Festive Charity Coffee Morning and Quiz

Syston Library and St Peter & St Paul’s School are getting together to provide seasonal cheer and raise money for charity with carols, coffee, tea and mince pies.

A festive coffee morning is being held at Syston Library on Tuesday 15^th December to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign and to provide an opportunity for people to meet, catch up on local news, and relax in a festive environment. Children from St Peter & St Paul’s School will be singing carols at around 11am and the library will be offering refreshments between 10am and 1pm. The festive coffee morning will also be an ideal opportunity to test your knowledge in the library’s book quiz. Anyone wishing to join in the festive fun is welcome to go along.

Syston, Thurmaston and East Goscote Libraries are testing people’s knowledge of children’s books with a quiz. There will be three categories for entrants: children, families and adults. People wishing to take part can collect a question sheet from their library on or after Monday 14^th December and all entries must be return to the library before Monday 4^th January.

Breast Cancer Campaign’s mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure. It aims to be the leading specialist in breast cancer research across the UK and Ireland, making a significant impact on breast cancer for the benefit of patients.

If you would like more information about this event contact Syston Library on 0116 3053500. To find out about other library events visit www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

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

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

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.

Know Your Neighbour Day

Drop in and sample the delights of Wigston Magna Library’s Know Your Neighbour cultural diversity day.

The event will take place on Tuesday, September 29th from 10am to 8pm.

There will be a host of activities and demonstrations throughout the day from Mehndi to Morris dancing and bobbin lace making to belly dancing.

There will also be a lunch time concert as well as a host of other activities.

All events are free and refreshments will be provided.

For a full programme of activities or for further information contact Wigston Library on 0116 305 3689

www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

State-of-the-art new mobile library launched in Market Harborough!

Photo opportunity: A special viewing with chance to meet the library staff and a special cake will set off the celebrations as Leicestershire County Council launches its latest new mobile library in Market Harborough. Roger Wilson, the Chairman of the County Council, will declare the new mobile officially open at a special event taking place at The Square in Market Harborough on Saturday 12th September 2009 at 10.30am.

Vehicle design has changed over the years and the Leicestershire Library Service is pleased to be unveiling its’ new mobile model as it is unique and is the latest revolutionary design built in partnership with Leicester Carriage Builders. This latest vehicle design combines the low floor access of a bus with the carrying capacity of a conventional lorry based mobile. No longer restricted on the carrying capacity and both weight and space have been improved

It meets our user’s needs and is a fine example of technology at its best. Features include:
• Improved access to make it easier for everyone to get onboard.
• A vehicle that is 40ft long and approx. 8.6 ft wide.
• Full air suspension.
• Book capacity of 2800, which gives customers far more books to choose from than the old mobile.
• Categories of stock including:
• Adult fiction
• Hardbacks and paperbacks
• Fiction and non-fiction books for children of all ages.
• Large print books
• Talking books
• State of the art graphics.
• The mobile will continue to visit rural communities on a fortnightly basis
• Plus there is information on a Home Library service
• Leicestershire Library book requests that are free for children and senior citizens

The afternoon sees story telling sessions by local author Andy Cope, who wrote the children’s story books ‘Spy Dog’ series. He will be on the mobile library at 1.00 –1.30 pm and 2.00 – 2.30 pm in The Square, Market Harborough.

The mobile library service in Market Harborough visits communities that do not have a static library within easy reach, helping libraries become accessible to all. The new mobile contains a wide variety of stock including fiction and non-fiction and talking and large print books.

Roger Wilson, the Chairman of the County Council, said:
“This new ’state-of-the-art’ mobile is not only easily accessible, due to the low chassis design, the area it covers and the places it visits in Market Harborough will help library services become available to everyone.”

For more information about the event or to find out when the mobile library will be visiting your area please call Jackie Knight, District Community Manager at Market Harborough Library, Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7LT Telephone: 0116 305 3627 Email. jackie.knight@leics.gov.uk or marketharboroughlibrary@leics.gov.uk Alternatively look on the County Council website: www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Want to shape your future library?

Tell us what you think!

People visiting libraries during September will be invited to say how well libraries are meeting their needs. The results will help to prioritise future developments to modernise and transform Leicestershire’s library service.

A survey will take place at all libraries from Monday 14 September to Sunday 20 September. It will continue for a further week on mobile libraries until 25 September, so that customers at all stops on the fortnightly schedule will have a chance to complete a questionnaire.

Adults will be asked about the reason for their visit to the library and whether it was successful. They will also have the opportunity to rate their satisfaction with library facilities and services, including books, CDs and DVDS as well as the attractiveness of the library, staff helpfulness and opening hours.

Customers will also be asked to say what they think overall about the library, taking everything into account, and to offer any other comments about the service.

Margaret Bellamy, Head of Library Services said, ‘Everyone’s views are important to us. We are really keen to know what people want from their library. Results will be used to plan library services and to improve performance’.

Staff will be on hand to help if there is anything customers do not understand in the survey. All information given will be treated confidentially and individuals will not be identified in any way.

For further information contact your local library, call (0116) 305 6988 or send an email to libraries@leics.gov.uk.

Leicestershire Libraries

Volunteers needed at the library

Volunteers are needed to help deliver library books to people who have difficulty getting out and about.

Leicestershire Library Service is looking for people who have a couple of hours a month to spare and would be a prepared to take books to and from the homes of housebound customers.

It currently needs volunteers in Narborough, Enderby, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forest East.

Leicestershire Libraries has always been proud to offer a home library service to housebound customers.

The scheme, which relies on volunteers, offers them a vital link and service.

If you are interested in volunteering and could deliver to these areas please contact Helen Murray on 0116 305 3593 or email: Helen.Murray@leics.gov.uk

See www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

How has the Library helped you?

Did you use our books for some research?

Got your head down to get some work done in one of our study spaces?

Did you log onto one of our computers to plan your summer holiday?

Learn something new in a course?

Met some great new people through our readers groups?

Please comment below and tell us how the Library has helped you!

Celebrate Local History Week with Oadby Library

Historian Martin Sharp will be leading an informative and nostaligic walk around old Oadby as part of Local History Week.

The event will take place on Tuesday, June 9th between 7pm and 9pm.

Participants who bring along their own digital cameras will be shown how to put their pictures onto the Leicestershire Villages website at a special session held at Oadby Library on Thursday, June 11th from 6.30pm-7.30pm.

Both events are being held as part of Local history Week which runs from June 8th -12th. Places are limited so please book early as they are popular.

To book your place contact Oadby Library.

In addition the library is hosting a ‘Leicester Jewish Voices’ display for the week.

This fascinating display tells the story of being Jewish in Leicester during the 1940’s and 1950’s and everyone is welcome to visit it.