Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for education and lifelong learning Cllr Tony Hampton and chief librarian Sian Jones with three individual winners, from left – Alexandra Bagnall, Donna Thomas and Helen BagnallFour lucky winners from the Vale of Glamorgan have each won £50 in the local round of the first ever national libraries competition – ‘Express Yourself.’
All four were entered for the national stages of the competition, and St Richard Gwyn RC High School pupil Donna Thomas, with her painting, ‘Magic World of Books,’ has been shortlisted to join the 18 winners at the Senedd on 25 February to compete in the secondary schools category and have the opportunity to collect a further £500.
The other local winners were:
- The class of Sue Evans at Llanilltud Fawr Primary School who produced posters advertising the library.
- Helen Bagnall (representing Palmerston Community Learning Centre) with a very colourful glass fusion plaque.
- Alexandra Bagnall (no relation) who produced an ink and watercolour illustration to win the individual category.
Vale of Glamorgan Council chief librarian Sian Jones said: “We were delighted to receive more than 130 entries for the competition, and had a great time judging. Many made us laugh, many made us think about the positive ways in which libraries are perceived, and many others impressed with their skill and creativity.”
Vale Council cabinet member for education and lifelong learning Cllr Tony Hampton, who presented vouchers to the local competition winners, said: “Some people may not have thought about visiting a library recently but this competition shows how many people are inspired by libraries and the wealth of information and interest they provide. The number and variety of the entries shows how much people in the Vale love their libraries.”
‘Express Yourself’ encouraged people of all ages to show off their creative talents with a theme of ‘libraries.’ Entrants could choose from a variety of arts which, in the Vale, included poems and short stories, music, film, painting, drawing and even ceramics and glass pieces.
Library services throughout Wales participated in the competition and 1,600-plus entries were received.
Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones, who has helped promote the competition and will present national awards, said: “It’s fantastic that so many people have entered – it just goes to show what a creative nation we are. I’m really looking forward to seeing the work of the finalists and presenting the prizes.”
The Express Yourself competition forms a central part of Libraries for Life, the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy for libraries in Wales.
