Read Kirklees: 2023 December 22

Contents:

• Batley and Dewsbury Libraries consultation
• Holiday Opening Times
• eAudio and eBooks: Yo Ho Ho (not) collection
• eAudio and eBooks: Realms of Imagination
• eAudio and eBooks: Dagger in the Library Award collection
• Sharing Stories Standing Strong
• Pressreader accessibility
• Overdrive accessibility
• Creative KIrklees
• Ticketsource

Batley and Dewsbury Libraries consultation

Following the Council’s cabinet meeting on September 26, 2023 we are consulting on the proposals made in the asset review report to modernise and relocate Dewsbury Library service to the Walsh Building and Batley Library service to Batley Town Hall.

Whether you’ve borrowed books, taken a little one along to a Storytime, used the public access computers, attended one of our many events or are part of a group who meet at either library, now is the chance to have your say.

Paper copies of the survey are available at Batley, Birstall, Dewsbury, Mirfield, and Ravensthorpe (Greenwood Centre) libraries.

Follow this link and scroll down the page for the online version: Batley and Dewsbury Libraries’ consultation

Consultation runs until January 15, 2024.

Holiday Opening Times

Kirklees Libraries will be closed at various times over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Opening days and times for each of our libraries can be found by following the link below and selecting ‘Show’ on the libraries line.

The drop down box will then ‘show’ the opening times for all our libraries from December 25 until January 1. You can also telephone the switchboard on 01484 414868

Kirkklees Libraries – Holiday Opening Times

The following exception has just been released:
Meltham Library will be close at 1.00pm on Saturday, December 23 and 30.

eAudio and eBooks: Yo Ho Ho (not)

Just because they have Christmas in the title doesn’t mean they’re Yo Ho Ho … except for the Goons!

Browse, download and read titles from our Yo Ho Ho eAudio and eBook collection eBook collection

Search our online catalogue to borrow or reserve these and so many more.

eAudio and eBooks: Realms of Imagination

Browse, download and read titles from our Fantasy: Realms of Imagination

Search our online catalogue to borrow or reserve these and so many more.

eAudio and eBooks: Dagger in the Library Award

Crime Writers’ Association

As from 5 January 2024 libraries will be able to vote in the second stage of Dagger in the Library. Each library has three votes, allowing staff and library members to vote for the author who they think has brought most pleasure to themselves and who provides support to libraries in turn, with events. Thank you to all those who sent in their shortlist nominations.

We’ll publish the shortlist list in January but in the meantime why not browse, download and read titles from our Dagger in the Library Award collection

Sharing Stories Standing Strong

Kirklees Libraries have been working in partnership with Lawrence Batley Theatre on an exciting project supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The project, called Sharing Stories Standing Strong,  took place at  six libraries:

Batley Library, Birkby Fartown Library, Chestnut Centre, Dewsbury Library

Ravensthorpe Library at the Greenwood Centre and Rawthorpe Dalton Library

Library staff worked in close partnership with a variety of artists such as poets, a musician, theatre-makers, visual artists, and even a stand-up comedian in order to develop fun and inspiring sessions for groups and individuals within these communities, enabling them to share their stories and explore what makes us the communities that we are in creative ways.  The aim of the project was to help to improve the wellbeing and resilience of communities post pandemic whilst making libraries, theatre and the arts accessible to a wider range of people.  Staff involved in the project gained valuable skills and experience in working with a variety of artists and art forms and in forming long term partnerships with other organisations.

We saw members of the community come together to write their own music, share stories over craft and coffee sessions, use creative art forms to build a collage of their own community and learn how to use comedy and storytelling for their own wellbeing, to name just a few. A video was made documenting the experiences of participants, artists, library staff and LBT staff and is available to watch on our YouTube channel

PressReader accessibility features

Digital Magazines and Newspapers

Libby accessibility features

eAudio and eBooks

Screen reader support: Low vision and blind users can use screen readers to browse, borrow, read ebooks and listen to audiobooks in the Libby app.

Adjustable text size: Libby uses a device’s built-in text size setting and scales the text in the app accordingly. Users can manually adjust the text size for ebooks in the reader and expand the range of sizes to include larger accessibility sizes, if needed.

Dark mode: Libby uses a device’s built-in lighting setting and displays the app in light or dark mode accordingly. The ebook reader uses the device’s lighting, but users can manually select a different lighting option in the Appearance menu: light, dark, or sepia.

For the complete list of accessibility features, visit: overdrive.com libby accessibility features

Download the Libby app and choose from over 25,000 eBook titles and nearly 4,000 audiobooks from our Kirklees Libraries’ collection

Regular events at Kirklees Libraries

Creative Kirklees

Find out the where and the when of regular events such as Lego Clubs, Storytimes and Craft groups across our libraries.

Go to www.creativekirklees.com and search using #KirkleesLibraries

Bookable events at Kirklees Libraries

Ticketsource

For events with partner organisations and touring performances.

Go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/kirkleeslibraries

Keep in touch

If you know someone who would like to get the latest news from Kirklees Libraries, feel free to forward this newsletter or let them know they can use the link at the bottow of this page. Send your eBook reviews to socialmedia.lics@kirklees.gov.uk. Recommend titles using the Libby app or use any of the channels below.

Stay up to date with Kirklees Libraries using our social media channels:

Facebook@kirkleeslibraries          Twitter@KirkleesLibrary

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