Guy Garvey joins Library Lovers!
September 18, 2015
Sunday open day at Manchester Central Library
Pictured BBC 6 broadcast live from the library presenter and rock star Guy Garvey
Elbow lead singer Guy Garvey has helped launch a new fundraising initiative for Manchester Central Library Development Trust.
The membership fee-based scheme, called Central Library Lovers, gives individuals and couples an array of benefits including discounts in Central Library’s popular café, its gift shop and on a range of ticketed events throughout the year. Members will also get invitations to VIP previews, behind-the-scenes tours, special library workshops, social functions and other exclusive events.
Funds raised by Library Lover membership fees will go towards supporting a wide range of library-based activities, conservation work, community projects, out-of-hours concerts, book readings, exhibitions, family-fun days and other events.
Guy Garvey became the first official Library Lover last week when he broadcast his BBC 6 music show live from Central Library.
He said of the scheme: “I am a passionate supporter of all libraries but Manchester Central Library holds a special place in my heart. I am therefore honoured to become the first ever Central Library Lover and I wish the Development Trust every success with this initiative.”
Stephen Sorrell, Chair of Manchester Central Library Development Trust said: “Our aim is to raise funds to ensure Central Library do more interesting and innovative things and reach all of Manchester’s communities through special events and projects. We also support vital conservation work and other specialist services which the Council can struggle to maintain due to pressure on budgets.”
“We are delighted that Guy has become our inaugural Library Lover, and we hope that anyone who cares deeply about preserving Central Library’s role as one of Manchester’s greatest architectural, cultural, social and educational assets will join him by signing up to the scheme. In return they will not only get a great range of benefits and discounts, they will also be directly contributing to extending the library’s reach, appeal and good works beyond just loaning out books.”
Councillor Rosa Battle, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure for Manchester City Council said: “We are indebted to the Central Library Development Trust as their work helps Central Library deliver fantastic events like the recent Family Sunday Funday and other activities which otherwise would not have been possible. Therefore, on behalf of Manchester City Council, I wholeheartedly welcome the Trust’s new Library Lover’s fundraising scheme and am confident it will be a huge success due to the fact it offers great benefits to members while also supporting the Library.”
When members first join they also receive a free fine-art print of the celebrated art-deco painting of Central Library by E.Wigglesworth. The iconic image, created in 1934 as part of a public transport advertising campaign, will also feature on the first 150 limited edition ‘golden’ Library Lover membership cards.
Library Lover membership starts from just £30.00, and leaflets detailing all the benefits and how to sign-up can be found throughout Central Library. You can also join via our Support Us page on this website here.