Hello
Welcome to the November edition of Leeds Libraries newsletter. This has been a very special month for Libraries with His Majesty The King visiting Leeds Central Library on his royal tour of Yorkshire. Find out about this and more as you read this month's newsletter.
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In the King's footsteps
The historic Leeds Central Library welcomed King Charles III on Tuesday 8 November to visit Rebellion to Romance, an exhibition at the library by The Jamaica Society Leeds which explored the lives of second-generation West Indians in Leeds coming of age in the 1970s and 80s.
The King was welcomed to the library by The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Robert W Gettings MBE JP, Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council and Tom Riordan, the council’s Chief Executive along with members of the library and Child Friendly Leeds teams.
Find out more about the visit here and enjoy our highlights below.
The King was guided through the library by Chief Librarian, Andrea Ellison with significant books from the Library collections on show along the way. One of the first books on display was Atlas Maritimus. Published in 1682 it describes 'the sea-coasts in most known parts of the world'. Highlighted is the map of Jamaica in honour of the Rebellion to Romance exhibition. The King could also browse The Saxton Atlas by Christopher Saxton, often referred to as the 'father of English cartography'. Published in 1579, it is commonly held to be the first work of comprehensive mapping.
Find out more about this treasure here: Secretlibraryleeds.net/collections-trtions-treasures/treasures/saxton-atlas
Enjoy more behind the scenes images of the day on the Leeds Libraries Twitter account. and there will be a special collection on Leodis.net soon with the opportunity for you to purchase prints.
Libellule Theatre presents...
The Storymaker's Apprentice
Introducing a heart-warming tale full of imagination, beauty, and wonder. Enjoy an affordable festive show for all the family at Leeds Central Library this December.
Do you have a magical story to tell? Tan has. She wants to tell one about a girl just like her and prove that children can tell stories, maybe even better than grown-ups. Can you help her?
A show for the entire family, with relaxed, audio described and BSL interpreted performances.
Book your sprinkle of magic here.
Supported by Leeds Libraries, Leeds Inspired and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
For updates on family friendly activities and events sign up to Leeds Libraries Newsletters for Children and Families
Discover FREE Story & Rhyme and Bounce & Rhyme sessions for under 5s.
SoundMind
SoundMind is in full festival mode. Join in with events that are good for your soul and experience positive health and wellbeing through music. Events include author talks, live music performances, instrument taster sessions and singing workshops. Keep reading for highlights and how to book.
Being in the Moment
Leeds Central Library, Saturday 12 November, 6pm
Acclaimed rapper Testament, world champion DJ Mike-L and journalist Shine Steel present an evening inspired by the work of Leeds writer and musician Francis Steel.
Poets, singers and musicians use Francis’s work to explore themes of mental health and mindfulness through live spoken word, song, scratch deejaying, beatboxing, art and discussion.
Sound It Out
Leeds Central Library, Thursday 17 November, 5.30pm
In conversation with men's suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club, hear Wilko discuss how he has used music as a tool to support mental health recovery. Wilko will also treat you to special live music performances celebrating the positive impact music can have in our lives.
Find out more and book your ticket.
Visit the Music Library within Leeds Central Library or enjoy a world of music, free through your Leeds Libraries membership. Medici.tv offers access to the best of classical music and tutorials for viewers. All you need is your library card number! Log in here to enjoy: connect.liblynx.com/wayfless/medicitv?lcard=leedscentral
Literary Events
Leeds Libraries invites you to inspiring author events this November. From screenings with top celebrities to real life events with British icons, delve deeper into the written word!
A Screening of ‘Gillian Anderson and Andrew O’Hagan get into Character’
Farsley Library, Wednesday 16 November, 1.30pm
What is it that brings a character to life? And how does it feel to give physical form to words on a page?
In this Literature Matters: RSL 200 event, Gillian Anderson and her friend, novelist and RSL Fellow Andrew O’Hagan, will study some of their favourite literary characters, and explore why literature matters so much to them.
This is a pre-recorded event from the British Library. Part of Ink Slingers- Farsley Literature Festival
Book your tickets
Everybody's Midwife
Leeds Central Library, Thursday 17 November, 6.45pm
Author Gloria Hanley talks about her journey from St Kitts Islander to Leeds Community Midwife and the challenges faced as a black nurse in Leeds. An advocate for black women's health, Gloria had a seat as a magistrate on the Leeds Bench and was Chair of the Mary Seacole Nurses Association.
This event is in partnership with Leeds Baby Week and Gloria's book, Everybody's Midwife, My Community Experience.
Book your tickets.
Extraordinary Life of Charles Ignatius Sancho with Paterson Joseph
Leeds Central Library, Wednesday 23 November, 6pm
One of Britain’s best-loved actors Paterson Joseph (Vigil, Noughts +Crosses, Peep Show) draws from his highly-acclaimed debut novel to tell the extraordinary story of 18th-century writer, abolitionist and composer Charles Ignatius Sancho.
Paterson Joseph shares Charles Ignatius Sancho’s incredible life story and explores what it meant to be a Black Briton living at this time, and how historical fiction can help to breathe fresh life into real historical figures.
Ruth Robbins, Professor in English Literature and Director of Research for the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities at Leeds Beckett University will be in conversation with Paterson Joseph.
Copies of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho will be available to buy and be signed by the author. Book your tickets.
Thought Bubble Book Crossing - Free Comics!
On the morning of Friday 11 November Leeds libraries will be giving away comics and graphic novels as part of this year’s Thought Bubble Festival. Visit your local library to grab some!
Find out more here: leedsinspired.co.uk/events/thought-bubble-book-crossing-free-comics
Sign up to the Readers' Group newsletter if you would like book recommendations, support with your Readers Group, VIP offers and to find out about future author events.
Hayley Mills-Styles.
Get Creative
The Drawing Room, housed in the Art Library, Leeds Central Library offers an exciting and varied programme of creative workshops. A place to relax, connect and try something new. Here are some of this month's highlights:
Celebrate entrepreneurship everywhere with our Business & IP Centre
We’re celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week next week, aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start and scale their business. Whether you’ve got an idea for a new business, you’re just starting up, or you want a refresher on some of the business basics, join your local BIPC at libraries across West Yorkshire for free events and workshops.
We’ll also be hosting an interactive session at Leeds Central Library on 22 November focusing on the power of networking and building connections. Sign-up here.
Leeds City Council launches new online map with winter ‘warm spaces’
With the winter months fast approaching, we have been working with other organisations in Leeds to provide ‘warm spaces’ across the city, where a warm welcome will include free hot refreshments and activities for children and families, in addition to the existing services of free access to books, computers and wi-fi. The ‘warm spaces’ will be an alternative to spending time at home for those who are worried about the cost of living and higher energy bills.
An online map showing the location of all the ‘warm spaces’ in Leeds is now live, at Warm Spaces Public app (arcgis.com). At the moment, the map only shows ‘warm spaces’ which are located at council-managed venues such as libraries and Community Hubs. However, we are continuing to work with partners across the city, including third sector and faith groups, to add more locations which will appear on the map when they have been confirmed.
For cost of living advice and guidance from Leeds City Council, go to Together Leeds
Have you had your winter boosters?
For people over 50, getting a COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine is one of the most important things they can do to protect their health.
Visit nhs.uk/wintervaccinations for details.
If you would like to volunteer with Leeds Libraries you can find out more here.
Do you know someone who could benefit from support to get online? Find out how we can help: leeds.gov.uk/libraries/learn-in-the-library
Thank you for reading our newsletter, we are always happy to welcome you, get in touch or find your local library
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