Treasure trove!

Every so often we unearth undiscovered riches.

Moving a pile of disreputable old filing cabinets out of an office the other day we discovered a long-forgotten portfolio. Luckily, we're all dead nosy and had a quick look inside before throwing it away. Just as well: it's a collection of original artwork by children's artists who'd visited our libraries in the 1970s and 1980s. They'd come along, talked to the children and did a few illustrative sketches in the process and somebody had the sense to keep them safe for future use.

I'm just starting taking photographs of them (there aren't many smaller than A3 sized so in-house scanning's not an option for us). I'm putting them onto the Library Service's Flickr account in a set I'm calling "Discovered Treasures." (The ones I've put on so far haven't been digitally remastered so look a bit murky. I'll be putting "before" and "after" versions online eventually.)

Roald Dahl competition winners!

We have the winners for the "Create Your Own Roald Dahl Character" competition for children at Smallbridge Library!

Qudsia Choudry, age 10, is the winner with her Evil Snowman. Nicole Moore, age 11, is the runner-up with The Puzzler

Congratulations to Qudsia and Nicole, and to everybody who entered: we had a lot of fun looking at them all!

Spooks and Books at Balderstone Library

We had an afternoon of scary fun for children and their families this afternoon!
Justine and Maureen organised lots of crafts, games and stories. Children came in fancy dress with lots of witches, wizards, ghosts and ghoulies. And Ray came along to tell them some scary stories.

Two staff from Sandbrook Children's Centre came along to join in the fun and two food workers also came to make spooky sandwiches with the children

Maureen Watson said ' It was lovely to see so many families in the Library having such a good time. The session was really well attended with children, parents and carers making lots of things to take home.

Justine Smith said "I was thrilled with all the children who came in fantastic costumes and how successful the afternoon was."

33 adults and 51 children came to the party. Everyone seemed to have a good time and several people have already asked if we would be doing more sessions in the future.

More Halloween pictures from our libraries

Quest Seekers meet the Mayor

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift, presented the prizes for Design Your Family Shield competition and the Quest Seekers at The Wheatsheaf Library on Saturday 10 October. The children also had the chance to have their photograph taken with the Mayor and Mayoress Sue Etchells.

Before presenting the awards the Mayor spoke to the winners and their families, he said:

"It is really good to see all the winners here this morning with their mums, dads, grandparents and carers.The time and effort that you as parents put in with your children is well recognised, your support is pointing them in the right direction. Children are the future of the borough and with them the borough can progress."

The overall winner of the Family Shield Competition was Zanib Ashraf (aged 13) who was presented with an iPod Touch.

• The runners-up were Eve Whelan (aged 10) and Callum Purcell (aged 11) who won book tokens.
• Highly commended were Abigail Heslin (aged 10), Rebecca Shaw (aged 4) and George Denson (aged 5).
• Winners of the Quest Seekers prize draw were James Crompton (aged 11) who won a family day out to York Dungeon, and Danielle
  Cain (aged 8) who won a family day out to Leeds Armouries.

Well done everybody!

• More photos of the presentation

Riveting Reads

To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 5th March, we ran a book review competition called “Riveting Reads” for children across the borough. There were 2 age groups, up to 11 and 12 to 16, and children were asked to write about one of their favourite books, explaining why they like it and why others should read it too.

We had a fantastic response, receiving over 250 entries, from children as young as 5, right up to 16. Entry forms were available to pick up in libraries or could be downloaded from the council’s website but the best form of publicity proved to be contacting primary and secondary schools via the school’s intranet. Some schools really went for it and obviously had whole classes writing reviews.

Bedtime Story Week 27th May – 3rd June

by Irene Peachey

In conjunction with the launch of Bookstart’s Bedtime Story Week, we had some fantastic events in Heywood throughout the week.

Thursday 28th May
The week began with a joint event at The Yard, the youth and children’s centre on Darnhill, just behind Darnhill Library. The family day event was organized by Woodland Sure Start Children’s Centre. I work on many joint partnership events with Woodland CC and I was invited along to see many of the families I work with at Darnhill who I have not seen for some time due to the library’s refurbishment.

As well as taking along library and Bookstart information, which I was able to share with the families, we had a great story and singing time together.

A Day in the Life of...

Name: Maureen Watson
Role: Library Outreach Worker Bookstart and Early Years

This role is varied and involves working in an outreach capacity plus organising and delivering inhouse Story times and Rhythm and Rhyme sessions.

Currently my activities involve promoting the Library service to families with pre school children in the Rochdale borough. A major part of my role is promoting Bookstart and Bookcrawl. This is outreach work that takes me into many Early Years settings in the borough ie. Nursery Schools, Nursery Classes, Private Nursery provision, Children's Centres and Playgroups.

Were you ready for the Summer Reading Challenge?

This year's Summer Reading Challenge for children — "Team Read" — ran from July to September 2008. Hundreds of children joined in, reading lots of books and collecting their bronze, silver and gold medals along the way.

• Everybody who completed the Summer Reading Challenge will get a certificate.



• Don't worry if you didn't complete the Challenge, the important thing is that you had fun and enjoyed some great stories!

We launched this year's Summer Reading Challenge with two library sessions for schools with special guest performers:

• Tom Palmer at the Wheatsheaf Library on Tuesday 17 June; and



• Craig Bradley at Junction Community Library on Wednesday 18 June.

All primary schools in the Borough were invited to send four Year 5 children to the events as "ambassadors." They enjoyed quizzes or a performance poetry session and were each given a Team Read pack to show to the rest of the school.

Penalty shoot-out at the Wheatsheaf Library

After his talk about books and reading, Tom Palmer pitted schools against each other in an exciting 'Penalty Shoot-Out Quiz.' The reward for each correct answer was the opportunity to take a penalty kick against Ray 'The Cat' Stearn.

Poetry workout at Junction Library

Craig Bradley's physical brand of performance poetry - with the emphasis on performance - got the children involved in wordplay galore (can you see what is special about the word SWIMS ?) and quite a few leeks.

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Boys Into Books

We also took the opportunity to introduce teachers to "Boys Into Books," a collection of books aimed at boys in the 5—11 age group, available for loan to primary school classes.

• Boys Into Books website

Langley Festival

Langley Library is joining in the Festival with a week of events and activities, kicking off on Sunday 27 August 2008 when the Library joins in both the parade at 11am and the Fun Day at Furrow Sports Centre, which starts at 1pm.

Welcome to the Library!
Date: Monday 28 July 2008 Time: 6pm - 7.30pm
A chance to see the new library - and if you wish, join & take
out books

• Join in our 'booktalk' about popular author, Stephen King
• View photographs of past Langley Festivals (on display until end of August)
• Refreshments provided
• Pick out some booksale bargains

The Bug Box
Date: Tuesday 29 July 2008 Time: 2.30pm

• 'Bug Man' Roger Swailes will bring a selection of creatures to
  show to children aged 5 and over.

Blow away the Cobwebs
Date: Thursday 31 July 2008 Time: 10am - 12 noon

• Learn how to use the internet for family history.
• To book a place, ring the library or speak to a member of staff.

Rhythm and Rhyme
Date: Thursday 31 July 2008 Time: 2.30pm - 3.30pm

• All under fives and their mums and dads, grannies and grandads are welcome.
• Sing along to all your favourites.

Teenagers Internet Quiz
Date: Friday 1 August 2008 Time: 1.30pm - 5.30pm

• Book a 15 minute internet session and ask for a Quiz sheet.
• You could win a £15 Voucher for WH Smith's.
• Refreshments provided.

Carnival caterpillar

Eric the Very Hungry Caterpillar made a welcome appearance at this year's Norden Carnival.

Eric was made by Lynn Byrne, the Branch Assistant at Norden Library and his legs were provided by children from the primary school.

A good time was had by all and even the weather behaved itself!

Kids' Christmas

We've updated the Christmas material on our "Kids' stuff in Rochdale Libraries" blog.

The new entries include jokes and riddles; Christmas crafts links and some information about Christmas customs.

Children's stories about Christmas

Cinderella Competition

You could be the lucky winner of free tickets to see "Cinderella!"

18 winners of the Library Service's Christmas Colouring Competition will be presented with family tickets for an evening performance of the pantomime at the Gracie Fields Theatre on Thursday 3rd January 2008. Family tickets allow entry for up to two adults and two children.

Colouring Competition entry forms are available from any of our libraries.

Please note:

• The closing date for entry is Saturday 22nd December.


• Please make sure that you put your telephone number on the form so that we can get in touch with you!

Many thanks to Meredith Productions for the donation of the tickets.

Library Tree Party

Balderstone Library's Tree parties were held on 7th and 9th November as part of the Breathing Places campaign.

Twenty-seven adults and thirty-two children attended the two sessions.

The under 5's event included stories, craft and a nature trail.

The Library tree (a beautiful thick card 3D tree from the BBC) has now been decorated with children's art work from the event.

What Makes You Happy

Littleborough Poetry Group is having a workshop for children called "What Makes You Happy" at Littleborough Library from 2.30pm — 3.30pm on Monday 29th October.

The workshop's suitable for children aged 7 or over.

If you're interested, please ring the library — (01706) 378219 — to reserve a place.

Masquerade!

Half term week
Monday 29th October to Saturday 3rd November

Make a mask at your local library

What’s available?
Here’s a clue!
Witch pumpkin the cat make the wolf owl with?

Call in any time during usual library hours

Big Wild Read

Ray Stearn is our Children's Services Manager. Amongst his many tasks is the co-ordination of and reporting back on the summer reading game. From his first look at the rough figures we have increased those starting The Big Wild Read by 18% and the figures for those finishing is up by 2%. (All the starters' cards aren't back in yet to double-check all the figures so we're not audit-proof yet.)

We had about 36% of the children finishing, which is below our target but getting nearly seventeen hundred children involved and reading something over the summer holidays isn't to be sniffed at.

Once the figures are confirmed he'll see how they relate to the promotional work we did at schools just before the holidays. It'll be useful to see if visiting a school to talk about the summer reading game leads to an increase in participation.

Big Wild Read

Saturday saw the end of The Big Wild Read, this year's national summer reading game for children.

Ray, the Children's Services Manager, is now frantically collecting together all the "finishers' cards" so that the children's certificates can be sent out as soon as possible. Certificates will be presented to children at school or in the library, depending on the choice they made when they completed the game.

Many thanks to everybody involved. We hope it was fun.

Next year's game will probably be on a sporting theme.

Books to treasure at family fun events

Children get the chance to discover the treasures in books at two family fun events this week.

The Library Service is holding the family fun events to gift Bookstart Treasure Boxes to children starting school in September 2007 who did not receive their Treasure Box at Nursery this year.

The events are on:

• Wednesday 22 August
  Wheatsheaf Library, Rochdale from 2pm until 4pm


• Friday 24 August
  Littleborough Library from 2-4 pm

Both afternoons will be drop in events with face-painting, crafts, freebies and balloons on offer. The Bookstart Bear is also hoping to make an appearance.

Parents are asked to bring their red health book if possible. It will also be an opportunity for other parents to find out about Bookstart.

Bookstart in the UK is the first national books-for-babies programme in the world.

Every baby born in England is now entitled to three free Bookstart Packs at the following ages:

• 6-9 months - the Bookstart pack, gifted by the Health Visitor


• 18-30 months - the Bookstart+ pack again usually gifted by their Health Visitor


• 3-4 years - Bookstart Treasure Box - gifted in the child's pre school year.

Children starting nursery in September will receive their Treasure Box at their Nursery before August 2008.

Big Wild Summer

Your local library is Going Wild this Summer!

If you are aged between 4 and 11 years of age why not join THE BIG WILD READ?

• If you want to take part, pick up your FREE folder and wild flower seeds - available from 30 June at libraries across the borough.
• Visit your local library throughout the Summer for a variety of free WILD events and
  collect stickers and other surprises as you read.
• Free swim tickets, medals and certificates for all children who make four visits to the Library to complete the BIG WILD READ CHALLENGE.
• All who complete the challenge will be entered into a draw to join in a local tree planting event.
• Big Wild Reads

Special events at your local libraries

Places are limited, please ring the relevant library to book your FREE place.

Guy de Paul’s Magic Show
For children aged 4+

• Friday 27 July 10.30am at Heywood Library
• Monday 13 August 10.30am at the Wheatsheaf library
• Monday 13 August 2.30pm at Junction Library
• Tuesday 14 August 10.30am at Norden Library
• Tuesday 14 August 2.30pm at Brimrod Chapel

The Bug Box
Roger Swailes introduces a variety of big wild insects. For children aged 5+

• Thursday 2 August 10.30am at Castleton Library
• Thursday 2nd August 2.30pm at Spotland Library
• Thursday 9 August 10.30am at Milnrow Library
• Thursday 9 August 2.30pm at Wardle Library

The Wild Road Show
Animals galore! For children aged 5+

• Thursday 26 July 10am at Alkrington Library
• Thursday 26 July 11.30am at Langley Library
• Thursday 26 July 2pm at Belfield Library
• Thursday 26 July 4pmat Smallbridge Library

Big Wild Rhymes with Craig Bradley
Entertaining, dynamic and fun performance poetry show complete with bongos. For children aged 5+

• Friday 3 August 11am Littleborough Library
• Friday 3 August 2pm Middleton Library
• Friday 3 August 4pm Balderstone Library

John Piper’s Puppets
For children aged 4+

• Friday 17 August 10.30am at Smithybridge Library
• Friday 17 August 2.30pm at Middleton Library
• Monday 20 August 10.30am at Heywood Library
• Monday 20 August 2.30pm at Darnhill Library

Join a local Bug Hunt with a countryside ranger
Family event. All ages welcome

• Monday 23 July 2.30pm starting from Balderstone Library
• Tuesday 21 August 2.30pm starting from Littleborough Library

Curly Cat
Make your own shoebox theatre For children aged 7+

• Friday 10 August 2-4pm Wheatsheaf Library

Drop in events
No need to book, everone welcome.

Animal Face-painting

• Tuesday 24 July 2.30-4.30pm Middleton Library
• Tuesday 31 July 2.30-4.30pm Langley Library
• Monday 6 August 2.30-4.30pm Heywood Library
• Tuesday 7 August 2.30-4.30pm Spotland Library
• Thursday 23 August 2.30-4.30pm Castleton Library
• Tuesday 28 August 2.30-4.30pm at Milnrow Library

Wild craft activities
Try a different Craft Activity each week throughout the Summer at your local library. Don’t forget to bring your BIG WILD READ folder and choose new books at the same time!

• Week beginning 23 July - Ugly Bugs
• Week beginning 30 July - How does your garden grow?
• Week beginning 6 August - Wild Life Masks
• Week beginning 13 August - Butterflies
• Week beginning 20 August - Wild Summer cards
• Week beginning 28 August - Animal Crafts

Note: All Libraries CLOSED on Bank Holiday Monday 27 August.

The fun doesn't end with the school holidays - look out for the autumn events in our libraries!