Libraries
Are home library services available to you?
- Tuesday, 07 May 2013
Do you love reading but can’t get to your local library?
Do you want someone to bring and collect books for you?
Many libraries across the country provide home library services and may be able to help by arranging to deliver and collect books for you.
Volunteer with Beanstalk to help a child read, grow and succeed
- Friday, 03 May 2013
‘I feel valued and useful. It’s a great way to spend spare time. I’m amazed at what can be achieved in a few hours.’ Beanstalk reading helper
Beanstalk is a national children’s literacy charity, formerly known as Volunteer Reading Help, that provides one-to-one literacy support to children in primary schools across England. Our vision is a nation of confident children who can read and grow up to lead successful lives.
We recruit, vet, train and support volunteers from the local community to work with children who have fallen behind with their reading. Beanstalk's support makes a lasting difference to children’s lives.
Would you like to do something special with your spare time? Drop in to Marlborough Library
- Thursday, 04 April 2013
Volunteer Centre Wiltshire will be holding a drop in session at Marlborough Library on April 15h 2013 2pm – 4pm. If you’ve got a bit of spare time you like to put to good use but don’t know where to start then drop in and see us to find out about all the volunteering opportunities in the area.
Volunteer Centre Wiltshire currently have over 1,000 volunteering opportunities waiting to be filled across Wiltshire, there are lots of things to get involved with: for example you could help with the construction of an amphitheatre, be a Fair Weather Escort for a local care home, get involved with maintaining canal boats, use your IT skills to help others get online or even help look after retired race horses.
Celebrate our National Libraries on Saturday 9th February
- Wednesday, 06 February 2013
National Libraries Day 2013, a culmination of a week’s worth of celebrations in school, college, university, workplace and public libraries across the UK, will take place on Saturday 9 February 2013.
In 2012 over 400 events took place in libraries across the country, including author visits, live music performances, book clubs, family history days, stand up comedy and behind the scenes tours.
Gloucestershire cuts adrift county's most isolated communities from its mobile library service
- Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Today Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) announced the ‘launch’ of its new mobile library service. Whilst Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries welcome the continuation of some form of provision at least, the new service is an attempt to fob off isolated individuals and communities with a diminished and altogether inadequate mobile library service.
On behalf of Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries, Johanna Anderson says: “We are pleased that Gloucestershire County Council has not pursued its former plans to axe the mobile library service, which was ruled as unlawful by a high court judge in November 2011. However, we have grave concerns about the new service, and about the failure of Gloucestershire County Council’s to properly consult service users and inform them of the changes before they withdrew the old service.”
National Libraries Day takes place on Saturday 9 February 2013
- Monday, 14 January 2013
National Libraries Day 2013, a culmination of a week’s worth of celebrations in school, college, university, workplace and public libraries across the UK, will take place on Saturday 9 February 2013.
In 2012 over 400 events took place in libraries across the country, including author visits, live music performances, book clubs, family history days, stand up comedy and behind the scenes tours. Thousands of people took part. In 2013 we want to take this even further and to celebrate the value of all of our libraries, librarians and information professionals.
Duke meets one of Kent’s most loyal library customers
- Monday, 17 December 2012
Alan Brigden joined his local Kent library in 1944 - and he’s not looked back since.
“I’m more at home here than anyone”, said 78 year old Alan, who lives in Maidstone and pays a visit to the Kent History and Library Centre in the town everyday, taking time to read the papers, do some local history research or just browse the books.
“Everytime I go in to look for something particular, I end up getting distracted by lots of other information too”, explained Alan who was among the guests of honour who met and talked to the Duke of Kent when His Royal Highness visited the centre on Tuesday 11 December to take a tour of the building and unveil a commemorative plaque.
Children's Laureate condemns library closures
- Monday, 10 September 2012
The Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson has written an open letter to new Culture Secretary Maria Miller slamming library closures.
The author of The Gruffalo called on Mrs Miller to improve on the record of Jeremy Hunt and condemned the government's "refusal to intervene" on the issue of library cuts.
Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries comments
- Thursday, 02 August 2012
In November 2010 Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) announced plans to close eleven public libraries, to reduce opening times to three hours per week at seven, and to axe the entire mobile library service.
As a direct result of Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries' (FoGL) campaign and the determination of local residents to fight for their service, four public libraries in the most deprived areas of Gloucestershire and two mobile libraries remain open.
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- 'Whitewash' - County councillor Noble escapes misconduct charge
- "More misleading information from county council" on library closures
- Friends of the Isle of Wight Library Service want your calls
- Friends of the Isle of Wight Library Service on Vectis Radio
- Join our lobby to speak up for libraries
- Lots of ways to have your say
