Basket: 
As part of the tenth annual Crossing the Tees Book Festival we are celebrating the social history of the libraries of the Tees Valley. Writer-in-residence Debbie Rolls and photographer-in-residence Jo Booth will work with Sixth Element Publishing to produce a beautiful book curating tales of Teesside residents’ experiences of using libraries.
Debbie and Jo will be visiting libraries across the region to talk to library users. Why not drop into one of the following sessions to share your memories and explore library photographs.
Friday 24 February 11am to 2pm – Cockerton Library, Darlington DL3 9AA
Wednesday 1 March 10am – 1pm – Stockton Central Library, TS18 1TU
Monday 6 March 10am – 1pm – Billingham Library, TS23 2LN
Thursday 9 March 10am-12pm – Skelton Library, TS12 2HP
Thursday 9 March 1.30-2.30pm – Saltburn Library, TS12 1AT
Friday 10 March 10am-12pm – Marton Library, Middlesbrough, TS7 8BL
Thursday 16 March 10am-12pm Community Hub South (Owton Manor Library) TS25 3LQ
Thursday 16 March 2-4pm Seaton Carew Library, TS25 1BN
Tuesday 4 April 10am-12pm – Acklam Library, Middlesbrough TS5 7AB
If you’re not able to come along to a session you can share your library memory by emailing info@crossingthetees.org or by completing a postcard in your local library.
The book will be launched as part of the 2023 festival on Friday 16 June 7pm at Stockton Central Library. With a free drink for all attendees and a special celebration cake we’ll also be marking the 10th birthday of Crossing the Tees Book Festival. This is a chance to remember all the fabulous events that have been part of the festival and we’ll also be showing the film of ‘We hope this finds you well’ that premiered at 2022’s festival.
Introducing our writer-in-residence Debbie Rolls.
Following a thirty-five year career in education Debbie is now a full time writer. Having completed an MA in Nature and Travel Writing in 2020, Debbie has had a variety of articles published in publications such as BBC Travel, Yorkshire Life and BBC Countryfile. With a background in historical and social research Debbie is the perfect writer to uncover the unheard tales of library life on Teesside. Debbie sees libraries as central to their communities and is looking forward to celebrating libraries in terms of their historical significance and their ongoing importance to individuals.
Introducing our photographer-in-residence Jo Booth.
Jo is a current first year BA Photography student at Teesside University, eagerly embarking on a career in photography after enjoying ‘snapping for pleasure’ for many years. Jo has a twenty-five year career working in education and community development and has a strong awareness of the needs of photography which documents and celebrates community activity, inclusion and diversity, having previously commissioned and led artistic/creative partners in a wide range of successful and innovative projects and programmes. Jo is looking forward to meeting and photographing library users in libraries across Teesside.
Introducing Sixth Element Publishing
Sixth Element Publishing has worked with the festival for many years producing our annual anthology for the Short Story Competition. Their publishing services for authors include mentoring, editing, proofreading, typesetting, cover design, print, distribution and promotion. Writer and editor Gillie Hatton and graphic designer Graeme Wilkinson are the creative team behind this dynamic publishing house.
