Grow Your Own Vegetables

Discover the best way to grow your own vegetables however small your garden.

Derek Cox from BBC Radio Leicester’s ‘Down to Earth’ show will be at Syston Library on Tuesday 30th March at 7.00pm supporting the BBC Dig In campaign by explaining the best way to successfully grow potatoes, carrots, runner beans, tomatoes, courgettes and salads in containers and small spaces. 

Derek Cox is a very experienced gardener and one of the longest serving team members from the Down to Earth show on Radio Leicester. The show was originally launched in 1967 and is the longest running BBC Radio programme.

The BBC will be running their Dig In campaign again this spring to encouraging people to grow their own vegetables. Whether people have a garden, an allotment, a window box or simply a yoghurt pot, people are urged to get digging wherever they can.

If you would like to find out how to grow your own greens contact Syston Library (0116 3053500) for a ticket. Tickets cost £2.00 and booking in advance is necessary as places are limited. More information about Syston Library can be found at http://www.leics.gov.uk/syston_library

Gardening Expert Springs into Action at Newbold Verdon Library

After the recent success of our evening with actor, broadcaster and narrator, Gordon Griffin we feel really lucky to have secured the services of Andrew Mikolajski for our next library event.

Andrew, a gardening expert, will be talking about “Growing Fruit and Vegetables in Containers” on Tuesday March 16th at 7.30 at Newbold Verdon Library.

Tickets are available at the library £2.00 each. Andrew’s experience covers the whole gamut of gardening. He’s lectures at Warwickshire College, designs gardens, speaks to groups on various gardening topics and still finds the time to be a published author.

He’s the author of over 30 widely varied gardening books and is knowledgeable, informative and passionate. “Andrew’s breadth of knowledge is outstanding and his writing style makes any subject accessible to even the novice gardener.” Catie Ziller, publisher In short, it’s an evening not to miss! So banish those winter blues, step into spring and come along!

This promises to be a fabulous evening and we consider ourselves to be very lucky to have secured Andrew’s visit to the library. This event costs £2.00 but we anticipate a high response, therefore please reserve your place by calling into the library or phoning 0116 305 3661.

Please come along and join us
For any more information Contact Newbold Verdon Library 0116 305 3661 and ask for Hannah Boot or Gill Harris http://www.leics.gov.uk/newboldverdon_library

Family history for complete beginners

The popularity of television programmes such as the BBC’s Who do You Think You Are? has generated a huge interest in family history and encouraged people to start the detective work themselves.

For anyone who has thought about doing it, but doesn’t know how to start, Leicestershire Library Services can help. Free events for complete beginners will be held in March.

Whether family roots are local or not, these sessions will give the basic information, useful websites and library resources needed to get started with research. Places are limited and early booking is recommended.

The events will take place at:

Hinckley Library – Tuesday 16 March, 10.00am – 1.00pm 01455 635106

Loughborough Library – Thursday 25 March, 2.00pm – 5.00pm 01509 212985

For those unable to get to an event, libraries can still help. There are many books and websites giving information on how to do family history – more information is available from library staff or online at www.leics.gov.uk/focusonfamilyhistory

Gardeners bring spring to life in Leicestershire libraries

Top gardeners will visit Leicestershire Libraries in March to celebrate the end of winter and the advent of spring.
Nick Hamilton (Barnsdale Gardens), Derek Cox (from Radio Leicester’s “Down to Earth”), Graham Pavey and Andrew Mikolajski are well known names around the East Midlands and will be bringing their expertise to various county libraries during the month.
The talks are:

Derek Cox: “Vegetables in Containers”
Wigston Library:- Tuesday 23 March, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Syston Library:- Tuesday 30 March, 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Nick Hamilton: “Vegetables All Year Round”
Oadby Library:- Friday, 5 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Ashby Library:- Friday, 19 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Nick Hamilton: “Spring into Spring – Plants to give Spring Interest”
Hinckley Library:- Monday, 8 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Melton Library:- Wednesday, 31 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Andrew Mikolajski (Lecturer at Warwickshire College): “Fruit & Vegetables in Containers”
Newbold Verdon Library:- Tuesday, 16 March 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Braunstone Town Library:- Monday, 22 March, 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Graham Pavey (Lecturer for the RHS):
“The Mistakes Gardeners Make” – Castle Donington Library:- Monday, 22 March 6.00pm – 7.00pm
“Low Maintenace Gardening – Mountsorrel Library:- Monday, 29 March 7.00pm – 8.00pm.

Tickets for all events will be £2.00, and can be obtained from the library concerned. Places may be limited, so early booking is recommended.

For those unable to attend an event, Leicestershire Libraries can still help; All libraries have a good selection of gardening books for you to borrow and there is more information at www.leics.gov.uk/focusongardening
For further information please contact Development Librarian John Martin ( john.martin@leics.gov.uk or 0116 305 3813 )

Family history for beginners at Hinckley Library

The popularity of television programmes such as the BBC’s ‘Who do you think you are?’ has generated a huge interest in family history and encouraged people to start the detective work themselves.

 For anyone who has thought about doing it, but doesn’t know how to start, Leicestershire Library Services can help.

 A free event for complete beginners will be held in March.

Whether family roots are local or not, these sessions will give the basic information, useful websites and library resources needed to get started with research.

Places are limited and early booking is recommended.  The event will take place at Hinckley Library on Lancaster Road on Tuesday, 16th March, from 10.00am till 1.00pm.

For those unable to get to an event, libraries can still help.

There are many books and websites giving information on how to do family history – more information is available from library staff or online at www.leics.gov.uk/focusonfamilyhistory

For further information contact Phillip Lindley at Hinckley Library on 01455 635106 or email:phillip.lindley@leics.gov.uk

http://www.leics.gov.uk/hinckley_library

Fairtrade Fortnight in Hinckley Library

Hinckley Library is inviting people for a hot drink to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight.

Tea and coffee will be served from 10.00am–11.30am on Tuesdays, February 23rd and March 2nd at the library in Lancaster Road.

On February, 23rd the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Councillor Keith Nichols, will also be attending the Wriggly Readers sessions for pre-school children and their carers, where he will be handing out bananas supplied by the Heart of England Co-operative Society and the Hinckley and Bosworth Fairtrade Forum.

Bananas will also be handed out to Wriggly Readers on March 2nd.

From February 22nd to March 6th Hinckley Library will also have a display to enable visitors to find out more about Fairtrade in the borough.

For this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight the library is asking everyone to join it in The Big Swap.  For two whole weeks the library will be asking you to swap your usual goods for Fairtrade goods – your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa.  This means that every time you go shopping, you can use your wallet to make a stand.

For further information contact: Phillip Lindley, Customer Services Librarian at Hinckley Library, by calling 01455 635106, emailing: phillip.lindley@leics.gov.uk

http://www.leics.gov.uk/hinckley_library

New refurbished Kegworth Library is officially opened!

Photo Opportunity: Roger Wilson, the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, is officially opening the newly refurbished and much improved library in Kegworth. The special celebration is taking place at the library on Saturday 6th February at 10.30am.

Kegworth Library was closed for refurbishment last November and it re-opened in December. Since re-opening, the people of Kegworth have been enjoying the improved facilities which include new lighting, furniture, carpet and a popular children’s area. The cost of the work was in the region of £19,000.

Celebrations on Saturday include a children’s craft and stories session from 11.30am – 1pm. The library will be open as usual and everyone is welcome to join in with the fun.

Roger Wilson, Chairman of the County Council, said: “Kegworth Library has been greatly improved and looks and feels much nicer. I am looking forward to meeting members of the local Kegworth community who can take a look at what the library has to offer and join in with the celebrations.”

www.leics.gov.uk/kegworthlibrary

Talks in the Library

If you’re looking for something different to do in the evening, keep an eye on your local library. Libraries in Blaby District have recently begun organising a variety of talks on different topics, there is usually a small charge (£2-£3) to cover refreshments and the cost of the speaker. The topics include author visits, historical interest such as Enigma Machines or Richard the III, comedy and much more.

Some of the upcoming talks are:

Mon 15th Feb, Kirby Muxloe Library, 7pm-8pm: “Enigma and Friends” – Collector John Alexander will bring in several of his cypher machines and give a fascinating talk on their use as well as anecdotes of how he’s collected them.. Tickets £3 or 2 for £5

Mon 22nd Feb, Blaby Library, 7pm-8pm: ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside !’ – A history of the seaside holiday over the past two hundred years. Rediscover the fun and delights of the pier, the prom and Mr. Punch! Tickets £3 or 2 for £5

27th Feb, Countesthorpe Library, 3pm: Little known Leicestershire and Rutland, Free.

Mon 8th March, Blaby Library, 7pm-8pm: “A merry evening” – local author will talk about her book “How to be a merry widow” and perform some original comedy. Tickets £2

Wed 10th March, Glenfield Library, 7-8pm: “Richard III – A bloody tyrant?” Tickets £2.50

Wed 24th March, Enderby Library, 5:30-6:30: “Leicester’s first railway” Tickets £2

If you’re interested in attending any of the talks, please contact the library in advance to ensure your space. For more information phone Blaby Library on 0116 3053516

To keep an eye on the talks as they become announced, keep checking in the library or visit www.leics.gov.uk/blabyevents

Grand book sale at Loughborough Library

Loughborough Library is holding a grand book sale on Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 of  February. 

There will be many bargains on offer, including books for adults and children, as well as cds.  There will also be books in Gujarati, Punjabi and Hindi.

 The library is situated on Granby Street and is open from 9.30am – 5.00pm on Saturday and 11.00am – 4.00pm on Sunday.

Contact the library on 01509 212985 for further information. http://www.leics.gov.uk/loughborough_library

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Beat the February blues by getting into the holiday spirit early with this history of the seaside holiday over the past two hundred years.

Rediscover the fun and delights of the pier, the prom and Mr. Punch with this relaxed, fun talk by speaker Felicity Austin. It will contain a mix of history and nostalgia, with some songs thrown in and is delivered in costume.

Join us at Blaby Library on Monday 22nd February 2010, 7-8pm. Tickets cost £3 or two for £5. Buy yours from the library now in person, or by phoning 0116 3053516

Libraries in Blaby District organise a variety of talks on different topics, to find out about others than might interest you visit http://www.leics.gov.uk/blabyevents