Nottingham City Council is gearing up to launch a week-long series of special activities celebrating what libraries can offer to all age groups and interests.
Timed to coincide with National Libraries Day on 7 February, libraries across Nottingham are also asking residents and visitors to tell them what they love about their local library.
Libraries across Nottingham are also encouraging visitors to take advantage of the week-long offers which include; no fines to pay for overdue books and other items returned that week, three for two on CD and DVD loans, two free hours of computer access and also free reservations placed on Saturday 7 February.
Nottingham City residents and visitors can take part in one of the many special activities or by simply visiting a library to borrow a book. Once again, National Libraries Day will have a strong online presence and anyone taking part can share in the conversation by tweeting with the #NLD2015 hashtag.
The week of activity leading up to National Libraries Day will show off what libraries across Nottingham City and County can provide for regular and occasional visitors. As well as their established offer of free and easy access computers, books for all ages, music, films, job clubs and free WiFi, many of Nottingham City’s libraries will be taking part by offering a fantastic choice of high quality events as well as informative, supportive and fun events and activities for all age groups.
The activities kick off on Monday 2 February at Aspley and Bulwell libraries with Totstime, a high energy sing-along which encourages families with young children to spend quality time together in the safe and welcoming surroundings of a library and learn through singing and games. On Wednesday 4 February people living with dementia and their carers can go along to Central Library to take part in a session to launch a new collection of books and “memory packs” specially designed to stimulate memories. This event also includes a special Singing for the Brain session led by the Alzheimer’s Society as well as information and advice from a variety of local organisations focusing on the help and support available locally. The week continues with wizardly themed fun at Bulwell Library as the library magic up an evening of spellbinding quizzes and dressing up for a special Harry Potter book night.
Councillor David Trimble, Portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council said: “Nottingham City Council has invested in several of its libraries in recent years and is working hard to showcase the wealth of valuable, exciting, fun and informative activities taking place in Nottingham Central and the city’s community libraries. Libraries are well known as a source of learning, study and literature but to anyone who hasn’t been into their local library for many years or hasn’t even thought about what the library in their community may offer, the libraries of today are all set to dazzle visitors with opportunities to learn, discover, explore, create and connect.”
A number of the planned events are timed to coincide with the return of Nottingham’s hugely popular and family-friendly Light Night festival on Friday 6 February, now in its eighth year. Nottingham Central Library on Angel Row will launch the 15th annual Nottingham Children’s Book Award for two to four year olds. The awards showcases three children’s books and reinforces the role of libraries to help younger children discover the joy and excitement of reading and encourage a love of books that will grow with them into later life. Families will be able to borrow the short listed titles from their local library or watch library staff reading the stories aloud on YouTube and on the @ReadingNottm Twitter account.
Visitors to Nottingham Central Library can also discover hidden treasures from the Local Studies collections and tour the fabulous basement at 6.30 and 7.30pm. For anyone who is still unsure what DogHorse Coats are and would like to find out the personal and historical memories they contain, puppeteer Marcus Clarke will be there in person to tell you more about his new and fascinating exhibition on the first floor. Staying with the historic theme, visitors will be able to watch film clips from the Nottingham City Historical Film Archive, First World War display whilst enjoying refreshments.
Other highlights on the evening include a musical performance by Johnny and the Raindrops. Storyteller & playwright Marty Ross will be on hand to drag Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of The House of Usher” kicking and screaming into the modern world, in a show which is already proving a hit at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.