Whitbread winner, Heaney, visits York
Posted on 26 January 1999
Seamus Heaney, announced winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year Award on 25 January, will give a special poetry reading at the University of York today. The reading, his second at the University in the last four years, will be in aid of the newly launched 'Friends of the University of York Library'.
The reading in Central Hall is open to all and tickets are on sale at the University Box Office (tel 01904 432439) or from Waterstones Bookshop. Waterstones and Blackwells bookshops will have stalls at the event selling Heaney's books.
Seamus Heaney is thought by many critics to be the greatest poet to write in English in the second half of the twentieth century. He combines lyrical sensibility with an open and relaxed style which is accessible to a substantial audience. Among his collections are Wintering Out, North, Station Island and The Spirit Level. It was shortly after the publication of The Spirit Level that Heaney last visited the University, in the spring of 1996, in one of only four public readings - London, Edinburgh and Dublin being the others.
"We are thrilled that Seamus Heaney has agreed to give this reading for the Friends of the University of York Library," commented University Librarian, Elizabeth Heaps. "His support is vital in our bid to boost the collections held by the Library."
Libraries are regarded as the 'laboratories' of arts and social science departments and the strength of their collections is important for students, researchers and visiting scholars. Through the 'Friends' scheme, the University hopes to build collections of books, manuscripts and other research resources in microform or electronic access, to reflect the high academic standing of the University of York and to match those of older and wealthier institutions.
"We are such a young university that, until now, our efforts have concentrated almost exclusively on building teaching collections", said Elizabeth Heaps. "The Friends will contribute to teaching resources, but it will have a particularly important role in helping us to acquire collections which would otherwise be beyond our reach."
Anyone who would like to become a Friend of the University of York Library should contact the Development Office on York 434467.
The Seamus Heaney reading takes place at 7 pm on Thursday 27 January 2000 in Central Hall on the University of York campus.
Notes to editors:
- Seamus Heaney was awarded an honorary degree by the University of York in 1986.
- The University is at the planning stages of a new Humanities Research Library, to be funded by a generous benefaction from the Raymond Burton Charitable Trust and by £1 million of the University's own funds. It is hoped that many of the collections acquired by the Friends will be kept in this Library.