Case Study: Dee at Paisley Book Festival

Why do I volunteer with OneRen?

First and foremost, I’ve loved books and music all my life.  From reading under the bedclothes with a torch, while listening to Radio Luxembourg on my transistor radio through just the one headphone (no stereo back then!), to juggling physical and electronic books in this crazy 21^st century with either a CD or digital music in the background. 

But it wasn’t really until I moved to Scotland and had more time, not just to read (and listen to music) but to join book groups and start attending book events and festivals.  The opportunity to hear authors talk about their books, and sometimes get to ask a question, then heading home with that precious signed copy after the event, became a real joy.

When the first Paisley Book Festival was announced towards the end of 2019, I was very happy to sign up as a volunteer.  I didn’t know exactly what I’d be doing, but was happy just to dive in.  I knew that social media was not my forte, but helping with giving info, collecting feedback and chatting to folk at events was right up my street.  We were so lucky to get the 2020 Festival done and dusted before the end of February, and it was fantastic – I particularly remember the last day where we had the crème de la crème of crime fiction (aka The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers – who cunningly combine my love of books and music!!) both participating in an event about writing their books, and finished off the festival, in Paisley Arts Centre, with a storming gig, Val McDermid being in particularly fine voice!

So, 2021, we were in lockdown, but still had a Paisley Book Festival.  By this time, we were used to living so much of our lives on-line, so there wasn’t an option for face-to-face volunteering, but I did have the absolute privilege of being part of a poetry project run by friend of PBF, the wonderful poet, Imogen Stirling, who was inspirational in how she led multiple workshops across different local groups, then pulled together a fantastic poem compiled from all of those sessions.  I was honoured to be part of the virtual event for PBF, both reading the final work, and discussing how it came together.

Subsequent years saw PBF in UWS and the portacabin library, then, at last, into Paisley Town Hall in 2024, which provides a plethora of different spaces to cater for a large variety of events. I absolutely loved running around the venue, chatting to audience members, enthusing about books and writers, getting to meet some of them, particularly when managing the signing queue.  Not forgetting spending far too much money on books I didn’t know I wanted till I heard the author speak, at the book stall, brought to us for the last few years, by Sarah and her amazing team from the award-winning Book Nook in Stewarton.

Are there any downsides to volunteering at the Paisley Book Festival (other than over-spending on books)? I guess the main thing is that it’s impossible to be in all places at once, so that sometimes you may not get to see an author you really want to see because you’re helping at another event.  It can also be quite tiring, but no one has to commit to maximum coverage.  And the upsides more than compensate – you discover authors you knew nothing about, you get to meet the most amazing people, writers and audience, and you’re part of a great team, all dedicated to keeping Paisley Book Festival on the map, as one of the best and most friendly book festivals in Scotland.