The Henry Bloom Noble Library in Douglas is taking part in the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2009.

The Library's participation will give readers the opportunity to discover great original fiction, share opinions with the library team and other readers, and decide for themselves who should win.

Borough librarian Jan Macartney said ‘We’re pleased to be participating once again in the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, introducing readers to new and exciting fiction and encouraging them to join in the discussion about the best of women's writing.’

‘We’re delighted that the Henry Bloom Noble Library is participating in the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2009,’ added Magda Lojszczyk, partnerships marketing manager at Orange. ‘Our aim is to get the wonderful books on the Orange Broadband

Prize for Fiction longlist into the hands of as many readers as possible, both men and women, and libraries play a vital role this process.’

This year, readers will be able to download audio clips of readings from the short-listed books, discuss the books and champion their favourite author on www.orangeprize.co.uk.

Mrs Macartney continued ‘Books long-listed and short-listed often include new and controversial writers, so we're particularly pleased to have an opportunity to introduce reader to authors they’ve never tried before.’

The Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 programme at the library is available from now until June 30th.

The library's participation in the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction is organised by The Reading Agency, the UK reader development agency for libraries’ work with readers.

The Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote international fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible and is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman.

For those who are interested, Henry Bloom Noble Library holds adult reading group meetings on the last Thursday of each month at 7.30pm.

Pictured: Jan Macartney, Borough Librarian