Inside this box was another box. A bird box. With a nest. And a tag. Preparing to Fly (1 of 3) In support of Libraries, Books, Words & Ideas........ x
On either side of the birdbox were bookplates with scrollwork reading:
"Finds tongues in trees / Books in the running brooks" and "Sermons in stones / and good in everything"
Inside the nest were three blue eggs with text on them - great ovation, nest-egg and new moon - held together with tiny bunting - Preparing to Start, Sleeping in the Woods and Life's Little Things.
Luckily the SPL was getting good at dealing with these unusual gifts, but now we had to wait to see where this was going.
A month later on June 14th 2013 a package arrived at Leith Library, to their great surprise and delight, addressed to @leithlibrary and @auntyemily (Emily Dodd, then the Reader in Residence at the library). They covered it quite nicely in a blog post.
Skip forward another month to July 13th and the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust receive an intriguing parcel.
Marked on the back with, "A. Library, NR2 YOU" suspicions were aroused and on unwrapping...
A tiny travelling chest! What could be inside?
Inside. Instructions!
NB Ensure flight kit contains handbook and route map
Safety Goggles and Helmet provide some protection throughout journey
For flight - position and secure Wings
"Literacy is about more than reading and writing - it is about how we
communicate in society. It is about social practices and relationships, about
knowledge, language and culture. Literacy ... finds its place in our lives alongside
other ways of communicating. Indeed, literacy itself takes many forms: on paper,
on the computer screen, on TV, on posters and signs. Those who use literacy take
it for granted - but those who cannot use it are excluded from much
communication in today’s world. Indeed, it is the excluded who can best
appreciate the notion of ‘literacy as freedom’.
(UNESCO, Statement for the United Nations Literacy Decade, 2009-2012)
FREE TO FLY coming soon Look to the skies!!!!!
Let's keep shouting out about how libraries and other special places enrich our lives
Follow @_freetofly_ on twitter and have your say ........ before..... they..... land
A map of Britain with threads stitched through, radiating towards Edinburgh.
The tag!
"@EdinCityofLit [PLEASE OPEN] [Preparing to Fly 3/3]
In support of Libraries, Books Words & Ideas.....
.... and freedom.'FREE TO FLY' coming soon
follow on twitter at@_freetofly_ and join in....."
A tiny book with the cover of Daphne duMaurier's The Birds and Other Stories.
And the cap and wings mentioned in the instructions.
It looked like we were prepared to fly... but what comes next?
