Knit and Stitch at Oadby Library

Are you interested in knitting and sewing and want to meet in a friendly informal setting where you can chat as well as working on your projects?

Starting from Sunday September 6th Oadby Library,10 The Parade is setting up a social group for stitchers on Sundays 2.00-3.30 pm where you can meet in a friendly atmosphere and have a chat as well as sewing or knitting.

Please bring a pair of 4mm knitting needles and a ball of double wool. Wool will also be available to buy at the library.

Whether you are a knitting novice or an embroidery expert come along to Oadby Library for a knit and a natter, share tips and expertise or learn from others.

All ages and abilities welcome!

Contact Oadby library
Tel: 0116 305 8763
Fax: 0116 271 8163
E-mail: oadbylibrary@leics.gov.uk
Website: www.leics.gov.uk/OadbyLibrary

Now That’s What I Call Reading

Time To Read wants people to try making a reading choice in the same way they choose what music to listen to. So, working on the theory that people who generally like cheery pop music such as Girls Aloud, Take That, and Sugababes, might be people who are interested in fashion, fun, romance and keeping fit. This might lead them naturally to enjoying books such as Chick Lit, celebrity biographies, romance titles and cheerful bestsellers.

Similarly people who like more moody music such as Radiohead, Coldplay , The Smiths or Elbow might be people who like books which express a dark, sexy, cinematic or bleak mood. We think books such as Love on the Dole by Walter Greenwood or The Road by Cormac McCarthy might suit them, along with titles by writers such as Raymond Chandler, Walter Mosley, Haruki Murakami or Neil Gaiman

Obviously people like different music and different reading experiences at different times, sometimes even on the same day. We really don’t want to categorise people or limit choices in anyway. We just think its interesting to think about the tone that many books have and try to match that to music, which people often seem to find easier to be decided about.

Time To Read has put together some shortlists of titles matched against groups of bands and musicians. These can be found on the Facebook page Now That’s What I Call Reading

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!

Libraries continue to improve!

It’s been a record year for Leicestershire’s libraries, new figures revealed today.

The County Council’s library service says that:

• The number of visitors in 2008/9 has risen by 13 per cent, to 3,853,867
• Issues of books rose by over three per cent in the  year to March, the fifth year of continual increases
• 10,000 positive comments were made about the staff
• More than 50% of the population used the service last year
• More people than ever joined the library

Margaret Bellamy, Head of Library Services, said: “I’m delighted that people are recognising all that the service can offer and making our libraries a success.

“They’re great places to visit, especially if you want to save money, being welcoming and having a wide range of services, whether you want to borrow a book, hire a CD or DVD, surf the internet, research your family tree, take part in a local group or get advice on benefits.

“I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t been to a library for a while to check out their local branch.”

At a time when library services in some other parts of the country are cutting back, Leicestershire is revamping or rebuilding its libraries.
The latest examples of new libraries are at Oadby and Newbold Verdon and the latest re-vamp is at Barrow on Soar.  A new mobile library serving the villages in the south of the county will set out in June.

Leicestershire’s library service has:

• 54 libraries
• 6 mobile libraries
• 412 computers
• 23,000 DVDs to rent
• 712,000 books to borrow

www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

A Library Service at home

If you love to read but find it difficult to get to your library because you are elderly or disabled, or because you are caring for someone at home, the Home Library Service is for you.

Home Library Service

The service is absolutely free and provides access to a huge range of books, including books in large print and talking books.  Music CDs are also available and a DVD subscription service for a small charge.

Signing up for the service couldn’t be easier.  We will visit you to discuss your choice of books or music, and a volunteer will then visit regularly to deliver the items to your home.

Alternatively, arrangements can be made so that a friend or relative can collect books and other items on your behalf.

If you would like to received the Home Library Service or want to find out more, please contact your local library.

Visit our website at www.leics.gov.uk/homelibraryservice

Bumper year for county libraries

It’s been a record year for Leicestershire’s libraries, new figures revealed today.

The number of visitors in 2008/9 has risen by 13 per cent, to 3,853,867
Issues of books, CDs and DVDs rose by four per cent over the last year, to 4,153,816
Issues of children’s books rose by seven per cent in a year
More than 88 per cent of comments received by the library service are positive
More than 50% of the population used the service last year

Ernie White, Cabinet member for libraries, said: “I’m delighted that people are voting with their feet and making our libraries a great success.  “They’re warm and welcoming and a great place to visit, whether you want to borrow a book, hire a CD or DVD, surf the internet, research your family tree, take part in a local group or get advice on benefits.

“I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t been to a library for a while to check out their local branch.”
At a time when library services in some other parts of the country are cutting back, Leicestershire is revamping or rebuilding its libraries.  The latest examples are Oadby library, which opened last month (February) and Newbold Verdon, where a new library and community facility opens in April.  Leicestershire’s library service has:

• 55 libraries
• 6 mobile libraries
• 412 computers
• 23,000 DVDs to rent
• 712,000 books to borrow

www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Older person’s day

Fleckney Library is hosting an ‘Older Persons Day’ on Tuesday 5th May 2009 from 10am until 4pm at the Community Centre on School Street.

Local providers of services to older people and their families/ carers are keen to talk to the residents of Fleckney and the surrounding area about their services and how they can be accessed.

Service providers attending on the day will include;

• Lifeline alarms, enabling older people to retain their independence and enjoy the comforts of their own home,
• Signal Bus: a ‘bed-sit on wheels’ demonstrating aids and equipment for memory loss,
• Befriending service,
• Carers forum, Transport & social car scheme,
• Shopmobility
• And many more.

Why not take advantage of a free health check with Harborough District Council’s physical activity coordinator or just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and a biscuit.

Library staff will be on hand throughout the day to talk about library services for all older persons such as the home delivery library service. This free service gives those who want to read but are physically unable to get to the library due to age, sight, mobility problems etc the opportunity to have books delivered to their home by a library volunteer.

All in all it’s set to be an informal but very informative event and we are looking forward to welcoming you on the day.

Fleckney Library

Fairtrade fortnight at Hinckley Library

Hinckley Library is inviting people for a hot drink to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. Tea and coffee will be served from 10am to midday on Tuesdays, February 24 and March 3, at the library in Lancaster Road.

On February 24, the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Jeff Bannister, will also be attending the Wriggly Readers session for children aged under five and their carers. He will be handing out Fairtrade bananas supplied by the Heart of England Co-operative Society and the Hinckley and Bosworth Fairtrade Forum.

Ernie White, Leicestershire County Council Cabinet member for Community Services, said: “I am delighted that Hinckley Library is supporting Fairtrade Fortnight. I encourage people to come along and enjoy a hot drink, learn about ethical trading and find out what their library has to offer.”

During Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from February 23 to March 8, the library will also have a display to enable visitors to find out about Fairtrade in the Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth.

For further information contact Hinckley Library

Listen To This!

Leicestershire Libraries is podcasting to the world!  Visit our website to hear the first epidsode of ListenToThis.

If you would like to know more about any of our library services and resources please visit our website at www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Minister opens £1 million library

A £1 million state-of-the-art library, offering wireless internet access, an area for teenagers and CD listening posts, was officially opened by the Minister for Culture, Barbara Follett  on 4th February.
Leicestershire County Council’s Oadby library has proved to be a big success since it opened in November, with around 100 visitors per hour and around 1,000 new members in two months.
Converted out of a former shop on Oadby’s main shopping street, The Parade, it is the Council’s 10th new library in an £8 million investment plan, which has included major face lifts to another 25 libraries. County library visitors have increased 26% over the past 5 years, and customer satisfaction has soared.
Minister for Culture Barbara Follett told an audience at the library today: “A lot of libraries are excellent but few of them are as good as Oadby’s. I want to make sure that people across the country get services as good as this.
“We have to make libraries clearer and more accessible and you have done it brilliantly. Congratulations to Leicestershire and all of you who have been involved in this.”
Mrs Follett said the Government was reviewing library services and was considering giving every child automatic library membership.
Ernie White, Leicestershire’s Cabinet member for Community Services, said: “I’m delighted that the Minister could come to Oadby, to see how lively and popular a library can be.
“The first book borrowed since we reopened was called ‘Second to None’ – that’s an apt title for this library, which really is at the heart of the community.”
Chief executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), Roy Clare, said: “I have had a preview of Oadby library and my impression is that it will be a hugely successful community library in a busy high street location. The concept is engaging, open, friendly and there really is something there for everyone.
“This approach reflects the considerable care that Leicestershire library service is taking to deliver high quality services in the way that local people want, especially in a time of recession. I offer my warm congratulations on their work and on this important opening.”
The library’s features include:
• An extensive range of books, DVDs and music CDs and newspapers and magazines
• Comfortable seating, with special areas for children and for teenagers
• Free use of computers and wi-fi internet access
• CD listening posts, so people can enjoy music and talking books
• A Fairtrade coffee machine
• A service centre for Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
• Opening until 8pm on Mondays to Thursdays, plus 11am-4pm opening on Sundays

For further details, see www.leics.gov.uk/libraries