Great news for members of reading groups and writing groups!

Leicestershire Libraries and Loughborough University have agreed a reduced price for all reading group and writing group members for next weekend’s Polyverse Poetry Festival.  The festival starts on Friday July 24th and ends on Sunday July 26th.

It’s a massive event, featuring over 40 poets, workshops and discussions…. and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy!

In recognition of the great support that the library service has given to the festival, prices have been reduced for reading group and writing group members: from £20 to £15 for the whole weekend, and from £10 to £7 for Saturday evening. 

Saturday will feature “Dreams of May”, a critically-acclaimed play-in-poetry, four of the best young writers from Leicestershire, plus Carol Ann Duffy. 

If you like poetry, write poetry, or are just tempted… this is a great opportunity to see an amazing line-up. For more details, visit the website http://artisanslibrary.ning.com

We look forward to seeing you there!
Best wishes from The Polyverse Team.

New library reward scheme!

Free DVD hire is one of the great rewards available in libraries’ new money-saving loyalty scheme. Library members can join the free scheme and collect points each time they visit a County library or mobile and borrow six or more items.

Rewards Card

Library members will be issued with their own rewards card and can collect up to 12 stamps which can be cashed in for any of these fantastic library rewards:

• Set of headphones (12 stamps)
• Jute bag (12 stamps)
• Free week loan of DVD/CD or talking book (6 stamps)
• Children’s poster/activity book (6 stamps)
• Free book request (3 stamps)
• Free UK fax up to the value of £1.50 (3 stamps)
• 3 free print outs/photocopies (2 stamps).

The new scheme starts on 1^st June, is free to join and available to all ages.  More details about are available in libraries and online at www.leics.gov.uk/libraryrewards

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

Booksale at Loughborough Library

Loughborough Library is announcing a much awaited event.  Their Book Sale will be held on Saturday 2 May from 9.30 – 4.00 and on Sunday 3 May from 11.00 – 4.00.  Here’s your chance to pickup a bargain. There will be adult fiction and non-fiction titles, a variety of children’s books and a limited amount of local history books.

Take the opportunity whilst you are in the library to look at our Focus on Money display. You stand a chance of winning a £20 High Street shopping voucher by just looking at a particular website and filling in a form.

Find out more about Adult Learners’ Week at your local library or visit www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Step up your finances

Libraries are great places to save money – free books, free computer use, free events – and now they are even helping everyone to manage their money better and make it go further and learn new skills.  During April and May, libraries are inviting everyone to step up their finances with a Focus on Money promotion giving lots of information and the chance to win a £20 shopping voucher.

Local libraries will be promoting a wide range of books to suit everybody on money related topics and money saving help such as growing vegetables, home cooking, buying and selling online and DIY.  Focus on Money also highlights websites that have money saving ideas and information and advice to help people get in control of their money. Library staff will be on hand to help customers find the information they need.
For those who need a bit more help libraries can provide information on organisations that provide free, confidential and independent advice.

More details can be found on www.leics.gov.uk/libraries/focus_on_money

Bumper year for county libraries

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, 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.

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

Thurmaston Library book sale

Thurmaston Library is having a book sale. Old library books and DVDs will be sold to make way for the new stock. Anyone wishing to extend their own library and help make room for the new stock should go along to Thurmaston Library on Church Hill Road between Monday 20 and Saturday 25 April 2009.

Thurmaston Library on 0116 305 3513.

www.leics.gov.uk/thurmaston_library

Free computer use at libraries

Do you need access to a computer to look for a new job?  Did you know that computer use in libraries is free?  All libraries, run by the Leicestershire County Council, have computers available for free for people who may need to access information for jobs, create or update a CV, research or volunteering opportunities.

Ernie White, Cabinet member for Community Services says, “If you have been affected by the current recession, through redundancy, moving areas or new financial worries, the library service are there to help”.

You just need a library card and a PIN (Personal Identification Number).  Ask Library staff for an application form or join online.

Visit www.leics.gov.uk/libraries to find out more.

Booksale at Mountsorrel Library

Mountsorrel Library is having a mega booksale on Saturday 7 March 2009. Books for all ages, fiction and non-fiction will be available to purchase from 10.00am till 4.00pm at the library on the Green. Everyone welcome. Make the most of this one day opportunity to buy books at low cost.

www.leics.gov.uk/mountsorrel_library