Libraries Week

During Libraries Week this year we are encouraged to celebrate and explore how libraries are engaging communities in a digital world. As an independent library we have limited resources to offer a full range of technical services. However we do our bit to help. Jesmond Library offers…

The truth about poetry

National Poetry Day will be celebrated on Thursday 3rd October. The theme chosen for this year is ‘truth’. What is true is we have some fantastic poetry books on our shelves at Jesmond Library. They include poetry of all styles and from all periods, ranging from…

How rebellious are you?

Librarians aren’t renowned for their revolutionary attitudes. But if there is one subject that is guaranteed to provoke us it is an attempt to limit free access to books. The last week in September is Banned Books Week, an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American…

Where the wild things are!

Beware! There are dangerous animals lurking in the children’s reading and play area at Jesmond Library. Lions and tigers, hippos and elephants, zebra and giraffes. One of the greatest changes in libraries is the freedom children now have to laugh and talk and enjoy themselves….

An ocean of inspiration

International Youth Day, as designated by the UN, is celebrated this week on Monday 12th August. As proof that young people can make a big difference why not read Greta Thornberg’s inspirational book now available in the library. Although only 16 years old, Greta has…

Paperback Writer

Paperback Book Day is celebrated this week, on Tuesday 30th July. Paper-backed books (known as ‘yellowbacks’) had been published since the late 1800s. However it was the founding of Penguin Books in 1935 that transformed the paperback market. Returning to London after visiting Agatha Christie…

St Swithin’s Day

This Monday, 15th July, it is the feast day of St Swithin (Swithun), the 9th century Bishop of Winchester. British folklore holds that if rain falls on Winchester Bridge on 15th July, it will be a sign of the weather to follow for the next…