Somero Library Writing Competition

If you ask anyone in Somero what they like about living in this town, I can almost guarantee that at some point they will mention the library.

We are very lucky here to have a great library in the centre of town. It is in a beautiful modern building and very well stocked, especially for a town which isn't huge after all.

And there is something special about the atmosphere. I love being around books pretty much anywhere, and I love libraries. But this one has something extra. I've tried to think of the right adjective for it - and the one that comes to mind (even though it might seem a bit odd) is "warm". Somero library is a warm place. And I am not talking about the heating.  It's a place in which you feel welcome, which makes you want to read, and a place where it feels comfortable to stay.



Eija Kopponen and Outi Junell

Eija, Cameron, Anniina, Karoliina, Outi and Arsi

Anyway, this evening we were invited to attend an exciting event there. Earlier in the year a competition was announced to all children in the Somero's 5th and 6th forms to write an adventure story, and a week ago I received a call to say that Cameron was lucky enough to have been chosen as one of the runners up. Outi Junell and Eija Kopponen were our hosts for the evening and it was lovely to see their genuine enthusiasm in encouraging children to write stories. The animated way in which Outi reads a story brings it to life and makes you want to pick up a pen and start writing one of your own.

Eighty-one entries were received in total and this evening the results were announced. The overall winner was Karoliina Andersson with her excellent story called "Täysikuu" (Full Moon). Anniina Vääri was the winner of one of the runner up prizes, and Cameron was the other.

The stories had been displayed over the past few weeks and visitors to the library had been invited to vote for their favourite entry. The winner of the public vote was Arsi Virta.

All the prizewinners were invited to choose a prize book, and special thanks were given to Maarit Laurento from Joensuu School for coming up with the idea in the first place.

Cameron with his prize book - about wizards, obviously.

I love writing. Obviously. Like some people love cooking or gardening or knitting socks. I like words and trying to put them together. I think you know when you love something because you do it even when you are tired and on the days when you don't have to. And in these days of text messages and emails and facebook, where everything is so temporary - I can't think of anything better than something which encourages children to use their imaginations and use real words and ideas and put them together on paper.

Well done Somero library for this competition, and to every child who had the enthusiasm and patience to enter it. And thank you Somero library for what you do for us every day. You are one of the town's greatest resources and on behalf of all the people I have spoken to in the town, I hope all of you who work there know how very much you are valued.

And one last thing....never forget to keep writing! It's what libraries are made of.