It has been a brilliant start to our phased re-opening of Staffordshire’s libraries, so many of you have told us how happy you are to be able to use their library again. We’re really pleased that we are opening more libraries from Monday 20th July. 

Cannock Library, Leek Library, Lichfield Library, Perton Library and Tamworth Library will welcome back visitors from 10am for book returns and ‘order and collect’ pickups.

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.

Biddulph, Burntwood, Codsall, Kidsgrove, Rugeley, Stone, Uttoxeter and Wombourne Libraries will open on 27 July 

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.

• Visit our eLibrary

• Visit our free 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.

The Summer Reading Challenge  started at Staffordshire Libraries yesterday!

It’s FREE to take part and it keeps children reading over the Summer. This year’s challenge is a little different from previous years – but its just as much fun!

To sign up head to the Silly Squad website  - where children can create their own profile and set their own challenge – collecting online rewards along the way. At the end of the challenge children will be able to download a certificate to show they have taken part.

During July and August look out for lots of fun activities taking place on our Staffordshire Libraries Facebook page each day! Get Silly with the #SillySquad!

Children can borrow from a huge selection of eBooks, eAudio and eComics from our eLibrary, read books from home or, for those families who do not have access to the internet, you can still do the Challenge at home by ordering some books to collect from your local Staffordshire Library when it opens.  Telephone 0300 111 8000 to place your order and find out when your library opens.  When your books are ready for collection a member of library staff will telephone you.

We will give you a certificate to say that you are taking part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and a sheet of fun activities to do at home so that you do not miss out on the fun and games online.

Become a Creative Explorer! 

Creative Explorers is a programme of creative activities, led by professional artists, designed for children, young people and families to take part and have fun creating, using a variety of new & exciting methods.

Each programme will link with our Library themes which kicks off with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge ‘Silly Squad’. For the next 8 weeks, we will be posting weekly creative activities to accompany the ‘Silly Squad’ theme and encourage children age 4 and upwards to become ‘Creative Explorers’ to:

• discover new and exciting ways to express themselves through a range of art forms
• explore a variety of resources and methods of creating – using objects and materials easily found at home
• be inspired by the books they are reading, thinking about what they love about them, what makes them laugh? why are they silly?
• learn about different artists and art forms and widening their experience and understanding of arts and creativity.

Look out for new posts on Monday mornings starting Monday 27 July on our Libraries Facebook page.

Activities will also be posted on our new Library Activity Resource website each week so parents can get notifications via email and be able to download each activity to print.

More info here: https://staffslibrariesculture.wordpress.com

We posted our first activity yesterday, a comic making workshop! You can check out a fantastic video guide to making a comic here

Summer Reading is not just for the kids!

This summer, we are challenging Staffordshire to get reading!

Summer is a great time for a good read, and we all love to share our opinions on a good or bad book - here’s your chance!

Simply read any four books, and submit short reviews, over the summer to be in with a chance of winning a prize. It’s up to you which books you choose to read; fiction, non-fiction, classic or graphic novel! You can read or listen to an eAudio, everything counts!

As we progress through our plan for phased re-opening of our libraries it may not be possible to visit your library until later in the Summer so we suggest you download titles from our eLibrary, choose a favourite or a long unread Christmas present from your own shelves, or come and borrow again when your local library reopens using the ‘Order and Collect’ Service.

When you’ve read your four choices, fill out the entry form, rating and jotting down what you thought of each book in the boxes provided. We’ll share the best reviews of up to 100 words in length on our library Facebook page so you can see what people are reading in Staffordshire.

Submit your completed form online and you’ll be entered in the prize draw, where you could win book vouchers or one of two hampers, donated by Waitrose. The closing date for entries is 8pm on Sunday 6 September, and the winners will be notified shortly afterwards.

So, wherever you are in Staffordshire, let’s celebrate the power of a good read this Summer. 

Complete the online form to enter here: http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/staffs-summer-reads

Ancestry Library Edition still available at home

We are thrilled that Staffordshire Library members can still access Ancestry Library Edition at home, thanks to Proquest and Ancestry UK, now until the end of August!

To access the site you need to log in to your Library account here https://www.yourlibcat.staffordshire.gov.uk/web/arena/user-pages

You then need to make sure you are in the ‘Account’ section and scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the link where it says ‘Access Ancestry Online’.

We hope you will make the most of this fantastic opportunity and enjoy this temporary access to the site.

You will need your Library card number and PIN. If you are not a Staffordshire Library member, it is quick and easy to join here

Have you tried NewsBank yet?

Get the newspapers you love direct to your phone, laptop or device!

NewsBank is our FREE to access electronic newspaper resource that you can read on your laptop, tablet or other device at home.

The is a wide range of searchable local, regional and national newspapers, including 4 ‘image editions’ of The Telegraph, Guardian/Observer, Times and Daily Mail.

More and more people are choosing NewsBank for their daily news so if you haven’t tried NewsBank yet, it is time you did! Just follow this link and start reading. 

Please note: When logging into NewsBank from the first login screen please select ‘No Username and Password. Click here for additional login options’ and enter name of Library authority (Staffordshire) and your Library Card number.

Grab them while you can!

These great Borrowbox campaign titles are still 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 and start reading!

#MissionYTF is back!

Our summer reading initiative for 11-14s, Mission YTF, is changing this year and going virtual! Here’s how to take part:

• between 7^th July and 19th October, pick one of the challenges below to complete about any fiction book you have enjoyed reading this year. It doesn’t matter when it was published or if it was eligible for YTF, it might be something you have read before or a new book you have discovered. This includes audio books, comics and anything you have read in a digital format such as e-books, e-audiobooks or e-comics.
• post a photo of your completed challenge on Instagram instagram.com/staffordshireytf or Staffordshire Libraries Facebook or Twitter at @StaffsLibraries . Don’t forget to #MissionYTF so that we pick up on your entry.
• on 23^rd October we will announce the four lucky winners who will receive one of our fabulous donated prizes; a Day Pass for two people to Alton Towers to be used on Saturday 7^th November, a £25 Amazon voucher, a £20 Leisure Voucher which can be used in dozens of places including Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, Waterstones, Cineworld and HMV or a £10 National Book Token which can be used online or in hundreds of bookshops.
• throughout November, all the entries to the competition will be showcased in an online gallery

The Challenges:

• re-design a book jacket
• bake a cake or create a piece of art to represent your favourite character from the book
• write a haiku about how the book makes you feel (a haiku is a poem which has 3 lines (1^st line has 5 syllables, 2^nd line has 7 syllables,3^rd line has 5 syllables)
• make a 60 second video to encourage people to read the book you have enjoyed

Good luck!

BBC launches Tiny Happy People

The Duchess of Cambridge: "Early years is a precious time to nurture young minds and help children’s futures"

Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's communication skills. Explore the simple activities and play ideas and find out about their amazing early development.

Staffordshire Libraries will be supporting this wonderful campaign and will be sharing videos and links on our social media pages in the coming weeks.

To find out more visit www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

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 Sydney Camm who designed the famous Hawker Hurricane fighter, which flew alongside the Spitfire in the Battle of Britain, 80 years ago this year.

Start searching by following the ODNB link on our Online Resources page.