Re: Take My Word for It: African Diaspora Writers and Libraries
Initiative. 
________________________________


Please circulate to your contacts.


Date as Postmarked.

 

 

 


Re: Take My Word for It: African Diaspora Writers and Libraries
Initiative


 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

Museum, Libraries and Archives London (MLA) and the Black Londoners
Forum (BLF) would like to invite you to an introductory meeting to
discuss a new initiative - Take My Word for It. The event is being held
on Tuesday 25th September 2007 at Black Londoners Forum, 44 - 46, Offley
Road, Oval, London, SW9 0LS. The event will start at 11am and will
finish at 1pm. Refreshments will be provided.  

 

Take My Word for It was developed collectively by MLA London, the
strategic regional development agency for museums, libraries and
archives in London, along with the Black Londoners Forum, a locally
based organisation which seeks to advance the economic, political,
cultural and social well-being of Black and Ethnic Minority Londoners. 

 

A great concern was expressed around the lack of Library materials on
Black history in general and more specifically Slavery and Abolition
especially given the historical significance of 2007 commemorating 200
years since the Parliamentary Act to abolish the trade of enslaved
Africans was signed. 

 

We envisage using the Bicentenary as the catalyst in which to raise
awareness of the works written by the African Diaspora in the UK and to
develop a forum that will bring this community of writers together with
London's libraries.

 

It is our intention that this initiative will help to foster strong and
sustainable relationships that will effectively improve access to public
libraries in a commercial context for African and Caribbean authors and
publishers.

 

At this event delegates will have the opportunity to identify key
challenges and barriers to access, as well as good practice solutions to
gaps in existing professional approaches to audience engagement within
library services.

 

The enclosed flyer and booking forms provide details of the event and
registration.

Please note that this event is specifically targeting writers and
publishers of the African Diaspora, as such, we invite you to circulate
the flyer and forms to fellow colleagues whom you think may be
interested. 

 

Many thanks for your anticipated assistance in helping to take this
initiative forward.  We do hope that you will join us for what will be
an extremely interesting day and look forward to seeing you there.
Please book by 21st September 2007.

 

 

Yours Faithfully,

 

 


 


Mohamed Kebbay

The Black Londoners Forum

 

 

 

 

Ruth Fisher

Cultural Coordinator 

2007 Bicentenary of the Parliamentary Abolition of the Trade of Enslaved
Africans