Weston Park is to bring the stories inside the pages of thousands of books housed in its historic library to life through a new series of events.
Behind the Secret Door – Stories from the Shelves will give visitors to the stately home on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border the chance to explore tales from a different corner of the library throughout the year.
Vikki Duncan, Head of Collections & Engagement at Weston Park, said: “Stories from the Shelves is an invitation to visitors to spend a couple of hours delving into the history of Weston Park’s library of more than 3,000 fantastic books, ranging from travel to nature, history to architecture.
“These are books collected over many, many years, brimming with stories and offering an insight into the lifestyle and attitudes of the families who lived at Weston Park – their interests and hobbies. With Weston Park Foundation celebrating it 40th anniversary, we couldn’t think of a better time to be showcasing the history and tales of the estate.”
The open library events follow a year-long project undertaken by the estate’s volunteers, who have been digitally cataloguing the library books as part of a national initiative to share access to private and unique library collections. The JISC Library Hub project allows users worldwide to search and access library catalogues that might otherwise be hidden in small collections.
Vikki added: “Our team of volunteers here at Weston are the link between the estate and its visitors, enthusiastically sharing their passion and knowledge.
“During this project they’ve had the opportunity to get their hands on the library’s stunning and varied collection of books, talk about which ones are their favourite and discover more about the stories behind the thousands of titles that line the shelves and their new-found knowledge will form the basis of our events.”
Behind the Secret Door – Stories from the Shelves will be held throughout the year, each session with a different focus: from books that reflect the attitudes and humour of their time, to those that explore buildings and architecture across the years.
Sessions run from 10am until noon and are led by one of the estate’s knowledgeable volunteers.
For more details visit weston-park.com
CAPTION: Volunteers delve into the stories on the shelves.
