The latest news from Kilkenny Libraries

Kilkenny County Library

July 2014

Vacation or staycation? Enjoy free ebooks dvds, cds and online magazines for your holiday in 2014!

Whether you are going on a vacation or a staycation, you can avail of free books DVDs, CDs and online magazines from your Local Library! From light summer novels to travelogues, BBQ recipes to gardening, the variety is there to suit all tastes. Check out our 24/7 online service too, with free magazines, language courses and audiobooks available to download.

We have organised something free for the children too! 'Mythical Maze' is the theme of this years Summer Reading challenge, suitable for boys and girls aged from 4- 12. Pick up your pack today - there will be small prizes awarded as books are completed!

Horrid Henry's 20th birthday will be celebrated with workshops in some branches too! Book early as this will be a popular event.

Book Club Gathering

We were honoured with a visit from author of the moment Dónal Ryan last week!

Loughboy Library was packed to the rafters with an appreciative audience of book club members from around the county. Dónal read excerpts from his novels The Spinning Heart and The Thing About December. We also thank author Lorna Sixsmith and bookshop owner Liz Walsh for their valuable participation on the night also! A lively Q&A session followed, as well as a competition to nominate a witty title for a current Biography. Mrs Ann Mulcair’s title came out tops “Why didn’t I take a bigger bite” by Luis Suarez.

John’s Quay Library

Book Club: The Quay Book Club meets on Wednesday 30^th July at 11.30am to discuss “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt. All are welcome – anyone wishing to drop in on the day can do so.

Summer survival @ your library:

• Keep the Children busy: sign up for our Summer reading challenge and borrow reading books and fun books such as craft/hobbies, etc.
• Choose some light hearted ‘beach reads’ and enjoy the sunshine while the children potter in the garden.
• Check out your holiday destination ahead of time in our extensive travel section
• Get to grips with the garden... with books on patios, flowers and landscaping.
• Barbeque with pleasure....get recipes in our cookery section and enjoy your food Al Fresco

Bastille day with Brioche à la bibliothèque 

Celebrate Bastille day with us at our French conversation morning, Friday 11^th July. The theme of conversation will be: summer holidays! Basic French necessary. Coffee and Brioche will be served. To reserve a place, phone 056 779 4174 . A bientôt !

Ferrybank Library

Mythical Maze: Has your child joined yet? This year’s summer reading challenge is up and running. Pick up your mythical maze poster pack and meet dragons, unicorns, leprechauns and Nessie the Lough Ness monster. Going on holidays? You can still take part. Just make sure you don’t forget to pack your books! Your child will feel a real sense of achievement at the end and will return to school after the break as more fluent, confident readers. Join now and let your kids get caught up in an epic adventure at the library.

New Writing Group:  Poetry, short stories or memoirs – no matter what it is you write, we are inviting you to join in a new group for writers. Meetings will take place in the library on Tuesday mornings. All are welcome – whether you’re a beginner or already in print. Starting SOON. Register your interest now.

Coffee Morning & Exhibition: PACT Youth Project, Ferrybank will host a coffee morning in the library on Thursday 3^rd July from 10.30-12.00. All proceeds go to Deise Animal Sancutary. Please support the work of this group of volunteers. The PACT Youth Project also host an art exhibition which will be on display from the 2^nd July. Members of the group completed this for the Gaisce awards.

Going on holidays? Check out the Travel section for a guidebook to your holiday destination. We have books on all the European hotspots and more exotic destinations further afield. Sort out your beach reads by popping in and picking up something from our current “summer easy reads” display. Staying at home? Catch up on all those bestsellers you’ve been too busy to read all year. Browse our gardening section and keep your garden look ship-shape. Check out our cookery books and spice up your barbecues. There's something for everyone at your local library.

Graiguenamanagh Library

Which do you prefer? On display in the library we have a number of books and DVDs of the same title, we would like you to borrow both book and DVD and tell us which was your favourite the book or the film.

Tourist Information now on display in Graiguenamanagh library, local and county information available. Call in and pick up a brochure.

Rosie Irwin has a display of hand knitted and crocheted children’s items for sale in the library.

As Horrid Henry is celebrating 20 years this year we will hold a Horrid Henry workshop for children aged 6 to 12 years.

Tuesday July 15^th from 11- 1pm. Places are limited for this workshop so please ring to book your place on 056 7794178.

Date for your diary, July 3^rd! Children are invited to join the summer reading challenge this year’s theme is Mythical Maze.

New titles available in Graiguenamanagh library this month include:

• The Detective’s Daughter, by Lesley Thomson
• Chestnut Street, by Maeve Binchy
• The Lonesome Heart is Angry, by Paul Charles
• The Black-Eyed Blonde, by Benjamin Black
• After the Wedding, by Roisin Meaney

Driver Theory New, 6^th edition available at the library, book and CD available to borrow or use on computers here in the library.

Crafty Crew meet every Wednesday from 10.30 to 12.00, bring your knitting, sewing or any craft work.

Selecton of forms  available in the library e.g. passport, driver licence, motor tax. Please ask at the desk.

FREE Exhibition space available for any art, craft or memorabilia.

FREE Internet access, just pay for printing. Photocopying service also available in the library.

Library opening hours:

Monday:               Closed

Tuesday:              10am - 8pm

Wednesday:          10am - 5pm

Thursday:             10am - 5pm

Friday:                 10am - 5pm

Saturday:             10am - 1.30pm

The library is closed on Saturday of Bank Holiday Weekends.

Castlecomer Library

Kids! Pick up your free Mythical Maze Card and read your way through the summer hols! Read six books or more and earn prizes as you go along! Visit the web page and app to play games and get to know all of the Mythical creatures in the maze. Open to boys and girls from 4 – 12 years.

Open Circle host a wonderful display of embroidered photographs for the month of July. Pick up an information card at desk if interested in participating in an embroidery workshop.

Toddler storytime takes place on Thursday mornings at 11.30. Free to all!

Crafty Ladies! Our Nattering Knitters meet up every Thursday morning at 10am for a cuppa a chat, some crochet, knitting and embroidery too! You don’t need to be good at it, just sit in with this wonderful group! All are welcome!

Loughboy Library

Poetry Workshop with poet Michael Creagh from Rathdowney, Co Laois.

For the past few years Mick has been visiting schools and libraries reading his poems for children and adults. He gets his audience actively involved through role play allowing them to don costumes and wigs and casting them in an impromptu fashion as the characters in his poems. As one young student said “Mick Makes Poetry Cool”.

Mick will host a free poetry workshop for 8-12 year olds at Loughboy Library on Friday July 25^th at 11am. Booking 056 7794176.

Ciorcal Comhrá Gaeilge-Irish Circle - Beidh an Ciorcal ar súil I rith an tSamhraidh. Tar anseo gach Céadaoin ar a haon déag a chlog. Tá fáilte romhaibh.

Toddler Hour - Storytime with simple crafts continues on Thursdays at 11.30am on the following dates: July 24^th & 31^st, Aug 7^th, 14^th & 28^th. Children up to 7 are welcome during the Summer.

Great Reads recommended by Staff

The Moment by Clare Dyer-this year’s “One Day”

Paddington station, 9 a.m., rush hour. As the crowds ebb and flow, time suddenly stands still for two people: Fern and Elliott, ex-lovers who parted twenty-five years before and never expected to see each other again. But here they are, face to face, and the connection is as powerful as it was the day they first met. Their lives have moved on - to marriage, children and divorce - yet neither has stopped regretting the day that drove them apart. Fern gives Elliott her number and they tentatively arrange to meet again that evening when both will be travelling back through the station. And, as the day ticks on, and the memories resurface, both Fern and Elliott reflect on the past. As their emotions go round in circles, so does the Paddington clock, counting down the minutes to eight p.m. - and the moment the future is in their hands.

Little Beauty by Alison James-an unforgettable story about one woman's struggle to do the best for her child

1975: Laura Quinn has spent her life on the remote and beautiful Inis Miol Mor - Whale Island- off the west coast of Ireland. After the death of her parents, and faced with the continuing reluctance of her lover, Martin, to marry her, she realizes she needs to leave the island for her life really to begin.She accepts a job as a housekeeper with a wealthy couple on the mainland. But a year later, Laura is back, and this time she is not alone. She has at last found the love of her life: a baby son named Matthew. But what sort of life can an unmarried mother have on a remote Irish island in the 1970s? In this complex situation is revealed a picture of a tightly knit community where Laura inevitably comes under pressure to conform to the rules of society. At times humorous and ultimately heart-breaking, Alison Jameson's Little Beauty is a brilliant portrayal of love, motherhood and sacrifice that will mesmerize readers and linger long in the mind.

Writers Workshop with Catherine Dunne

Pictured are members of the Writers Group who meet at Loughboy Library on Thursdays at 2pm. They recently enjoyed a wonderful workshop hosted by best-selling Dublin author Catherine Dunne.

Thomastown library News

KCLR Broadcast

Our county wide summer reading challenge for children was well and truly launched in style last Tuesday July 1^st as Sue Nunn and her team from KCLR brought their outside broadcast to Thomastown library.  The sun shone brightly especially for the event and all present enjoyed the buzz and excitement all through the morning.  Community groups and individuals arrived to speak about their organisations and upcoming events and we are very grateful to all for taking the time to call down.

Horrid Henry

As Horrid Henry is 20 yrs old this year we are marking it with a Horrid Henry workshop in the library on July 15^th from 2.30pm - 4.30pm.  This workshop is for 6-12 year old children and places are filling up fast. Get your name in now on 056 7794331.

New Books for kids!

Some football themed books are included:

• Frankie’s Magic Footaball, by Frank Lampard
• Fintan’s Fifteen, Irelands worst hurling team wants you, by Alan Nolan
• Charlie Merricks Misfits, foul friends and football, by Dave Cousins
• Sweet Honey, by Cathy Cassidy
• The odd squad, by Michael Fry

Call in and pick up one now. Drop in or ring us with your requests on 056-7794331 and we will do our best to get them for you.

Book Club

Thomastown Book Club meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 2.15pm.  All are welcome call in for a cuppa and a chat.

Library online!

Check out our virtual Library 24/7 by visiting www.kilkennylibrary.ie

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