Newcastle Library

Turning 'ages highlights the intimate and complex relationship between people, books and the ephemera that is picked and left behind in the course of their everyday lives and then over a period of time, forgotten. The installation sensitively displays these memories and also focuses our attention to the constantly moving moments that we all have, and also those that we have chosen to keep hidden within a book. Writer's groups have been inspired by the work to organise alternative creative voiced events. The piece invites comment during this changing and transitional time that the book is undergoing, whilst at the same time our relationship with books and the written word is also being redefined and examined. It beautifully demonstrates the evolving importance of the published written word in a book, which will always be held close to our hearts. The work has recently evolved as an encapsulated time capsule for all the many library employees as its tours the country, capturing the historical library space changes. As it leaves the library a token of remembrance is placed by the staff representing their particular library which all the staff will sign. Turning 'ages has become a vehicle of connection for all the libraries, a fitting tribute for its powerful comment. To find out more about ‘turning ‘ages’, see Elaine Robinson's website www.elainerobinson.co.uk