Aly Barr
Deputy Director/Head of Operations
About me After several years as a touring musician, I joined Waterstones as Events and Marketing Manager. Following that, I became a rep for Penguin selling books to bookshops from Dumfries to Thurso, eventually co-founding a new imprint Penguin Scotland. In 2005 I joined the Scottish Arts Council Literature team leading on publishing and translation as well as becoming lead officer for the Scottish Poetry Library. Before joining the SPL, I was Creative Scotland’s Acting Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing. I am also on the board of Cove Park, the international artists’ residency centre on the west coast of Scotland.
Contact me about The library building and the staff within it.
My favourite poetry quote is ‘to you it may be taboo to poo-poo the tattoo / but to me the tattoo is something to say tat-ta to’ (John Hegley).
My favourite poets are James Robertson, Michael Pedersen, Kathleen Jamie, Don Paterson, John Hegley, Gerry Cambridge, Jackie Kay.
When not at work you’ll find a half man, half taxi attempting to be in several places at once including a rehearsal room.