Arts Council England has launched an online conversation to gather feedback for Envisioning the library of the future – a programme of research and consultation that will help shape what libraries should be in the future.
Join in the discussion on their blog.
Work is well underway on a major new project that will integrate day care provision for adults with services in Loughborough Library. The project is believed to be one of the first in the country and will make council services much more accessible to members of the public and enable them to enjoy a wider variety of services under one roof.
The library will be extended and refurbished to include modern fully equipped accommodation to provide day care services including activity areas, office space, a kitchenette, an area for therapeutic activities and it will also have an open air courtyard.
The work will also allow for a major local studies collection about the history of Loughborough and the County to be relocated from the first floor of the library to the ground floor making it more easily accessible to library users.
The new integrated service will offer a full range of day care services for people with physical or learning disabilities and will provide the opportunity for them to use the library and its resources whilst in the vicinity. Loughborough Library is located centrally and offers easy access to other services and facilities in the town.
Subject to planning permission, it is anticipated that the project at the library will be completed by summer next year. The project may be extended to include other libraries within the county in the future.
You can get healthy, expand your reading list and even small animals during a whole week of events taking place at Syston Library in May.
To celebrate its new refurbishment, staff are putting on different days dedicated to different subjects, and a week-long chance to book out normally charged items absolutely free.
Using a special Get One Free card, library members will be able to book out a number of items such as DVDs and CDs for free instead of being charged for them. This offer will run between Saturday 7th and Friday 13th of May.
Healthy eating will be the flavour of Monday 9th May, as recipe ideas and free cookies will be on hand (while stocks last) from the County Council’s School Support Services between 10am and 11am and between 3pm and 4pm.
On Tuesday 10th May Ancestry Day will let you discover your forebears as volunteers and library staff offer demonstrations on how to use the online reference library to research their family tree.
Those wanting to expand their reading base will be given tips on what books to try next from librarians on Wednesday, which is Reader Development Day, when staff will be on hand to show customers useful books and websites to help them choose great books.
Tutors and students from Brooksby Melton College will be in the library on Thursday May 12th, Adult Learning Day, giving demonstrations and providing information about some of the courses they offer.
There will be a beauty therapy promotion with a free facials, Indian head massages, manicures and hand massages, and a chance to meet some of the smaller animals that will be housed in the new animal and equine centre due to open at the college in September.
Leicestershire Adult Learning Service will be providing information about the courses they offer locally, as well a display of artwork from local students at Roundhill College.
There are two final offers on Friday – Books and More Day. Visitors can borrow six books and get a free talking book hire, or borrow a dozen books and get a free DVD hire all day.
For further details please contact Syston Library on 0116 3053500, or visit the website at http://www.leics.gov.uk/syston_library
Shepshed Library is making a small change to its opening hours. It will be opening until 7.00pm on Mondays and closing at 5.00pm on a Friday. This change has been made to reflect the usage of the library, with Mondays being a popular choice for library users.
The change in hours will take affect from week commencing 7 June 2010.
The new opening hours are:
To contact the library about this and any other enquiries please telephone; 0116 305 3678 or email; shepshedlibrary@leics.gov.uk . http://www.leics.gov.uk/shepshed_library
This Easter, keep entertained and help your children’s literacy at the same time. Blaby District Libraries are hosting some free, fun workshops run by Explore Learning , a network of children’s maths and English tuition centres based at Sainsbury’s Fosse Park and in Highcross, Leicester.
These literacy workshops are designed to encourage your child in their English and focus on a variety of interesting topics to get you and your child thinking creatively.
Mon 29th March – 11am to 12noon – Kirby Muxloe 0116 3053714 – A Pirate Adventure
Mon 29th March – 3pm to 4pm – Enderby 0116 3053523 – George’s Marvellous Medicine
Tues 30th March – 10am to 11am - Blaby 0116 3053516 – We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (4-7 yrs)
Tues 30th March – 3pm to 4pm – Glenfield 0116 3053591 – A Pirate Adventure
Thurs 1st April – 3pm to 4pm – Glenhills 0116 3053530 – Beast Quest
Tues 6th April – 10am to 11am – Blaby 0116 3053516 – A Pirate Adventure (6-11 yrs)
Wed 7th April – 3pm to 4pm – Braunstone Town 0116 3055900 – Beast Quest
For more information, please call Explore Learning on 0116 282 6800 and speak to Anna, Hayley or Tara.
Self-service machines are being launched at Oadby library on Tuesday 16 March, to allow people to borrow and return books, CDs and DVDs quickly and easily.
David Sprayson, Cabinet member for libraries, said: “The self-service machines will make the service quicker and easier for users and enable staff to help people around the library, instead of being confined to a desk.
“I know some people don’t like using self-service checkouts in supermarkets, but the library machines are much simpler – you can scan all your books at the same time, simply by putting them on the machine. And you can still get help from a member of staff if you wish.”
Features at Oadby library include:
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.”
A workshop highlighting how innovative “data visualistion” techniques can be used by employers and communities is being held.
Leicestershire County Council’s Library Service has organised the workshop at Loughborough University on Wednesday, 3 March.
The council had teamed up with experts from City University London to undertake a pioneering project to analyse how people use libraries, so it could improve services.
Rather than poring over tables of figures, data visualisation presents complex information through a series of graphics, making analysis easier and helping uncover previously unnoticed trends.
The initial research project – known as “vizLib” – made use of the technique to interpret 450,000 individual records of weekly library use in the county recorded over a two-year period, presenting them in a variety of novel maps and graphics.
”vizLib” determined how factors such as borrower location, library size, transport links and geography affect user habits and take-up.
This has led Leicestershire Library Services (LLS) to rethink its provision, in order to better address the needs of its users.
The workshop will present the case study with an opportunity for delegates to view some of the data that uses methods that challenge traditional viewpoints of community profiling – and to learn new techniques that can be put to use in their day to day work.
City University London and the County Council are now working on a further data visualisation scheme thanks to £32,000 from the Government as part of its “Timely Information to Citizens Pilot” project.
The aim is to use data visualization to better inform the public about the local authority’s work.
The two parties will now develop four online applications to clearly present in-depth information about a number of the council’s services to the public, the first two of which are the results of a satisfaction survey.
For further details about the workshop, including booking a place, email: rita.nathwani@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 7354.
Self-service machines are being launched at Melton Mowbray Library on Tuesday 9 February, to allow people to borrow and return books, CDs and DVDs quickly and easily.
Ernie White, Cabinet member for libraries, said: “The self-service machines will make the service quicker and easier for users and enable staff to help people around the library, instead of being confined to a desk.
“I know some people don’t like using self-service checkouts in supermarkets, but the library machines are much simpler – you can scan all your books at the same time, simply by putting them on the machine. And you can still get help from a member of staff if you wish.”
Features at Melton Mowbray library include:
Regular activities include:
Melton Mowbray library will be closed Monday 1 February until Tuesday 9 February while the self-service kiosks are installed
Self-service machines are being launched at Hinckley library on Monday 21st December to allow people to borrow and return books, CDs and DVDs quickly and easily. To allow for the installation of these exciting new additions, the library will be closed from 14th – 19th December inclusive.
Features at Hinckley library include:
Regular activities include:
