The Library Talks Podcast

014 - Getting Inspired by Helping Others (w/Santiago From Sutton Libraries)

For the final episode of the series we sat down with Santiago Ospina-Tarboda, a Customer Service Assistant at Sutton Libraries to chat about what inspires him, the different ways he helps people at work and why he loves Rhymetime. Santiago brought his unique perspective of the library service, having previously worked as an operations assistant and also gave some insight into the sessions offered to sutton Library users with learning disabilities. ---Santiago is a Customer Service Assistant working across all Sutton Libraries.---SUTTON LIBRARIES WEBSITESUTTON CULTURAL SERVICES EVENTS

013 - Myths, Legends & The Dark Side of Children's Stories (w/Saraswathi Sukumar)

This week we were lucky enough to be joined by local author and actor Saraswathi Sukumar, for a fascinating chat about her inspirations, the roots of her love for storytelling and the darker side of old children's tales. Recorded on the 2nd floor at Sutton Central Library, a place that Saraswathi was very familiar with as she described her journey from borrowing books as a child and a young adult from Sutton Central, before studying for her GCSEs in our study space. Listen to hear how Saraswathi's local experience works alongside her Indian roots to create unique stories.---Saraswathi Sukumar is an actor and author. In 2022 she was commissioned by Documental to write a radio play based on the landscape of Devon, 'Slices of Soundless Scream' and recently developed a lesson plan to be delivered to Sutton school children encouraging them to write a short story.---SARASWATHI'S SUTTON STEAMS AHEAD LESSON PACKLISTEN TO 'SLICES OF SOUNDLESS SCREAM'SUTTON LIBRARIES WEBSITESUTTON CULTURAL SERVICES EVENTS

012 - Historical Fiction & Tips For Budding Writers (w/Gordon L. Thomas)

Joining us on The Library Talks Podcast this week is local author Gordon Thomas. The author of 5 novels, beginning with the Madrid series, The Harpist of Madrid (2011), The Emerald of Burgos (2014), Expulsion (2017) and Return to Madrid (2019). He recently moved away from this series with It Began in Florence (2021), a novel about British composer Ethel Smyth. Gordon is a natural storyteller and this was a fascinating conversation covering how Gordon came to writing novels later in life, his inspiration and advice for new writers. We ended our conversation by considering the links between art and science as we continue to look ahead to Sutton STEAMs Ahead.---Gordon L. Thomas spent a long and varied career working as a scientist and for the Home Office before turning to writing novels after retiring in the early 2000’s. He has published 5 novels and is currently working on a 6th, focussing on the life of Anton Bruckner.---GORDON'S WEBSITEGORDON L. THOMAS INSTAGRAMSUTTON LIBRARIES WEBSITESUTTON CULTURAL SERVICES EVENTS

011 - Preserving the Past and Collecting the Present (w/Library & Archive Apprentice Abigail Dubois)

On this week's episode of the Library Talks Podcast we are joined by Library and Archive Apprentice Abigail Dubois to discuss her hybrid role working with our extensive archives and in the library. Listen to hear a discussion on the changing nature of archives, their purpose and how they can be accessed. We also talked about the ways in which communication has evolved in Sutton over the years and look ahead to some of the exciting projects coming up from the Archive team for Sutton STEAMs Ahead.---Abigail is.a Library & Archive Apprentice working in the archives at Sutton Central Library and across Sutton Library sites.---SUTTON LIBRARIES WEBSITESUTTON CULTURAL SERVICES EVENTS

010 - Poetry as Politics & London's Lost Poets (w/Chris McCabe)

Welcome back to The Library Talks Podcast and the first episode of Series 3, which features a conversation between host Alfie and National Poetry Librarian Chris McCabe. Recorded in a dressing room at Royal Festival Hall and soundtracked by a piano rehearsal taking place in the next room, Chris and Alfie discuss poetry as a political act, when is it effective and what are its limitations? We also hear the fascinating stories of some of London's forgotten poets and discuss three books that have been significant in Chris' life.---Chris was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award in 2013 and has released several poetry collections: The Hutton Inquiry (Salt, 2005), Zeppelins (Salt, 2008), THE RESTRUCTURE (2011), Speculatrix (Penned in the Margins, 2014) and The Triumph of Cancer (Penned in the Margins, 2018). He has also released 2 novels and his non-fiction work concerns an ongoing hunt for a great forgotten poets buried in London’s cemeteries.---CHRIS MCCABE TWITTERCHRIS MCCABE AT THE POETRY ARCHIVETHE NATIONAL POETRY LIBRARYSUTTON LIBRARIES WEBSITESUTTON CULTURAL SERVICES EVENTS