Quest Seekers – Summer Reading Challenge

13,641 children took part in Quest Seekers in Leicestershire and 10,055 completed the challenge!  Thank you for all your comments.  Here are just a few.

Quest Seekers

• “It was brilliant, I enjoyed it and now want to come every week to pick up some new books.”  Jordan, 11

• “I think Quest Seekers is brilliant because then I can read books instead of watching TV.”  Danielle, 10

• “It was great, I really liked it, I hope the boys win.”  Jacob, 6
• “I’ve been not too keen on books before but now I enjoy reading. Thank you.”  Eden 11
• “I thought Quest Seekers was fun and I have read a lot more books than I normally would thanks to it.”  Alexandra, 11

• “I enjoyed reading books for a challenge and collecting posters and stickers. I’ve had so much fun reading books over the summer.”  William, 7

• “I enjoyed it. It was fun. The stickers were awesome. I loved reading at night before I went to sleep.”  Jade, 7
• “It was the best thing I’ve done in 9 years and I am 9.  It is wicked.  Rock on Quest Seekers!!!!!”

Mums and dads liked Quest Seekers too…

• “We have thoroughly enjoyed our challenge this year. We have shared lots of special reading times together and every year is a new experience.”
• “We have had a good time visiting the library. Its always hard work dragging the children away from the place – they enjoy it very much!”

Come back next year for Summer Reading Challenge 2010!

Crime Scene East Midlands – Regional Events

Visit Crime Scene East Midlands for more details of regional events - www.leics.gov.uk/crimereading

November 2nd – Author visit by crime writer Anne Zouroudi  at Cosby Library.

Crime Scene East Midlands

November 3rd -  History of Crime Fiction – a talk by John Martin, at Newbold Verdon Library.

November 18th – Crime Fiction in the Midlands -  a talk by John Martin, at Melton Library.

November 23rd -  The Life and Works of Agatha Christie -  a talk by John Martin, at Glenhills Library.

November 25th    The Life and Works of Agatha Christie-  a talk by John Martin, at Glenfield Library.
www.leics.gov.uk/crimereading

Top Crime fiction author to visit Wigston Library

As part of our Crime Scene: East Midlands promotion crime writer Kate Ellis visits Leicestershire County Council’s Wigston Magna library on Wednesday 18th November (7.30pm – admission £2), to talk about her books, her career as a crime writer and the world of crime fiction.

Kate is a well-known crime writer, with two series to her name. One features black policeman Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson and is set in South Devon, and the other is set in the fictional Yorkshire City of Eborby. All her books feature an historical element, as Liverpool-born Kate has a love of medieval history and archeology.

Kate has written 16 crime novels so far, and the next in her Wesley Peterson series is to be published in 2010. Her latest book, “Playing with Bones”, is available from Leicestershire Libraries.

Tickets are available from Wigston Magna Library, priced at £2. Light refreshments will be provided.

It would be a crime to miss this event!

For further information please contact Development Librarian John Martin on 0116 305 3813 or Wigston Library on 0116 305 3689

Libraries support Dyslexia Awareness Week

Libraries across Leicestershire are supporting Dyslexia Awareness Week which takes place from November 1st – 7th.

Libraries in Ashby, Birstall, Blaby, Broughton Astley, Fleckney, Hinckley and Wigston will have displays to raise awareness of dyslexia, which affects one in ten people.

Information will also be available on a Library Service webpage where there will be guidance on sources of information and advice on dyslexia, as well as details of books to turn struggling readers into confident ones.

Libraries also have a range of books to help. For more information visit www.leics.gov.uk/dyslexiaawareness or one of the libraries listed above.

Health and Wellbeing in the community

People needing to lower their blood pressure or wanting to know the difference between good and bad carbohydrates can now seek help at their local library.

Leicestershire Library Services are running a pilot scheme with NHS Community Health Services at Coalville, Melton and Oadby libraries which will support Health & Wellbeing services in the community.

In those libraries you will find:

Extra books and DVDs

Staff trained to help you find health information

Links to healthy activities and local groups

Health checks

Skilled for Health courses

NHS Choose and Book service

Special events

Feel-good fiction

FREE computer use

Physical activity opportunities

A series of taster sessions and health checks will be running at three libraries in the week commencing 9th November to mark the introduction of new services.

All libraries are free to join and therefore free to use. A good range of health resources and information can be found in all the county’s libraries.

Peter Wilson and Jo Horrillo, health improvement specialists from Leicestershire County and Rutland Community Health Services said, “We are really pleased to be partners in this new and exciting project in Leicestershire, and look forward to improving the health and well being of the local communities”

To find out more, pop into your library, call (0116) 305 6988 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing.

Background Information

Coalville Library
www.leics.gov.uk/coalvillelibrary
High Street, Coalville
Tel (0116) 305 3565
Email coalvillelibrary@leics.gov.uk

Melton Mowbray Library
www.leics.gov.uk/meltonlibrary
Wilton Road, Melton Mowbray
Tel (0116) 305 3646
Email meltonmowbraylibrary@leics.gov.uk

Oadby Library
www.leics.gov.uk/oadbylibrary
10 The Parade, Oadby
Tel (0116) 305 8763
Email oadbylibrary@leics.gov.uk

Midlands Crime Writers

A talk about crime fiction set in the Midlands at Melton Library on 18th November, 2.30 – 3.30pm.

Discover new authors and books…

Book your free place by calling 0116 305 3646.

Melton Library launches Community Health and Wellbeing Services

Melton Library is launching its new Community Health and Wellbeing Services on Monday, 9th November and is inviting people to drop in between 10am and 2pm to see what is on offer.

There will be:
• Books and information about health and wellbeing
• Fantastic fiction and poetry to lift your mood
• Free health checks
• Fun exercise taster sessions
• Opportunities to find out about free swimming
• Opportunities to find out more about your local health surgery
• And much, much more……..

Leicestershire Library Services and NHS Community Health Services have been working in partnership to make information about health and wellbeing far more accessible to the general public. Melton Library is one of the county libraries which are promoting this new community service.

All libraries are free to join and use. For more information about the launch event or about health resources and information in general, call in at the library or phone 0116 3053646. Information is also available at www.leics.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing

Grand book sale at Rothley Crossroads

Leicestershire Library Service is holding a book sale of ex library stock on Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd November.

The event will be held from 9.30am until 3.30pm on the Saturday and from 11am until 3pm on the Sunday at the Library Service’s HQ in Loughborough Road, Rothley.

Most of the ex-library books will be available at special bargain prices.

There will be a wide choice of titles for people of all ages, including fiction, non-fiction and some local studies books, as well as many CDs and DVDs.

The sale will be accessed through the Cossington Lane entrance of the building.

Library Services HQ is based at Rothley Crossroads, Loughborough Road, Rothley (opposite the Red Lion).

There is a car park at the back of the building, disabled parking only at the front.

www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Shepshed Library wears it Pink!

Shepshed Library is encouraging staff and customers to ‘Wear it Pink’ for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

The staff are hosting a ‘pink’ coffee morning on Friday, October 30 from 9.30am until 12.30pm at the library in the Hall Croft. Coffee, tea, biscuits and cakes can be purchased on the morning.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and one woman in nine will be affected by it during her lifetime in the United Kingdom. All the money raised at this event will help support ‘researching the cure’ for Breast Cancer Campaign.

Judith Neville, Library Manager, said: “Wear it Pink is a fun and simple way to raise funds for research into breast cancer, so please join us on Friday, October 30.”

For further information see – www.leics.gov.uk/shepshed_library

New look for Kegworth Library

Kegworth library is to be refurbished and given a brand new look.

New furniture and carpets, improved lighting and an exciting new children’s area will be some of the new features of the service.

The library will be closed from Tuesday, 16th November and will reopen on Tuesday, 15th December in time for Christmas.

Users are welcome to join staff between 2pm and 5pm on December 15th for coffee and a mince pie.

In advance of the closure, library users will be able to borrow items for an extended loan period.

Books can also be renewed online using the Library Service’s 24 hour renewal line on 0845 6022815. Please ask staff if you require a PIN to use with this facility.

Library cards can be used in all county libraries.  Please visit: www.leics.gov.uk/libraries for details of nearby libraries and their opening hours, or call Shepshed Library on 0116 3053678 for more details.