Have you found your library on Facebook?

Are you an avid fan of Facebook like millions of others around the globe?  Would you like to know more about what’s happening in our libraries online?

If you enjoy surfing the Internet, check out our new user-friendly weblink address where people can see what’s happening in Leicestershire libraries on the popular social networking site, Facebook. Visit www.facebook.com/yourlibrary to find all sorts of information about your libraries.  You can add your own thoughts and keep up to date with news and events being planned.  So far we have 100 fans who have signed up with more adding to the list every day.

Social Networking Sites

Ernie White, Cabinet Leader for Better Places, said, “This is a great opportunity for anyone tech-savvy to join in the social networking phenomenon and mingle with others who have a common interest.”

Other social networking sites include our library blog, where customers can leave their comments, get involved in a debate and put their views across or just find out information.

You can also follow us on Twitter – just visit http://twitter.com/leicslibraries and you can join in with 276 followers to keep up to date with what’s happening in Libraries.

Our useful internet links can also be found on Delicious – see http://delicious.com/leicslibraries to search our helpful link resources for homework, research, and various subject areas like finance and health.

Librarians are being trained in internal social media focusing on Web 2.0.  This enables library staff to:

• Understand Web 2.0 which can help communicate with our (younger and more technical savvy) customers
• Better understand the future of digital library services
• Web 2.0 helps us to learn and think in new and creative ways

For further details, pop into a Leicestershire library, email libraries@leics.gov.uk or visit www.leics.gov.uk/libraries.

Wriggly Readers

We have had a lot of positive comments from customers attending our Wriggly reader sessions, so we thought we would share some of these positive comments:

“It’s good to get out and meet new mums, dads and children, my child loves learning words and songs and meeting other babies”

“I love meeting and talking to other parents, it gives me structure to the week, its such fun and a great social activity for my baby”

“It helps me get out of the house and for my child to make new friends”

“My son loves the songs and joining in with the movements”

“My child loves to watch other children and join in with the songs”

“A fantastic opportunity to enjoy music and stories with my daughter, it encourages her love of music and books and is very stimulating”

“I enjoy meeting other mums and think the sessions are really fun”

“The sessions have really developed my granddaughter’s love of the library”

“Makes the library a fun place to be, in time I hope it will help her get over her shyness”

Please feel free to share your comments below!

Booksale at Loughborough Library

Saturday 12th September, 9:30am-5:00pm, and Sunday 13th September, 11:00am—4:00pm

Library Book Sale

Crime Fiction alert!

Renowned crime author Anne Zouroudi is appearing at Ashby Library this week.  Contact the library to book a place  – admission FREE!

Anne Zouroudi – author of The Messenger of Athens, The Taint of Midas & The Doctor of Thessaly Set in Greece.

The novels have received excellent reviews:

“There is a cracking plot, colourful local characters and descriptions of the hot, dry countryside so strong that you can almost see the heat haze and hear the cicadas.”

The Guardian http://uk.annezouroudi.com/books/

Ashby de la Zouche Library

Thursday 21st August, 2.15pm – 3.15pm

Phone 0116 305 5917

Libraries help jobseekers

Libraries in Hinckley and Bosworth are offering holding free open mornings to help with brightening locals job prospects.  In these difficult economic times, with unemployment rising, it can be a daunting task to apply for a new job. So libraries are here to help.

Do you need help with preparing a new CV and covering letter or with updating your existing one? Do you need help with setting up an e-mail account so that you can apply for jobs on-line? Would you like information on useful websites and contacts that may help you with your job search?

Are you thinking about improving your skills to increase your employability and require support and guidance?

If yes, then drop in to a special open days being held at Earl Shilton, Newbold Verdon and Groby libraries and find out how the Library can help. 

If you would like information and advice then please feel free to just come along. If you require the use of a computer please contact the Library beforehand so that we can make a reservation for you.

The events are at:

• Earl Shilton Library on Saturday, 8th August from 9.30am – 1.00pm
• Newbold Verdon Library on Saturday, 15th August from 9.30am – 1.00pm 
• Groby Library on Saturday, 22nd August from 9.30am – 1.00pm.

For more information call Earl Shilton Library on 0116 3058392, Newbold Verdon Library on 0116 3053661 or

Groby Library on 0116 3053601.

Loughborough Library to get a facelift

Work is to be carried out to revamp the front of Loughborough Library. The library, which is based in Granby Street, will close for approximately eight weeks from September 21 while new windows are installed and improvements are made to the front of the building.

Customers are reminded they can take out 24 books and other items for an extended loan period during the closure, and library cards can be used at all county libraries.   Other libraries in Charnwood providing a full range of services are: Birstall Library – 0116 3058756,  Shepshed Library – 0116 3053678,  Syston Library – 0116 3053500.

 There are also ICT and internet facilities at libraries in Mountsorrel, Sileby, Quorn and Rothley

For more information about opening hours and services available, including on-line services, please visit: www.leics.gov.uk/libraries, email libraries@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6988.

A 24/7 renewal service is available on 0845 6022815.

Loughborough Library apologises for the disruption to service and inconvenience, and looks forward to its re-opening on 16th November.

Wriggle along to Earl Shilton Library every Wednesday

The huge popularity of Earl Shilton Library’s weekly story and rhyme time group, Wriggly Readers, has meant sessions have been split into two.

The sessions are held every Wednesday. The first group starts at 10am and is aimed at children aged between two and five years of age.

The 11am group is very popular with new mums and the under twos, but come along to which ever session suits you and your child best.

Wriggly Readers are a great way to introduce your child to books, songs and nursery rhymes.

They also provide a good opportunity to meet other mums, dads, grandparents or carers, and for children to socialise with other children of a similar age.

All libraries across Hinckley and Bosworth offer a Wriggly Readers session at least once a month and details of all sessions can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/wrigglyreaders, or by contacting your local library.

Festival celebrations to launch new reading garden!

Come and join the fun and activities at Newbold Verdon Library next week.  The library is holding a three-day Community Festival (11th-13th August) to celebrate the opening of the its newly created reading garden.  To mark the occasion, Roger Wilson, the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council will unveil and name a fabulous sculpture and declare the reading garden officially open on Wednesday 12th August at 11am.

The sculpture has been created by local residents who worked alongside Gwyn Williams, a sculptor from Hinckley, to design 96 individual plaques.  The reading garden at the side of the library will contain six mosaics, also designed by local people and created by local artist, Jo Allsopp.

The festival starts on Tuesday 11th August at 10.30am with a special wriggly reader’s session celebrating ‘The Gruffalo’ – famous childrens character.  An exciting Questseeker’s event for children under 11 will be taking place in the afternoon.

On Wednesday 12th August as well as the official opening of the reading garden, families can enjoy an afternoon full of fun – from 2pm there will be a circus skills workshop, ballon modelling, face painting and storytelling activities to name but a few.

On Thursday 13th August there will be a Manga and Graphic drawing workshop in the morning, followed by tea and tales – a talk about the life and works of Agatha Christie with local expert, John Martin.

Roger Wilson, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said:

“The reading garden is a lovely peaceful area and is a great community space for everyone to enjoy.  Libraries now offer so much more than the traditional lending of books such as the many activities taking place at the community festival.  I would encourage everyone to come along, have some fun and see for themselves.”

All of the events during the festival are free and everyone is welcome, but due to demand Tuesday’s and Thursday’s events need pre-booking.

For more details or to book a place, please visit the library or contact

Gill Harris on 0116 305 3660.

New Online Reference Library

How big is the largest squid in the world?  Where does the shortest man live?  How do you make rubber?  Why is the sky blue?  Who were your ancestors?

Reference Library

You can find the answers along with loads of other information via the Online Reference Library service at home on your computer.

This new online service has been set up by Leicestershire County Council Library Services and provides a wide range of information which can be accessed at home on the internet.

The subject topics vary from art to health and from family history to music – even newspapers and magazines – so there is plenty of information to interest all age groups.

Whatever information you seek, just pop into your local library or use our Online Reference Library in the comfort of your own home by visiting www.leics.gov.uk/reference.

There is normally a subscription fee upon registering for the Online Reference Library service, however Leicestershire libraries are providing the service absolutely free to members of the library service.  All you need is your library card number.

If you are not already a member, you can join by downloading a form and taking it to your nearest library with proof of identification.  Or you can register online by completing the form and a library card and a PIN will be sent to your home.

There are additional services available in libraries themselves which include the Ancestry Library Edition, a great place to research into your family tree.  Or if you’re looking for value for money, our Which? Consumer Reports will help you to decide and compare prices.

For those musicians around, you can find your favourite artist or album by clicking onto the SearchMuze online resource program.

The Ancestry Library Edition, SearchMuze and Which? Online services are only accessible in the library due to a licensing agreement with providers.

For further information, visit www.leics.gov.uk/reference