Coronavirus update for Libraries
Staffordshire’s 43 libraries will begin a phased reopening from Monday 6 July:
- Burton, Newcastle and Stafford libraries will open on the 6 July
- Cannock, Leek, Lichfield, Perton and Tamworth Libraries will open on 20 July
- Biddulph, Burntwood, Codsall, Kidsgrove, Rugeley, Stone, Uttoxeter and Wombourne Libraries will open on 27 July
These libraries will initially open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday and we welcome you to prepare for your visit.
The 27 Community Managed Libraries are being fully supported by the county council and are being encouraged to reopen at their own pace.
An ‘order and collect’ service will be operating in the first few weeks of opening, so browsing will not be available and there will be limited numbers of visitors able to access the library building at any one time.
Meeting rooms will remain closed and there will be no access to toilets, PCs, printers, photocopiers, or bus pass renewals in person.
All loans will be automatically extended until 5 September and fines will not be charged for late returns so please do not worry if you have books at home, please continue to enjoy them.
To help you prepare for your visit we have compiled some frequently asked questions and a handy video to explain what to expect when you visit the library.
Our online library for free eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines and newspapers is available for you to use, as are a selection of free to access online resources.
If you’re not already a member, or know somebody who could benefit from these services, follow this link to join. It's easy and it's free.
To view what is on your library account, please login to our library catalogue with your card number and PIN.
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The Novel that Shaped Your World
The voting for Staffordshire Peoples Choice, for the Novel that Shaped your World, closed on 30th June and we announced the top novels, chosen by you, from the BBC Arts list on our Facebook and Twitter pages on 1st July.
Staffordshire’s most popular novel is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee came joint second.
Joint third place went to 1984 by George Orwell and The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin.
The novels are available to borrow from our eLibrary or Borrowbox/RB Digital Apps with the exception of Earthsea, which we are looking to source from our suppliers.
Once libraries re-open you will be able to ‘Order and Collect’ these titles.
Thanks to everyone who voted!
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Summer Reading Challenge 2020
With the disruption caused by Covid-19 on schools and public libraries the 2020 Summer Reading Challenge is being delivered online.
- Children sign up at www.sillysquad.org.uk and create a profile.
- They set their own challenge to read any amount of books.
- Each time they finish a book they add it to their profile and write a review.
- There are downloadable activities, games and puzzles and new content added each week.
- Once children have completed the Challenge they receive a downloadable certificate.
- The Summer Reading Challenge helps to keep children reading over the summer and encourages them to become independent readers.
Reading for pleasure supports mental wellbeing, boosting children’s confidence and self-esteem which is so important now more than ever.
Staffordshire Summer Reading Challenge launch
We will be launching the Summer Reading Challenge in Staffordshire on Thursday 16th July with some special activities, story time and craft videos posted online and lots of information about how children can take part. We will be hosting online #SillyStaffordshire Days during the Summer so look out for more on that soon!
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July's activities
We have collated a timetable of activities on our Facebook page to keep you occupied. We are also sharing activities, crafts and author readings on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so please check those out on a daily basis.
Health Information Week
Health Information Week, 6th – 12th July, is a national, multi-sector campaign promoting high-quality information for patients and the public. High quality health information can have a huge impact on people’s ability to stay healthy and manage illnesses effectively, giving them a better quality of life.
We all need information that we can trust, particularly in this time of coronavirus.
We also need to look after our well-being, whether our mental health or our physical health.
In response to these needs, the Health Information Week 2020 project team has decided to refocus the themes of the week to:
- Finding information you can trust
- Wellbeing
High quality health information can have a huge impact on your ability to stay healthy and manage illnesses effectively, giving you a better quality of life.
Below is some information to help you make sure you can trust the health information you are reading or viewing.
What to ask
There are a few simple questions you can ask yourself when looking at health information:
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Where did the information come from? Who produced it? Was it the NHS or a trusted charity or health organisation? Is the information relevant to the UK?
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How current is the information? When was it published or last updated? Health information changes over time – make sure it is up to date.
- Is it easy to use and understand?
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Is it based on multiple evidence reviews or case studies? Look for clear references.
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Why has it been produced? Is it to inform or is there an agenda? Is the website profit driven?
It is also a good idea to cross-check information. This means looking to see if it is repeated by more than one reliable source.
Trusted sources
One of the easiest ways to get reliable health information is to use trusted sources. There is lots of information available, particularly online, but it can be hard to verify information which has been shared on a social media site.
Below are some sources of trusted health information:
You can also look for quality standards on the information. These include:
Find out more information at https://healthinfoweek.wixsite.com/healthinfoweek or on social media at #HIW2020 @Healthinfoweek
Keep an eye on our social media for useful information and links throughout Health Information Week.
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Great news for users of our eLibrary
We’ve added a new Borrowbox campaign to our collection with 9 new titles, available to borrow for a limited time without waiting or queuing!
There are titles for children, perfect if they are embarking on this year’s online #SummerReadingChallenge #SillySquad
Titles for adults from crime and thriller to classics and wartime drama. Great for friends and family or reading groups!
Some titles are in eBook and others eAudio so something for everyone!
Please visit Borrowbox, either via the App on your smart phone or tablet, or at our eLibrary at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/eLibrary and start reading!
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Young Teen Fiction Award 2020
In light of the Coronavirus pandemic we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Young Teen Fiction Award.
Social distancing rules would have made it impossible for us to host the annual celebration event with our friends at RAF Museum, Cosford and the lockdown has made it difficult for pupils to access the nominated titles.
We would like to thank all the wonderful authors who are this year’s shortlist.
- Fing by David Walliams
- Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams
- Tom Gates – Spectacular School Trip (Really) by Liz Pichon
- The Fire Maker by Guy Jones
- D-Day Dog by Tom Palmer
- How To Rob A Bank by Tom Mitchell
Finally, we would like to thank Staffordshire’s schools and pupils for taking part in YTF. We hope YTF 2021 will be bigger and better than before! Look out for information about how schools and pupils can get involved in the Autumn.
On Tuesday 7th July please visit our Facebook and Twitter pages and we will be sharing some videos and activities for young people throughout the day, including a special message from nominated author Tom Palmer and news about this year's Mission YTF!
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Staffordshire CreateSpace
Staffordshire CreateSpace is a new creative and social group hosted on our Facebook page. Artists Ben and Phil, from Juneau Projects provide regular themes and activities that you can do at home, including drawing, painting, mixed media and more. Share what you make and chat with others in an informal way!
Join at: facebook.com/groups/StaffordshireCreateSpace
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Have you tried the eLibrary for magazines and comics yet?
Avoid those costly magazine subscriptions and read eMagazines & eComics online from RB Digital UK for FREE as part of your Staffordshire Libraries membership.
Visit the the eLibrary and follow the links to eMagazines and eComics to discover a vast range of magazines for all ages and tastes and over 7000 eComics from Mickey Mouse to The Witcher!
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Have you visited the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography yet? It's FREE to access from home with your Library card number.
ODNB contains over 60,000 biographies, 72 million words, 11,000 portraits of significant, influential or notorious figures who shaped British history.
Each day we share a famous person from British history on our Facebook and Twitter page, look out for them, follow the link and learn more!
Here is Queen Victoria's ward, freed slave Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
Start searching by following the ODNB link on our Online Resources page.
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About Staffordshire Library Service
From books to local history resources, Your Library has a host of fabulous services and exciting events for you.
Why not try out our eBooks service, join a reading group or If you're looking for something in particular, you can also search the online catalogue or view a list of frequently asked questions.
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