News from library authorities:
Rochdale
The past few months have been a busy time with three of our libraries re-opening to the public after major co-location programmes. Castleton, Langley and Norden libraries are performing well at their new sites with issue and visitor counts increasing considerably. Heywood and Smallbridge Libraries are currently closed for refurbishment with Smallbridge due to re-open in early August. During the past two years staff at Smallbridge Library have worked closely with local community groups and the Tenants and Residents Association to develop a programme of community based activities. These have proved very popular, especially the weekly Art Workshops that involved local residents aged from 4 to 80! Building on this success staff have consulted local groups to determine what the community would like to see in their newly refurbished library. We hope the results prove successful.
Alison Copple has now been appointed as the Library Link Worker to develop, co-ordinate and deliver services to Refugee and Asylum seeker communities and other minority ethnic groups across the Borough. Two special events were held during Refugee Week in June. A Tea House Discussion, organised through the Asia Triennial Manchester 08, was lively and thought provoking. The subject of the debate was Rochdale's recent portrayal in the national Media with Richard Catlow, Editor-in-Chief of the Manchester Evening News Group, as guest speaker. Later in the week a "Living History Session" was equally stimulating for younger library users. Staff from the People's History Museum in Manchester delivered an exciting interactive workshop that brought history and literacy alive. "No Bed of Roses" explored issues of identity and the problems of being a stranger in a strange land through the story of Gabrielle, a young woman who migrated from the Caribbean to England during the 1950s.
Staff raised the profile of Norden Library when they took part in the Village Carnival. Under the artistic direction of Senior Assistant, Lynne Byrne, a Giant Very Hungry Caterpillar was created to wriggle through the Carnival Parade and promote the library. Their success was reflected not only by the wonderful photographs but also by an increase in membership.
We now have Reader's Groups at most of our libraries and the two Poetry Groups and the Writer's Group continue to attract new members. We are looking forward to a busy Summer with the launch of Team Read and a series of Author visits and Creative Writing Workshops.
For further information contact: Pamela Taylor-Bromwell on 0170 692 4941
Time To Read currently has a full time paid co-ordinator, supported by Arts Coucil of England and Museums, Libraries and Archives, North West.