artist Jac Jones, a former award winner who has worked closely with Menna Lloyd Williams in the past. It includes the unique characters of Mary Vaughan Jones, many, such as Jac y Jwc and Jini, originally illustrated by the artist himself, as well as portraits of Menna and Mary Vaughan Jones.

A digital event to celebrate Menna Lloyd Williams’ contribution will be held on the Books Council’s channel #carudarllen AM  https://amam.cymru/carudarllen at 7pm on Tuesday, 2 November as part of the organisation’s 60th celebrations.

Since it was first introduced in 1985, the Mary Vaughan Jones Award has been presented to Ifor Owen, Emily Huws, T. Llew Jones, W. J. Jones, Roger Boore, J. Selwyn Lloyd, Elfyn Pritchard, Mair Wynn Hughes, Angharad Tomos, Jac Jones, Siân Lewis and Gareth F. Williams.

This is the keynote speech by Professor Charlotte Williams OBE on Harnessing ‘book power’ for race equality in Wales that was delivered at the Books Council’s Annual Meeting, July 2021.

The Books Council of Wales has today announced the appointment of its new Treasurer, Alfred O. Oyekoya, to the Board of Trustees.

This important role on the Board will be instrumental in leading the Council as it supports the book industry in Wales through Covid recovery and looks towards its new strategy for 2022 and beyond.

Alfred Oyekoya is an MSc Finance graduate from Swansea University and a Chartered Accountant, with many years’ leadership and business development experience. He has worked across a number of international and commercial sectors including the UK Civil Service.

Alfred is an energetic, determined and dedicated champion of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. He is the founder and Director of BMHS – a not-for-profit organisation focused on education and advocacy to support mental health and wellbeing among BAME community members.

Alfred Oyekoya said: “It’s an honour to have been appointed and I am excited about the opportunity to carry on the great work that has been done excellently in the last sixty years.”

Professor M. Wynn Thomas, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alfred as Treasurer to the Board of Trustees of the Books Council of Wales.

He brings with him considerable experience of financial and business leadership, developed through his previous work for a government ministry. Additionally, he has valuable experience of leading BMHS, a not-for-profit organisation. I and my fellow Board members look forward very much to working with him to advance the Council’s work.”

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, added: “The Treasurer role is key to our organisation, and we are extremely fortunate that Alfred not only brings those core skills and experiences but that he also shares our passion for books and the transformative power of reading and its positive impact on our lives.”

The Books Council’s Board of Trustees give of their time and expertise voluntarily to support the national charity’s work, serving the book industries of Wales in both Welsh and English. Alfred takes up his post in October 2021, as the Books Council prepares to celebrate sixty years of supporting the publishing industry and promoting reading in Wales.