Libraries - news and events
All the latest news and events for libraries in North Yorkshire.
Latest library news:
Harrogate library - out with the temporary, in with the refurbished
"A view of North Yorkshire" photography competition
Acclaimed author Kate Atkinson at Scarborough library
Events and a competition for Roald Dahl Day
Bernie Crosthwaite writing course at Knaresborough library
Knaresborough library offers free computer training
Building work now underway at Starbeck library
Harrogate library - out with the temporary, in with the refurbished
Harrogate's temporary library at Copthall Bridge House will close for good on Saturday 4 September in anticipation of the re-opening of the refurbished and extended library on Victoria Avenue on Monday 18 October.
The library has been located at Copthall Bridge House for almost two years while the £3.4m refurbishment of the Carnegie library has been taking place. The refurbishment is now complete and the fit out of the new shelving and IT facilities is about to begin. Library staff will be busy over the coming weeks filling the shelves with some wonderful new books, all of the books from the temporary library and some books which were put into storage.
Before work began on the library, a huge logistical operation had taken place with eighty thousand books, weighing well over twenty tonnes, being packed into boxes and bags for their transfer. This will all now have to be shipped back to Victoria Avenue and unpacked as part of the state-of-the-art renovation.
Harrogate's new library with its vast range of easily-accessed books; new meeting rooms; an internet and computer suite; a café area; Wi-Fi; a dedicated area for teenagers; and increased space for local studies represents a flagship service for the county.
To enable people to continue borrowing books during the six week closure we have increased the maximum number of items that can be borrowed by each individual and extended the length of time that they can be borrowed from Harrogate library before 4 September.
"A view of North Yorkshire" photography competition
Snap up a prize in North Yorkshire libraries' photo competition. Take a photograph of your favourite view in North Yorkshire and your picture could be one of six used on a limited edition library membership card.
We are seeking inspiring pictures to illustrate the beauty and diversity of the North Yorkshire landscape. If you are a winner, in addition to seeing your picture turned into a limited edition library card, you will also receive £50 in High Street vouchers.
Entries for the competition must be sent by e-mail or post to:
E-mail: acs.communications@northyorks.gov.uk
Post: ACS Communications, North Block, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8DD
The closing date for entries is 5pm on Monday 6 September 2010.
Acclaimed author Kate Atkinson at Scarborough library
Meet acclaimed author Kate Atkinson at Scarborough library on Thursday 9 September at 7.30pm, when she will talk about her new novel, "Started Early, Took My Dog", which sees the return of former detective Jackson Brodie.
This will be Kate's only UK event this year. Her previous novel, "When Will There Be Good News?" won the Richard & Judy Book Best Read of the Year. Tickets cost £4. To book a place please contact Scarborough library.
Events and a competition for Roald Dahl Day
From 13 -20 September libraries across North Yorkshire will be celebrating Roald Dahl day with lots of fun activities and a competition to win some wonderful prizes.
This year the theme for North Yorkshire's celebration is: The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me - a less well known book by Dahl that features a ladder-less window cleaning company run by a monkey, a pelican and a giraffe.
Any child under 16 who borrows a Roald Dahl book, DVD, audio book or video between 13 and 20 September will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a day behind the scenes with the giraffe, pelicans and monkeys at Flamingo Land, near Malton. Two runners up will receive family passes to the Forbidden Corner - The Strangest Place in the World near Middleham in the Yorkshire Dales.
Make sure you pop down to your local library to celebrate Roald Dahl day with us.
Bernie Crosthwaite writing course at Knaresborough library
Following the immensely popular "Writing a Novel" course in 2008/9, North Yorkshire author Bernie Crosthwaite is offering a new writing course for 2010 called "Write that Novel".
The course at Knaresborough library is aimed at people who have always wanted to write a novel or who have started to write one and come to a halt.
Bernie has written plays for radio and stage and has won awards for her short stories, several of which have been broadcast on Radio 4. Her first crime novel, "If It Bleeds", featuring press photographer Jude Baxendale, was long-listed for the new writing prize at the Guildford Book Festival.
The course at Knaresborough library will run on Monday evenings over two five-week terms; the first term will start on Monday 20 September and the second on Monday 1 November 2010. The sessions will be held in the large meeting room from 6.45pm to 8.15pm. The charge for the course will be £40, payable at the first session. To book a place please contact Knaresborough library.
Knaresborough library offers free computer training
Daunted by the internet? Muddled by the mouse? Knaresborough library is expanding the amount of training it offers to help local people learn to use computers and get online.
From September, there will be a monthly two-hour beginners' computer training session for people who have no experience of using a computer. This session is a brief introduction to the mouse and keyboard and the basics of using a PC.
In addition there will also be an "introduction to the internet" course which will run for two hours, once a fortnight. These sessions are aimed at people who have experience of using a mouse and a keyboard and no experience of the internet, or who have attended our beginner's computer session and would like to learn more.
To book onto the sessions please contact Knaresborough library.
Building work now underway at Starbeck library
Building work is now underway on the £545k revamp of the 68A High Street site in Starbeck, which will see Meadowbank refurbished and the old building turned into a wonderful "hub" for the local community.
The new "hub" will host the library, a refreshment area, Bake Well and Handprints social enterprises along with a number of meeting rooms that will be available for hire by the general public.
The new look building will be open for business in January 2011 and during September we will be consulting on what the new "hub" should be called.
See the Starbeck library page for more details.
Council press releases
For more news stories from North Yorkshire County Council, please see our Council - news and information releases page.
