Writer and musician William Direen has edited an anthology to raise awareness on the issue of the disposal of over 600,000 books from the National Library. One of my poems, ‘Footnote concerning a vanished book’ is included. You can read or download the anthology here, and a print version will be distributed later in the year.
The Anthology of Love for the Book brings 52 promising young poets, prominent journalists, and several time-honoured poet laureates, winners of Prime Ministers Awards and Robert Burns Fellows together for a massive Hui.
All the writers share deep concern at continuing disposals of books at the National LIbrary of NZ. Every week, thousands of books are vanishing. Among the writers are Dame Fiona Kidman, herself a former librarian, C.K. Stead, perhaps the most respected literary figure in New Zealand, David Eggleton, poet laureate, current Landfall editor Lynley Edmeades; and Associate Professor Peter Simpson, who has written a special essay about Colin McCahon’s use of libraries.
—press release
In association with Book Guardians Aotearoa.