Rediscover Your Library

As we recover from COVID-19 why not reconnect with Your Library and get access to all these resources and services?

Not already a member? Give us a try, it’s FREE and easy to join.

You can:

• Relax with a good book, borrowing as many as you would like
• Always on the go?  Download to your tablet, e-reader, mobile phone from a range of eBooks, eAudio, the latest eMagazines, eComics and read online newspapers
• Don’t know what to read next and too little time to choose?  Let us choose for you with our Order and Collect service based on favourite genres and authors
• Feel connected just by sitting and reading and having a chat
• Use the PCs and Wi-Fi and brush up on your digital skills – help is at hand if you need it
• Find a quiet spot and sit and study
• Print and photocopy those important documents
• Discover your story and use Ancestry and Find My Past
• Take part in activities and events and make new friends
• Find out about local groups, clubs, societies and volunteering opportunities

And much more…

Just pop in and see us, visit our website or find us on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll open your eyes to a world of possibilities.

Local Author Spotlight - Anthony Poulton-Smith

As part of #StaffsHistFest and for #LibrariesWeek 4th - 10th October we will be sharing a different local author on our Facebook and Twitter pages each day. Look out for them all!

I'm Anthony Poulton-Smith and I am a freelance journalist, author, ghost writer, and speaker, with some eighty-two of my own books on the shelves. I moved to Tamworth in late 1980, so have lived here virtually all my adult life. Ten of my books have been based in Staffordshire, including my first Staffordshire Place Names and my 2021 publication Coaching Routes of Staffordshire. It has been my interest in the county's history which has proved the inspiration for many ideas.

My writing is very much based on etymology and travel. About half of my books have been on the origins of place names and there are almost two dozen loosely associated with travel throughout history. As Staffordshire is a sizeable county, with its varying terrain, and with several major routes for road, rail, and water, transport connections, it is an excellent model for other counties, both topographically and etymologically.

Tamworth is close where the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire meet and I’m in the midst researching/writing/publishing books on each county looking at the stagecoach routes running for nearly two centuries until the replaced by the railways. I’m always looking at local history, be it Tamworth or Staffordshire, in my role with several local heritage groups.

In my research on Tamworth and Staffordshire, the town’s two rivers have very different origins. The Tame, dates from pre-Roman times, and describes ‘the dark one’, a warning that it would not be wise to wade across without the benefit of local knowledge. While the Anker is probably only about five or six centuries old and is named for the hermit or anchorite living on its banks.

I am an active member of several local heritage groups including Tamworth History Group, Tamworth Heritage Trust, Friends of Tamworth Castle, and not forgetting the book connection with Tamworth Literary Festival. Paid memberships are available for both Tamworth Heritage Trust, and Friends of Tamworth Castle. As chair of both Tamworth History Group, and Tamworth Literary Festival I am delighted how both are wonderfully supported by Staffordshire Libraries and details on events for each group are always circulated, simply sign up for their newsletters.

Details of all my writing can be found at www.poultonsmith.co.uk - I write a weekly blog www.anthony1956.blogspot.com – and regularly tweet and can be followed at @PoultonSmith

'The Foundling' by Stacey Halls was the National Reading Group Day top pick for 2021.

Six years after leaving her daughter in care Bess tries to reclaim her but is told that another woman has already done so.

Download this powerful tale now from the Borrowbox App or at our eLibrary with no queue!

Borderland Voices and the Women's Land Army

We are delighted to be supporting Borderland Voices with their Women's Land Army project and will be sharing posts on our Facebook page during October highlighting some of the creative writing that has taken place as part of this.

Borderland Voices, the Leek-based mental well-being group, has obtained National Lottery Heritage Funding to run a project based on the experience of the Women’s Land Army during two World Wars. The aim is to encourage creative responses from members of the various Borderland Voices groups – but crucially, to bring in wider community engagement and participation. 

Like others, Borderlands found itself caught in another global crisis – the Covid-19 pandemic. But as we gradually emerge, we hope to be part of the second online Staffordshire History Festival run by the Staffordshire Archives and Records Service. We intend to contribute Creative Writing and Art work, done by BV participants as part of the WLA project, to the History Festival e-newsletters and Facebook page.  

During August there was a display in Leek Library of WLA artifacts, books, posters and badges, together with an information sheet asking for local people to contact us regarding any memories or information they may have about the WLA in the Staffordshire Moorlands.  This display moved to Cheadle Community Library for the month of September.

Contact has been made with a number of local schools and in September teachers will look at ways to get their pupils involved in the WLA project using their English, History and Art classes.  This will, hopefully, involve their parents and/or grandparents and culminate in an exhibition at The Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek in November.

Finally, local Care and Residential Homes are being contacted and one in particular, Ladydale Residential Care Home in Leek, hosted a talk by historian Richard Godley about the WLA. In September, BV and Ladydale residents visited the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas where a monument to the WLA was unveiled in 2014.

Borderland Voices plan to update the Library displays in October/November to include the results of the above activities as well as an update on the project as a whole, including the results of research done so far by Richard Godley and reminiscence specialist Catherine Croney.

Keep and eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages or visit Borderland Voices webpage for more information about this amazing local history project.

Staffordshire Goes to War

A FREE Zoom presentation for Staffordshire History Festival from Andrew Lound

Andrew Lound's special Zoom presentation will focus on Staffordshire during the Second World War with emphasis on the famous Soho Foundry.

1938-39 was a remarkable period in the life of Britain, Birmingham born Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister and his attempts to prevent a European war seemed at first to have been successful, but as we know war came and Staffordshire like the rest of the country turned out its lights and went to war.

This newly researched presentation looks at Staffordshire people during the war focusing attention on Soho Foundry as well as the darkened streets of the region. Stunningly illustrated with many unpublished images, sound effects, music, video and animation this is a presentation that will bring back memories or introduce the subject to a new generation.

Thursday 14^th October at 7:00pm

FREE

Please register at this Eventbrite link as places are limited.

October is a bumper month for crime lovers on Book Chat and we have a bit of a Midlands theme going on! 

Thanks to publishers Hodder UK, we are delighted to announce Sunday Times bestseller Sabine Durrant as our guest on Book Chat on 5th October at 7.30pm. We hope you will join us! 

Sabine is the author of hugely successful twisty psychological novels Under Your Skin, Lie With Me, Take Me In, Remember Me This Way and her latest book, Finders Keepers, a story of scheming neighbours. 

Join us on 6th October at 7.30pm as we chat to crime-writing trio Angela Marsons, acclaimed Black Country author of  the D I Kim Stone series, Noelle Holten award-winning blogger and author of the DC Maggie Jamieson series and Birmingham-born Carla Kovach author of police procedural thrillers featuring Detective Gina Harte.

Lindsey Davis, Midlander, historical crime queen and award-winning author of the 20-book Falco series set in ancient Rome, will be joining us on 14th October at 7.30pm to discuss her new series featuring Falco’s crime-solving daughter, Flavia Albia.

To round off our month of crime, on 25th October also at 7.30pm, celebrated crime and mystery writer and Staffordshire/Shropshire borderer, Priscilla Masters will be chatting to us about creating iconic characters Joanna Piercy, Martha Gunn and Dr Claire Roget.

Taking part in any of our online Book Chats is free; just ask to join our free Book Chat Group on Staffordshire Libraries Facebook to access links to events as they come up. https://facebook.com/groups/StaffsLibrariesBookChat

'A Very Different Life’

Borderland Voices have organised a number of creative writing sessions with people to explore what life was like for those who joined the Women's Land Army during the Second World War.

We will be sharing some of these fascinating short pieces on our Facebook page during October, but below are a few examples.

A certain type of lady would join the Land Army – a lady who was not entirely content with keeping house only.

So when the opportunity arose to contribute to helping with the war effort they took it if they could.

The enthusiasm of their comrades was a huge influence into the signing up for the cause.

Most and not all ladies had previously been hands on helping their husbands on the farm and those who had a sedate charmed life had to muck in literally!

Each member supported another as home and family would be missed sometimes which was only natural, but the cause was so brilliant that they soon would be bursting with enthusiasm and ideas.

Unlike the dreadful covid we are and have been going through where we were and are not allowed to mix with each other which goes against our natural instincts. The sensible people take great care not to spread Covid but many don’t as I have just seen at the hospital.

Marlene

I stink. Pig manure stink.

It’s in my nails and my toes and my hair, and oozing out of my pores even after scrubbing in my five inches of water and carbolic I still stink.

The others won’t sit next to me at supper. That little blonde one that’s been leading the cart horse in between sucking up to the farmer wrinkles her nose and smiles to her neighbours.

I hope one of those heavy hooves steps on her foot tomorrow. See then if she can wear those patent high heeled shoes she was polishing up for Saturday’s dance.

Mary

What have I done, what am I doing here, I must be mad? After all I did not have to come, nobody forced my hand up my back. I am aching from head to foot, falling asleep at meals if you can possibly call them meals. I can’t really understand a word these people are saying, that’s when they do actually speak. Oh God I’m lonely, so desperately lonely. I want to go home, sod the war effort and all that gumph. Even the other girl who is supposed to be working with me hardly says a word. All I want to do is go home, and if they let me have a little leave I won’t be coming back and hang the consequence.

Bill

Staffordshire Black History Month Quiz

Test your knowledge of Staffordshire's Black History this month with this specially researched quiz.

Look out for more Staffordshire themed quizzes every Saturday evening on our Facebook & Twitter pages.

Get help over the phone with your IT problems

Are you or someone you know struggling with IT; unable to get an e-mail address set up, want to try online shopping, Zooming with relatives, eBooks or is social media a scary prospect?

Maybe our new telephone support service can help.

Complete an online form here www.staffordshire.gov.uk/TelephoneITSupport or contact our call centre on 0300 111 8000 or your local library to register for a call back.

A friendly member of our Library team or a Community Learning tutor will give you a call, talk through your problem and help you work through it. If we can’t find an immediate solution we’ll make sure we direct you to someone who can, to a suitable course or other kinds of help.

It’s a totally free service so give us a try, we’re happy to help.

Digital Unite free guides

We've partnered with Digital Unite to offer a collection of 400+ learning guides about using modern technology. Ideal for improving your own confidence and skills or for supporting other learners. Find them here

Donate I.T. to help local people get connected

Staffordshire County Council is working with the Community Foundation for Staffordshire to provide recycled I.T. equipment to local people.

There are still people in our communities who don’t have the I.T. equipment they need to learn, apply for jobs, access health services, and reduce loneliness.

To help we’ve set up 16 drop off points within libraries, where people can donate I.T. equipment they’re no longer using.

What do we need?   

• laptop (with charger)
• tablet
• keyboard
• mouse

Find out more - ask about the scheme at your local library or visit the web page www.staffordshire.gov.uk/DonateIT.

Digital Skills - Help and Advice Facebook Group

We have teamed up with our friends at Staffordshire Community Learning to bring you a group where you can discuss and raise questions around digital skills.

Receive help and advice from Community Learning IT tutors, read about new courses and the latest digital news.

Find out about online Library resources, activities and events.

Just request to join the group here 

Staffordshire Community Learning - here to help you navigate the online world.

Our friends in the Staffordshire Community Learning Service have a huge range of courses available to help you navigate the online world.

Staffordshire’s Community Learning Service delivers a exceptional programme of informal and formal learning for all adults aged 19+ across the county.  High-quality courses are delivered by a selection of community learning providers, and inspirational tutors. The tutors are very approachable and are there to support you in your learning and getting to grips with learning online.

Online learning has become very popular due to the convenience of being able to learn, gain new skills and knowledge about a subject of interest or even gain a qualification. All at a pace that suits you and from the comfort of your own home, office or anywhere with a stable and reliable internet connection.

There are courses to help you update your IT skills, keep in touch and get online safely and they can also help you learn how to get the most out of digital devices like iPads, smartphones and cameras. Look out for a new FREE course “Digital Library Skills”, which will be 10-12 hours long and will cover Digital Skills to use with your Digital Staffordshire Library. The areas to be covered will include email, the internet, online safety, e-books, e-magazines, audiobooks, the online library catalogue, reserving/requesting a book online, the library Facebook page, online library events, the libraries websites, an introduction to library digital services, including ancestry and the Staffordshire Photo Archive – Staffs Past Track.

Find out more here: https://staffordshirecommunitylearning.org.uk/

Access to Research

Discover a world of published academic research at your local library.

Access to Research gives free, walk-in access to over 30 million academic articles covering such topics as Art and Architecture, Business, Environmental Science, History, Journalism, Languages, Politics, Film, Philosophy and Religion, Mathematics and Physics.

Students and independent researchers can now access many of the world’s best academic papers from leading publishers who have made their journal content available for free.

Start now by viewing which articles and journals are available from home here. 

To view the full text of articles you will need to visit a Staffordshire Library – Find Access to Research on our Free Online Resources webpage and start reading.

The Night Sky this October

Here is the sky guide for October, compiled by our Perton Library Astronomy Group volunteer Doug.

As the night's draw in you often get a better opportunity to explore the sky, happy viewing!

Open the guide here

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.

This edition's featured biography, as part of Black History Month, is Francis Barber, a former slave who became the servant and friend of Samuel Johnson

Find more biographies via our Online Resources page.