Blythe Bridge library open day to showcase services and reveal new name. 

People are being invited to a celebration event to showcase the services and activities available at Blythe Bridge library on Saturday 8 October.

The library, which is run by a dedicated team of volunteers from The Care and Fun Club charity, are also celebrating their 10th anniversary.

As well as the chance to meet volunteers at the library and find out about the services available, a new name for the library voted for by visitors will also be revealed on the day.

Staffordshire Library Service Staff will be showing visitors how to access the libraries’ collection of eBooks as well as how to use online resources and free Wi-Fi.

Leek College and Eurosource will be promoting new learning opportunities for adults, while children can play on the bouncy castle and learn more about the library’s kids clubs, including Warhammer table-top gaming and the coding club.

Two local authors, Liz Hornby with “The Adventures of Norris the Gnome” and Ray Bostock, author of “Empire Days – Growth of the British Empire Throughout History,” will also be on hand to sign copies of their new books. 

Helen Bickerton, Chairman of the Care and Fun Club charity and Blythe Bridge library’s manager, said: “Managing the library is going very well. We’ve had so many exciting opportunities to broaden our services while keeping existing ones. I couldn’t be more grateful to our team of volunteers who keep the library going every day. I’m looking forward to celebrating our success with our visitors by unveiling our new community-chosen name. Thank you again to all of our visitors for their support.”

Gill Heath, Libraries Chief at Staffordshire County Council added:  “Libraries play a vital role within local communities and we’ve been working hard to make sure our libraries are sustainable and offer people the activities they need.

“Blythe Bridge Library is a great example of how the local community can come forward and run their local library. They know the local community better than anyone, and are able to identify and introduce new services to meet their needs.

County Councillor Bill Day will be overseeing proceedings on the day and revealing the library’s new name. Councillor Day said: “Nothing could make a library more of a community hub than letting its customers rename it. It also gives us the chance to celebrate the great work of the Care and Fun Club volunteers who have made it such a success. I look forward to a great day and to be able to showcase what the library has to offer people and what the volunteers have achieved in such a short time.”

Blythe Bridge Historical Society, Live and Local Language for Fun, the local Genealogy Club and organisations demonstrating first aid and new health apps that can help monitor conditions like asthma and diabetes will be at the event.  Future culture evenings such as an art gallery displaying various art from 8 local artists will also be promoted on the day. 

Volunteers play an important role in Staffordshire’s 43 libraries –  helping and advising customers, organising books and resources and helping out with reading groups, Bounce and Rhyme sessions for children, ‘Knit and Natter’ groups and job search activities.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact their local library.

The Blythe Bridge Library celebrations will run from 10am to 12.30pm

Posted in: Archive.
Last Modified: February 21, 2017

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