LIBRARIES Week is taking place in October and LiveWire will be celebrating the important place that libraries have in the community.

The annual celebration runs from October 4 to October 10 and this year’s theme is ‘taking action and changing lives’ and is aiming to highlight the important role that libraries play in their communities as a driver for inclusion, sustainability, social mobility and community cohesion.

LiveWire’s community librarian team and library advisors are running a number of free activities and events to encourage people to get involved in Libraries Week and visit their local site, kicking off slightly early on Saturday, October 2 with Westbrook Library’s Fun Palace event.

 

 

 

These include:

Fun Palace Event. Saturday, October 2, 10am-2pm, Westbrook Library.

  • When is a library not a library? When it is a Fun Palace. The annual Fun Palace event brings culture to the heart of the community and communities at the heart of culture by using arts, science, craft, tech, digital, heritage and sports activities as a catalyst for community engagement. People don’t have to be professional or expert in what they do – it’s about local people coming together, sharing their skills, hobbies and interests and letting other people ‘have a go’. There will be lots on offer for people to try – from Chinese calligraphy, photography, French activities, crafts and more.

Quiz Evening. Monday, October 4, 6.30pm-8pm. Stockton Heath Library.

  • Fancy yourself as a bit of an Egghead? Then why not give our quiz evening a go! Free to take part although booking is essential by contacting any LiveWire library in advance.

Make a Bird Feeder. Tuesday, October 5. After School Activity from 3pm. Lymm and Penketh Libraries.

  • With winter around the corner you help our feathered friends by creating a bird feeder.

Augmented Reality Session. Saturday, October 9. 11.30am – 12.30pm. Warrington Pop-Up Museum & Library.

  • Be amazed when books come to life in front of your eyes at an exciting augmented reality session.

Crafternoons. Saturday, October 9, 1pm to 3pm. Warrington Pop-Up Museum & Library.

  • Drop-in and enjoy some family craft sessions with the Culture Warrington team

Unplugged Sundays. Sunday, October 10. 12noon-2pm, Warrington Pop-Up Museum & Library.

  • Take some time out from the tech, screens and social media by joining in together to play some traditional board games.

National Poetry Day. Thursday, October 7. All LiveWire libraries.

  • The theme this year is ‘choice’ – come along to any LiveWire library and ‘leaf’ a poem on one of our ‘poetrees’.

Wendy Molyneux, LiveWire’s strategic library manager, said: “The theme for Libraries Week this year really reflects the powerful way libraries can make a difference and change lives.

“Libraries are community hubs – bringing people together who have different interests, experiences they want to share and are from different backgrounds and cultures.

“Libraries address isolation by being safe, inclusive trusted spaces where anyone is welcome. Bringing events and activities like Libraries Week, Fun Palaces and National Poetry Day together in one week long celebration is a fantastic way to show that libraries offer something for everyone.”

Cllr Tony Higgins, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and community, said: “Libraries Week gives everyone the perfect opportunity to connect with their local library and discover that there’s so much more than books on offer. From art, crafts and games, to culture, heritage and tech, our libraries will be alive with activities for people of all ages.

“With a theme of ‘taking action and changing lives’ it’s a great way to celebrate the important role our libraries continue to play as inclusive focal points for our communities.”