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News

Catrin scoops the Anglesey Libraries Book Day Reading Award

Catrin scoops the Anglesey Libraries Book Day Reading Award

In a presentation in Llangefni Library, Catrin Evans, a Year 5 pupil at Ysgol Gynradd Niwbwrch was announced as the winner of Anglesey’s Book Day Competition.Catrin was presented with her prize of an Ipod Touch by the Director of Community at Isle of Anglesey County Council, Gwen Carrington.

As part of the Book Day campaign, Anglesey’s library service launched a campaign to promote the reading of Welsh books for children in the island’s smallest libraries, in conjunction with neighbouring primary schools. Glenda Williams, Librarian for Children and Young People at Isle of Anglesey County Council stated, “The aim, quite simply, was to read 10 Welsh books between Book Day at the beginning of March and the end of April.  Enthusiastic support was provided by the schools and the period saw a significant increase in the number of Welsh books loaned to children.

Pop into your local library during Adult Learners Week

Pop into your local library during Adult Learners Week

 

Adult Learners’ Week 18th – 24th May 2013 is theUK’s largest annual festival of learning and inspires thousands of people each year to discover how learning can change their lives. AcrossWales over 700 events will be held with around 20,000 people attending an event and trying something new! 

 

Libraries all acrossWaleswill be taking part by staging a wide variety of event events – learn how to research your family history, how to navigate sites such as eBay and Expedia and with so many events to choose from there will definitely be something for everyone.  If you have always wanted to try the ukulele or just want to improve your cookery skills – there is an event for you!

 

Some of the events that will be taking place in Welsh libraries include:

 

Chinese Brushwork

 

Pembroke Dock Library – Monday 20th May from 1pm – 3pm

 

Come and find out about and practise some exquisite painting techniques

 

Blogging 

 

Benllech Library – Thursday 23rd May from 1pm – 3.30pm

 

A short session for those interested in blogging and using mass media

 

Craft with Recycled materials

 

Rhyl Library – Tuesday 21st May from 1.30pm – 4.30pm

 

Create something new and exciting from your old textiles, lampshades and boxes.  Be creative and have a go in this workshop

 

Cupcake Demonstration

 

Ystalyfera Library – Monday 20th May from 10.30am – 11.30am. 

 

If you’d like to know how to make these very popular cakes come along and watch them take shape!

 

To find out more about events taking place in your local area throughout the year please call into your local library, check out their Facebook page or website or visit: http://www.yourfuturechoiceaction.org.uk/english/freeevents.html

 

An audience with Jonathan Orvin

An audience with Jonathan Orvin

Aberdare Library Wednesday 5th June 11:00

A talk about his book ‘Asset’

Asset is an ambitiously conceived, complex and well executed conspiracy thriller; packed with double-dealing, vengeance, romance and action.

From a career spanning thirty-two years: twelve years with the British Government and twenty years with the oil and gas exploration industry, the author brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this hugely elaborate plot.

 Although fiction, much of this book is based upon actual events.

GARETH WILL ‘BE THERE’!

Gareth Rees is ‘going to be there’ – Gareth is the lucky winner from Llanelli who has joined his local library and won 2 tickets to the Rugby League World Cup 2013 opening ceremony.  

 

 

 

Author Tom Palmer launched the campaign on Tuesday 12th March at Rhyl Library in North Wales, he said, “I am proud to be supporting this competition which will encourage a new audience to try their libraries for the first time. Not everyone is aware of the great things on offer at your library – DVDs, free internet access, reading groups, graphic novels, e-books and loads more all for free! Libraries changed my life, so anything that can do the same for other people is great!”

 

The Rugby League World Cup 2013 (RLWC2013) will kick off at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff with a spectacular first day including the opening ceremony and 2 must see matches between Walesand Italyand Englandand Australia.  This ceremony promises to be a fantastic and entertaining day out for all the family!

 

RLWC2013 Marketing Manager, Mark Foster said: “It’s great to be working with Welsh Libraries on this initiative. Libraries are at the heart of vibrant communities in both host nations of RLWC2013 –EnglandandWales. We want to encourage reading and community involvement at RLWC2013, so this competition is a perfect way to do that. The opening ceremony and double header inCardiffwill be a spectacular start to the tournament and it’s good to know that we’ll have some new Welsh library members in the crowd cheeringWaleson.”

 

Libraries are free to join and there’s something for every member of the family from free books, newspapers, e-books and magazines, to free internet access and family history resources plus free activities for children, free audio and large print books and expert friendly staff on hand to help.

 

 

 

FREE Family History resources in all public libraries in Wales

FREE Family History resources in all public libraries in Wales

Family history research is fast becoming a popular leisure activity with an increasing number of people trying to trace their ancestors and prepare a family tree.  Libraries inWaleshave made this activity accessible to all with Ancestry Library Edition now available in all public libraries across Wales for free!

It’s simple to use and the resource provides plenty of search tips and help pages and library staff are always on hand to help.

You can search:

  • Censuses forEngland,ScotlandandWales, the Isle of Man and theChannel Islands1841-1901.
  • Englandand Wales Civil Registration Index (1837 – 1983) for birth, deaths and marriages – plus more recent specific indexes.
  • UKandIrelandparish and probate records (1500s -1837)
  • A variety of American and other foreign material including directories Federal census, convict index, Railway Gazette data, and immigration/naturalisation lists.

Ancestry Library Edition provides the most genealogical information available on-line, with more than 5 billion names in over 4000 collections.  It offers a wide and diverse variety of unique content to help users trace their family lineage or help historians’ access historic records that have not previously been available online.  It is continuously expanding with new content added every day. 

One library user said ‘I have been doing my family tree at the library for a while now and having ancestry.com for free has been a godsend, especially for my wallet!  There have been times when I have spoken to staff about family trees and the times I have they have always listened with enthusiasm and encouragement, also suggesting other helpful sites.’

Welsh libraries offer a variety of other resources to assist users in their local and family history research – books, newspapers and periodicals, photographs, maps and plans, illustrations, directories, electoral registers, records and census returns. Not to mention free internet access to scan the whole host of websites aimed at helping us discover our roots.

Once you have started on the journey of discovering your past you can find lots of other useful resources via local and national archive offices, local history groups, family history services, museums and records offices. 

Ancestry.com is available from all libraries inWalesat no cost – to subscribe to this service from home could cost you up to £155.40 per year!

For more information about the services, facilities and events available in your local area please contact your local library and you can findout more about libraries in Walesor even where your local library is by logging on to librarywales.org.  

Photo: Nana Bibli shows she is related to Kylie Minogue and Owain Glyndwr – The Biblis are an animated family created for Welsh Libraries demonstrating how libraries are relevant for all ages – www.youtube/welshlibraries

For more information contact:

Jane Purdie – Libraries Inspire Marketing Officer

jane.purdie@wrexham.gov.uk           

Phone: 01978 298861