Reading is a great way to bring people together and make people feel more connected to their community.

Camden libraries, in partnership with Age UK Camden, are running a number of Reading Friends groups in February and March to connect people through reading and sharing stories, to meet new friends and have fun. 

The groups use reading – books, magazines, newspapers, poetry and even knitting patterns – to get people together and start chatting.  

Some groups are starting in February and we will be starting more soon. Below are details of how you can get involved:

Reading Friends - Poetry Reading Group

The Poetry Reading Group will start again later in October.

"Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat."  Robert Frost

Reading Friends – Knitting Group

Whether you’re a regular knitter or a beginner, you can join our friendly group online: 

•     Tuesdays 4-5pm on Zoom.  

To join the group, email: libraries@camden.gov.uk

Note: we have knitting starter packs available for any new knitters.

Reading Friends – Read, Talk, Share Group

Run in partnership with Age UK Camden, the ‘Read, Talk, Share' group involves weekly reading aloud and discussion sessions on Zoom.  Older people in Camden can join to meet new people discuss the novel, magazine article or poem being read.

•    Wednesdays 10.30-11.15am on Zoom.  

To join the group, call: 0207 329 0400; or email: info@ageukcamden.org.uk

Reading Friends funding

The events are part of a national initiative called ‘Read, Talk Share’ funded by the Reading Agency and aims to support those who might feel isolated in their communities by using the power of reading.   Camden have been awarded £10,000 to help fund the project.  

Find out more about the Reading Agency's Reading Friends programme.

You can find out more about The Reading Agency's Read, Talk, Share campaign here:  Read, Talk, Share.

Age UK Camden run a monthly book group, led by writer and journalist, Emily Rhodes.

• Age UK Camden Book Club

The Ancient Mariner Big Read.  A daily reading of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, each passage read by a different actors, writers, performers and others, with art works and videos.  Created by writer Philip Hoare and artists Sarah Cockayne and Sarah Chapman.

• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts.   This year, the Hay Festival will be digital, running from 18-31 May.  Adult programme runs 22-31 May (events for schools, 18-22 May). Writers featured include Margaret Atwood, Inua Ellams, Ali Smith and Elif Shafak

• Hay Festival 2020

The London Library events.  The London Library has videos of past book events, and some upcoming online events.

• London Library past events
• Upcoming events

Penguin Perspectives. Penguin UK publishes weekly essays by leading authors with their response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

• Penguin Perspectives

Orwell lectures.  The Foundation which runs the George Orwell prizes has videos or audio versions of its annual lectures about political writing:

• Orwell lectures

Moby Dick Big Read.  A daily reading of Moby Dick by Herman Melville, each passage read by a different actors, writers, performers and others, with art works and videos.

• Moby Dick

Foyles bookshop has a number of Q&As with fiction and non-fiction writers:

• Foyles author Q&As

The Guardian ran a monthly reading group until October 2020, with titles chosen by readers.  The discussions about each book are still available here:

• Guardian reading group

Art

The Arts Society is running a fortnightly series of Lectures at Home on various subjects:

• Arts Society lectures

The National Gallery has a range of short and long films about art:

• National Gallery

The Tate has lots of ways to stay connected, calm and creative while their galleries are closed:

• Tate Gallery

Theatre and dance

The National Theatre is showing one of its Live productions each week:

• National Theatre Live

The Globe Theatre is showing one of its productions every two weeks:

• Watch Globe Theatre

The Guardian has links to live streams of new plays and dance pieces and productions from the archives – updated every day:

• Guardian - best front room seats

Local History

Camden Local History and Archives Centre have a number of online talks about Camden, including: Charles Dickens and Camden; The Bedford Theatre, Camden;  Holborn Warships Week; Memories of Kings Cross; Camden Tour Guide podcasts and more:

• Local History talks online

Interview with our chief Archivist Tudor Allen about Camden's literary connections.
Literary London.  Resonance Radio, 27 March 2015 - running time one hour.

• Listen now

History and archaeology

The British Museum has online images of thousands of items in its collection:

• British Museum collection

DigVentures offers online courses about archaeology.  Learn about archaeology - from the ground up!

• DigVentures courses

The Royal Society has a range of full length talks and short films on science subjects, plus series of short interviews by the astronomer Brian Cox about People of Science:

• Royal Society talks and films