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!

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

A FEAST of family fun in Leicestershire Libraries

Food will be the theme for activities taking place in libraries across Leicestershire for the Family Learning Festival from October 17th – 31st.

Libraries will be working with local partners to put on an exciting programme of events for the whole family. Activities will include: Wriggly Feasts, Food Trails, a World Café Quiz, and Story Feast Bingo.

Families will also have the chance to win a Wii Fit by working together to create a family recipe.

The Family Learning Festival is supported nationally by the Campaign for Learning and provides a range of exciting opportunities for families to learn together in an informal setting.

Families can explore new skills, develop new interests and expand their knowledge in ways that may whet their appetite for further learning in the future.

Ask at your local library or check www.leics.gov.uk/flf to find out more about events and the competition.

For more information contact:
Maggie Boyd – Development Librarian -  0116 305 3833
maggie.boyd@leics.gov.uk

A FEAST of family fun at Hinckley Library

Children and their parents are invited to take part in ‘Family Feast’ at Hinckley Library on Tuesday 20^th October as part of this year’s Family Learning Festival 2009.

Children of all ages and their parents and carers are invited to decorate their own Gingerbread men, hear stories and take part in other crafts and activities. The FREE event runs from 2.30-4pm. There is no need to book a place – just drop in!

Families will also have the chance to win a Nintendo Wii Fit by creating a favourite family recipe. Competition entry forms will be available at the event.

The Family Learning Festival provides a range of exciting opportunities for families to learn together in an informal setting. Families can discover new skills, develop new interests and expand their knowledge in ways that may whet their appetite for further learning in the future.

A full programme of Feast! events and details of the family recipe competition will be available from Leicestershire libraries and on the website from September 16^th. www.leics.gov.uk/flf

For more information contact Catherine Overton, Library Development Worker, Tel: 01455 635106, Catherine.Overton@leics.gov.uk

The nation’s favourite nursery rhyme is revealed

A new survey has revealed that parents in the Midlands are top of the class when it comes to singing nursery rhymes with their children.

More than 42% of parents in the Midlands answered that they often sing nursery rhymes with their children, which put them joint first in the UK with parents in Wales.

Over 2,500 people participated in the survey for National Bookstart Day, which takes place this Friday (Friday 9 October).  National Bookstart Day celebrates the Bookstart programme, which gives three packs of free books to every child in the UK and encourages sharing books with children from as young an age as possible.

The theme of this year’s National Bookstart Day is My Favourite Rhyme.

The top ten nationally are:

1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
2. Incey Wincey Spider
3. Round and Round the Garden
4. Baa Baa Black Sheep
5. The Grand Old Duke of York
6. If You’re Happy and You Know It
7. Humpty Dumpty
8. This Little Piggy
9. Ring a Ring a Roses
10. I’m a Little Teapot

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was the favourite amongst all the regions in the UK, apart from the north east which chose Incey Wincey Spider.

**For the full results of the survey please contact Katherine Solomon on 0208 875 4583 or katherine@booktrust.org.uk**

Wriggly Rhymes

Shepshed and Kegworth libraries are celebrating National Bookstart Day 2009 at their next Wriggly Readers sessions, both events will take place on Thursday 8th October, Shepshed 10:00 to 10:30 and Kegworth; 10.30 to 11.15am.

Bookstart aims to help every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books and this year’s programme will offer millions of children and parents the chance to discover the joy of reading together.

Favourite rhymes such as; Little Miss Muffet, Little Bo Peep and even Incey Wincey Spider will be out in force this in Celebration of National Bookstart Day but we want you to come along and tell us your favourites.

For further details please contact Shepshed Library on 0116 3033678 or Kegworth Library on 0116 3053609 or visit http://www.leics.gov.uk/bookstart

A FEAST of family fun in Leicestershire Libraries

Children and their parents are invited to take part in a gruesome grub test and a feast of activities at Libraries in Blaby as part of this year’s Family Learning Festival 2009. The events will take place throughout the week at different libraries:

Braunstone Town library, Mon 19th October, 10:30-12:00. With a walk from 12-12:45

Huncote Partnership library, Mon 19th October, 2:30-3:15, with a walk from 3:15-4:00

Blaby, Tuesday 20th October, 10:00-11:30, followed by a walk from 11:30-12:15

Cosby, Tues 20th October, 2:30-4:00, followed by a walk from 4:00-4:45

Countesthorpe, Wed 21st October, 10:30-12:00, followed by a walk from 12-12:45

LFE, Wed 21st October, 2:30-4:00

Narborough, Wed 21st October, 2:30-3:15, followed by a walk from 3:15-4:00

Glenhills, Thurs 22nd October, 10:30-12:00, followed by a walk from 12-12:45

Enderby, Thurs 22nd October, 2:30-4:00, followed by a walk from 4:00-4:45

Kirby Muxloe, Fri 23rd Oct, 10:30-12:00, followed by a walk from 12-12:45

Glenfield, Fri 23rd October, 2:30-4:00, followed by a walk from 4-4:45

Due to limited space to avoid disappointment, please book your free place from your library in advance. Places on the walks are not limited, but all children must be accompanied.

Please also ask about other events taking place this week, such as some evening talks aimed at adults and older children and a Saturday cooking demonstration for key stage 2 and above, location and timings to be confirmed.

Families will also have the chance to win a Nintendo Wii Fit by creating a favourite family recipe.

The Family Learning Festival provides a range of exciting opportunities for families to learn together in an informal setting. Families can discover new skills, develop new interests and expand their knowledge in ways that may whet their appetite for further learning in the future.

A full programme of Feast! events and details of the family recipe competition will be available from Leicestershire libraries and on the website www.leics.gov.uk/flf from September 16th.

Wriggly Rhymes

Shepshed and Kegworth libraries are celebrating National Bookstart Day 2009 at their next Wriggly Readers sessions, both events will take place on Thursday 8th October, Shepshed 10:00am to 10:30am and Kegworth 10:30am to 11:15am.

Bookstart aims to help every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books and this year’s programme will offer millions of children and parents the chance to discover the joy of reading together.

Favourite rhymes such as; Little Miss Muffet, Little Bo Peep and even Incey Wincey Spider will be out in force this in Celebration of National Bookstart Day but we want you to come along and tell us your favourites.

For further details please contact Shepshed Library on 0116 3033678 or Kegworth Library on 0116 3053609 or visit www.bookstart.org.uk

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

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

A FEAST of family fun

Children and their parents are invited to take part in Food Festival at libraries in Hinckley and Bosworth as part of this year’s Family Learning Festival 2009.
Create your own gingerbread man to take home. Hear stories, fruity games and much more. Libraries taking part in these events are Earl Shilton on Wednesday 21st October 11.30am-1pm. Groby Library at 10.30am-11.30am on Thursday 22nd October. Newbold Verdon Library on Saturday 24th October 2pm to 4pm and Market Bosworth Library on Thursday 29th October 3.45pm to 4.45pm.
Families will also have the chance to win a Nintendo Wii Fit by creating a favourite family recipe.
The Family Learning Festival provides a range of exciting opportunities for families to learn together in an informal setting. Families can discover new skills, develop new interests and expand their knowledge in ways that may whet their appetite for further learning in the future.
A full programme of Feast! events and details of the family recipe competition will be available from Leicestershire libraries and on the website www.leics.gov.uk/flf from September 16th.
For more information contact the relevant library.

* Earl Shilton Library 0116 3058392
* Newbold Verdon Library 0116 3053661
* Groby Library 0116 3053601
* Market Bosworth Library 0116 3053624

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

A FEAST of family fun in Leicestershire Libraries

Children and their parents are invited to take part in a Wriggly Feast at Syston Library as part of this year’s Family Learning Festival 2009. Children under 5 years and their adults can drop in to Syston Library on Saturday 17th October 2pm – 2.30pm or Monday 19th October 10am – 10.30am and join in with these special food themed Wriggly Reader sessions.

Families will also have the chance to win a Nintendo Wii Fit by creating a favourite family recipe and entering the countywide competition.

The Family Learning Festival provides a range of exciting opportunities for families to learn together in an informal setting. Families can discover new skills, develop new interests and expand their knowledge in ways that may whet their appetite for further learning in the future.

A full programme of Feast events and details of the family recipe competition will be available from Leicestershire libraries and on the website www.leics.gov.uk/flf from September 16th.