Love Your Library events to celebrate National Libraries Day

Saturday 9 February 2013 marks National Libraries Day 2013.  To celebrate this, libraries across the county will be hosting lots of events suitable for all the family.

Exciting events include:

Shropshire’s Spring Read

Shropshire’s Spring Read begins in libraries on Saturday 9 February 2013.  It is designed to help people find a good book to read by sharing reading recommendations with others.

People are asked to read four books, write down what they thought of them, and give them a star rating out of five.  For inspiration, people can look at one or more of the Spring Read book lists which can be picked up at their local library.  They can request titles from these book lists free of charge.

Rating forms can be picked up from any library and once completed should be returned there in return for four free library requests, and entry into a prize draw.  One lucky reader will win £30 worth of book tokens.

The closing date for entries is World Book Night, 23 April 2013.

Book displays

Love Your Library displays will be at libraries including Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Ellesmere and Bridgnorth.

Bookstart Rhymetimes

Rhymetimes include songs, rhymes, rhythm and fun for children under five.  People can ask for details at their local library.

Storybook drawing

People are invited to Shrewsbury Library on Saturday 9 February to draw their favourite storybook character.

Time to Listen

• Tuesday 5 February at Ludlow Library – stories and poems on the theme of Unlucky in Love.
• Wednesday 13 February at Castle Gates Library, Shrewsbury – stories and poems on the theme of Hooked on Books.
• Saturday 9 February at Ellesmere Library and Bridgnorth Library – members of staff are dressing as book characters.

Have you read …?

Book recommendations will be tweeted from @oswestrylibrary Saturday 9 February every hour from 9am until 5pm. 

Community art activities

Everyone is invited to come and see artists creating fantastic sculptures from paper and have a go themselves at Oswestry Library on Saturday 9 February. 

Meet an author

Two local authors Joanne Phillips and Emma Westwood will be talking about their new books and the art of writing at Market Drayton Library on Saturday 9 February from 2pm until 3pm. 

Support the Library – Friends of Market Drayton Library

On Tuesday 12 February 2013 from 7pm until 8pm at Market Drayton Library people are being invited to support the library and make new friends.  Friends groups support the service locally by helping to organise a range of activities and events, carrying out some specific library duties or tasks and by acting as library advocates in their communities.

Celebrate with tea and cakes

Members of Bridgnorth Women’s Institute will be serving tea and fabulous cakes (£2 per person) from 10.30am until 2pm, and there will be a Friends of the Library Book Sale at Bridgnorth Library from 9.30am – 4pm.

Coffee morning at Whitchurch Library

Join in the fun at the coffee morning on Saturday 9 February 2013 at Whitchurch Library from 10am until 11.30am with a Read it Swap it! event and a children’s storytime.

Knit and Natter

A knit and natter event is being held at Whitchurch Library between 5 February and 19 February from 10am until 11.30am.  It’s a knitting group for all abilities. 

Writers’ groups

Several libraries in Shropshire host creative writing groups.  People should ask at for details at their local library.

Literature on your Doorstep

This poetry event with Simon Fletcher and Win Saha is taking place on Tuesday 12 February from 2pm until 3pm at Whitchurch Library. 

People should expect poetry that will move and inspire them and get some insights into how poetry gets published. 

Free tickets are available from Whitchurch Library

For further information about all these events, people should visit their local library or visit shropshire.gov.uk/library.nsf.