Fire Brigade Display

Last chance to see artefacts and photographs telling the story of Loughborough’s Fire Brigade from 1592 to 1974 now on display  at Loughborough Library.

Available for viewing until 9th March.

History comes to life at Syston Library

Most people know the Royal Navy was involved in the First World War and some people have heard of the Battle of Jutland, but not many people know what else the Royal Navy did in the Great War.

 

Local speaker Nick Marshall will be talking about the Royal Navy in World War One at Syston Library on Tuesday 21^st February at 7pm. Nick will be adding an extra dimension to his talk by wearing period naval uniform and bringing with him some of the kit the sailors would have been issued.

 

The Navy was present almost everywhere the army was during the Great War. Find out about the Royal Naval Division, sailors who fought in the trenches at Gallipoli and Passchendaele, and the fight against the German navy in East Africa. Learn about the exploits of the Royal Naval Air Service and the small naval missions on the Tigris to Baghdad, the Danube and the Black Sea.

 

Tickets cost £3 (including refreshments) and can be booked by contacting  Syston Library.

Medieval Churches and Silver Surfers at Harborough Library

Special events will be taking place at Market Harborough Library during May as part of Adult Learners Week, with a talk from a University lecturer and advice on getting online.

Medieval church painting will be the subject of a fascinating free talk by Dr. Ellie Pridgeon, looking at the world of ancient art that can be found on your doorstep. It begins at 7pm on Wednesday 18th May, and although places are free they should be booked in advance. Refreshments will also be available.

Free taster sessions will also be available during this week for people wanting to use the internet to research their family tree. Open to complete beginners, the sessions will take place on Friday 20th May  10am – 12 noon and should also be booked in advance.

To reserve your free place at these events, please contact  Market Harborough Library Tel: 0116 305 3627

Medieval church artwork at Lutterworth

Be beside the seaside at Wigston Library

There’s lots to see and do at Oadby and Wigston Libraries in May, including a look back at how Leicestershire’s landlocked locals love to be beside the sea.

Dr Lucy Faire of Leicester University will give a fascinating talk on local experiences of this national pastime on Thursday 19th May at Wigston Library.

The talk, which takes place as part of Adult Learners Week, begins at 7pm and is free to attend, though tickets should be booked in advance. Contact Wigston Library (Tel 0116 3053689) for further details.

And the history lessons continue at Oadby Library when local solicitor Trevor Parr will draw visitors into the world of the Apothecary with his period costume and demonstrations of medieval medicines.

His talk costs £2.50 per person, and takes place at noon on Thursday 26th May. For more information and to book tickets contact Oadby Library (Tel 0116 305 8763).

Poetry, history and exercise at Oadby & Wigston Libraries

There will be lots to keep library users of all ages active in mind and body in Oadby & Wigston in April.

Lyrical laughs can be had at Wigston Library on Saturday April 2nd when humorous poetry from Urdu and Hindi cultures, known as Mazahia Shayeri, will be explored for free from 3 – 5pm.

Wigston Library will also host its regular free knitting group at 2pm on Monday April 4th, and its stroll club, which is also free, on Wednesday April 6th at 10.30am. All ages and abilities are welcome to these events, which are as much about socialising as they are about developing skills or keeping healthy.

As part of Listen While You Lunch, Oadby Library will be hosting a visit by local historian Sally Henshaw, who will reveal the life and times of the notorious Nell Gwyn, mistress of King Charles II.

This talk will take place at 12 noon on Thursday 7th April, with tickets costing £2.50, including light refreshments. Pre-booking is required for this event.

Explore Learning creative writing workshops offer schoolchildren between the ages of 7 and 11 years old the chance to imagine, plan and write their own stories and characters. There will be one hour sessions at Wigston Library on Thursday 21st April at 2pm, and at South Wigston Library on Tuesday 26th April at 2pm.

For even younger bookworms, free Wriggly Reader sessions will take place every Tuesday 10- 10.30am at Wigston Library, every Wednesday  2 – 2.30pm at Oadby Library, and again every Tuesday 10.30 – 11am at South Wigston Library.

Historians at Harborough Library in March

War veterans can bring their photos, films, badges and Royal British Legion memorabilia to Harborough Library to discuss the fascinating stories behind these objects with a historian.

This free workshop is on Thursday 3rd March 3-6pm and is part of a landmark project, led by Leicestershire County Council, designed to mark the 90th anniversary of the Legion. Find out more here.

Heroes of history come to Blaby’s libraries

Leicestershire’s heroes of the past and a classic heroine from literature will be the focus of events at  libraries in the Blaby area in March.

 

Local author David Bell will be giving an insight into the brave and the bold from the county in a talk entitled Leicestershire Heroes at Enderby Library on Wednesday 23rd March at 7pm.

 

His subjects will include Spitfire pilot Johnnie Johnson, suffragette Annie Hawkins and secret agent Eliane Plewman.

 

And at Cosby Library, literary expert Helen Peden will be taking a closer look at Charlotte Bronte’s heroic protaganist Jane Eyre, and at the daring ideas found in the pages of this classic novel.

 

This entertaining talk takes place on Monday 28th March, at 7pm.

 

Both the talks cost £2 including refreshments.

 

Tales of crime, war and mobile phones coming to Coalville Library

Tales of crime, war and mobile phones coming to Coalville Library

 

R.J. Ellory, writer of seven bestselling crime novels including the award-winning A Simple Act Of Violence, is appearing at Coalville Library to discuss his work and sign copies of his books.

 

His talk takes place on Saturday March 5th at 2.30pm, and will cost £1.50 per person. There will also be other crime-fiction related events at the library in March, including a talk on the queen of the genre, Agatha Christie, on Tuesday 15th March at 7pm for just £1.

 

Later in the month, war veterans can bring their photos, films, badges and Royal British Legion memorabilia to Coalville Library to discuss the fascinating stories behind these objects with a historian.

 

This free workshop, which takes place between 10am and 1pm on Saturday 19th March, is part of a landmark project, led by Leicestershire County Council, designed to mark the 90th anniversary of the Legion.

 

To find out more about the project please contact Margaret Bonney, Project Coordinator, at The Record Office on 0116 257 1080 or email margaret.bonney@leics.gov.uk . More details are available at www.leics.gov.uk/britishlegion

 

Also at Coalville Library there will be a free taster session for complete beginners who want to know how to use a mobile phone. This Myguide course takes place on Wednesday 16th March between 10am and 12noon.

 

There will also be bargains galore from Wednesday 16th March until Monday 21st March when Coalville Library has its Big Book Sale. Surplus books, CDs and DVDs will be on sale at discounted prices throughout the day.

 

Writers bring history to life at libraries

The past will be brought to life across Leicestershire’s libraries in March when five historical writers, including TV presenter Michael Wood, visit the county to give talks as part of the Words On The Street season.

First up will be Glyn Iliffe, Leicestershire author of the Adventures of Odysseus books, set in the quasi-historical world of Greek mythology. Glyn will be appearing at Wigston Library on Thursday 17 March at 7pm. Tickets cost £2.

Next there will be the Medieval Murderers, two writers who specialise in historical crime fiction; Karen Maitland, writer of The Owl Killers, and Philip Gooden, who has penned a series of Shakespearean murder mysteries.

Their joint discussion will take place at Melton Library on Wednesday 23 March at 7pm, tickets cost £2 each.

The following evening, established historian-turned-novelist Alison Weir will reveal the life of one of Leicestershire’s most famous historical characters, Lady Jane Grey, about whom she wrote her thrilling debut novel, Innocent Traitor. This talk costs £3 to attend and takes place at Loughborough Library on Thursday 24 March at 7pm.

Finally, renowned TV historian and writer Michael Wood will give a talk on his recent Kibworth-based series “The Story Of England” at the newly refurbished Market Harborough Library att 7.30pm on Wednesday 30 March. This event has already sold out.

The other talks are also expected to be popular, so tickets should be bought from the relevant libraries in advance. All the authors will be signing copies of their books at the events for people to purchase.

For further information on the events please contact John Martin on 0116 305 3813, or the relevant library.
Wigston Library: 0116 305 3689
Melton Library: 0116 305 3646
Loughborough Library: 0116 305 2420
Market Harborough Library: 0116 305 3627
As part of the Words On The Street season there will also be talks on crime novels in Leicestershire’s libraries in the coming weeks; for more information go to the ‘Words on the Street’ pages on our website

Return to the stars at Hinckley’s libraries

There will be plenty to keep families and older people entertained and informed at libraries in the Hinckley area this February.
For fathers, grandfathers, uncles and carers there will be Dads Day, a free event for men and their pre-school children featuring stories and songs. This takes place at 10:30am at Newbold Verdon Library on Saturday February 5th 2011.

Following the huge success of Stargazing Live last month, at which nearly 150 people attended, Newbold Verdon Library will also be opening its doors from 6:30pm on Tuesday 8th February for the first Stargazing Club, which is free to visitors.

Other events at Newbold Verdon Library include afternoon tea on Wednesday 9th February and a local history group which will convene for the first time on the following Wednesday, 16th February. Both of these events are free and all are welcome.

Those looking for a real challenge over half term should consider the Top Gear activity morning, in which families can drop in to Hinckley Library for fun activities with a motoring theme. This free event is for children aged between seven and eleven years old and takes place between 10:30 and 12 noon on Wednesday 23rd February.

And for fans of Music Hall and Variety performances there will be a special coffee morning in which a guest speaker will be reminiscing on this era of entertainment. This free event starts at 10am on Thursday 24th February at Barwell Library in the George Ward Centre, and there will also be the opportunity to get online throughout the day.

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council Lead Member for Adults & Communities, said, “Events like these across libraries in the Hinckley area keep visitors of all ages stimulated and entertained, and for little or no cost.”

For further details of these and other events, please contact Tracey Beighton on 0116 3052501, visit www.leics.gov.uk/hinkley_libraries, or visit your local library.