LIBRARY LIFE

Gladstone's Library, Hawarden

From Dan Kaszeta, author of Toxic

Last week, Dan Kaszeta, one of the 2024 Writers in Residence at Gladstone's Library, shared five items from his 10-part list of how to make the most of a stay at the Library. Here are the last five entries from his list (plus a bonus piece of advice)...

Whether you are an official Writer in Residence or if you simply book a few days to clear some head-space and get some writing done, anyone can benefit from time at the Library.

Here are the second batch of entries in my highly opinionated top 10 guide on how to get the most from a stay at Gladstone's Library, in big ways and small.

6. The Chef's Specials are your friends - The menu can get formulaic after a while. The chefs are actually really talented, so a few daily specials have surprised me.

7. Meet the people - Pretty much everyone who works here is lovely. They're nice people and they are very helpful. But also, don't be afraid to meet your fellow residents. I've met some very fine people in my four weeks here. This place is the cross-roads of intellects.

8. The half term - If you're on the official four-week residency programme, you can do like I did and split it. I took a week off in between. Going back to London had the effect of teaching me what a good thing I had going on. I counted the hours until I could come back.

9. Engage in community outreach - The local residents are fine people and generally a friendly lot who respect and care about the Library. You can meet them in the post office shop, the church, the two pubs (Glynne Arms and the Fox & Grapes), and the Charcoal Gallery café, which does excellent coffees.

I've met a lot of local characters. And their dogs. More than once now some person said "Hey Dan" at me while driving down the street. It did not take me too long. I feel like I've lived here a year.

10. If you need the bright lights - Chester is a fine day out or even just a few hours. It's about half an hour on the 11 or 4 or 4X bus.

A bonus piece of advice: Unless you are really in some penitential mood, avoid the jigsaw puzzle of the Rosetta Stone in the Gladstone Room. That way lay madness.