Why not make your New Year's Resolution to reconnect with Your Library and get access to all our 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.
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Follow us on Instagram!
Libraries across Staffordshire launch their Instagram pages
From opening times to event schedules, book recommendations and mood lightening posts there’s always something to discover on YOUR Staffordshire Libraries social media channels – and now we have gone local!
You can now find out what’s happening at libraries in your area by liking and following their dedicated Instagram pages.
To follow YOUR local library visit Instagram and search for:
Staffordshire Libraries Main Instagram Page – @staffslibraries
Newcastle Library - @newcastle.library
Kidsgrove Library - @kidsgrove.library
Biddulph and Leek Libraries - @moorlandslibraries
Stafford and Stone Libraries - @staffordstonelibraries
Uttoxeter Library - @uttoxeterlibrary
Burton Library - @burtonlibrary
Cannock and Rugeley Libraries - @cannockchaselibraries
Codsall, Perton and Wombourne Libraries – @southstaffslibraries
Tamworth Library - @tamworthlibrary
Lichfield and Burntwood Library - *Launching in the New Year*
 Your Winter Reads
Winter is the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book in your favourite cosy chair. Now that the nights are longer and colder, and the garden has gone to sleep, why not discover some new authors or even try a different genre than you would normally choose. Be daring!
Your Winter Reads collection has a title to suit all tastes whether it be a spooky tale, a whodunnit, a bit of humour or imagining times gone by.
Winter Reads are available at selected Staffordshire libraries, but they can be reserved at any library.
 Did you have a new laptop, tablet or other IT equipment for Christmas?
Why not donate your unwanted I.T. to help local people get connected, help the environment and have a January de-clutter!?
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
New Teachers Ticket launched
At the end of December 2021, Staffordshire Schools' Library Service closed.
To support school staff with teaching and learning in the classroom, teachers will be able to sign up at their local Staffordshire Library for their individual Teacher's Ticket.
The Teacher's Ticket is a simple offer.
- It allows for the loan of up to 15 children's non-fiction books at any one time and subject to availability.
- The books are loaned for 12 weeks, but there are no overdue charges. If the books are returned as soon as they are finished with, it helps keep a range of choice for everyone. Please note that lost or damaged books will be charged for.
- There is no opportunity to request or reserve books on this ticket, which is for the loan of stock available on the library shelves at the time of the visit.
You will find further help and support through
SLS-UK - details of neighbouring Schools' Library Services
School Library Association - becoming a member gives access to Personal development, Resources and more.
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Enjoy our free online author events, join the Facebook Book Chat Group!
Hope you will join us as we chat online to another selection of fabulous authors this month. On 11th January, at 7.30pm, debut author Carole Johnstone will be joining us to chat about the paperback release of ‘Mirrorland’ her gripping, pacey and totally twisty thriller published by Harper Collins. Can’t wait!
Please join Staffordshire Libraries’ Book Chat Facebook Group to access links to this fabulous free event and find out about others in January.
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 Borrowbox - Fantastic eBooks and eAudios with no queues!
We have an amazing selection of Borrowbox campaign titles in our eLibrary to help get you all through a dreary January!
All titles are available to borrow now and for a short time without queuing!
There’s our usual selection of eBooks and eAudio formats for you to choose from and something for everyone including ‘A Christmas to Remember’ by Anton Du Beke, Second World War thriller ‘Night over Water’ by Ken Follett, crime thriller ‘Shed No Tears’ by Caz Frear, SAS action in ‘Scar Tissue’ by Ollie Ollerton, haunting mystery ‘The Forgotten Garden’ by Kate Morton, thriller ‘Into the Fire’ by Manda Scott and Christmas delights with ‘The Christmas Secret’ by Karen Swan.
We also have new titles coming online on 23rd January, including powerful stories for Holocaust Memorial Day and brilliant eAudio from Elly Griffiths 'The House at Seas End'.
Please visit Borrowbox, either via the App on your smart phone or tablet, or at our eLibrary and start your next great read!
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 The 64 Million Artists 'January Challenge' is back!
The January Challenge is 31 days of fun, quick and free creative challenges to kickstart your year.
In 2021 more than 50,000 people took part including adults, children, workplaces, community groups, schools and more, and 96%* said that being a part of the January Challenge has a positive impact on their wellbeing.
This year, there are three new programmes for you to choose from. Each programme is full of brilliant ideas, designed by musicians, chefs, sport stars, writers, makers, activists…and you!
Staffordshire Libraries and Arts Residential Homes Service
The Residential Homes Service is a free service providing resources to the community in nursing and residential care homes, sheltered accommodation, day centres and hospices within Staffordshire. We also offer the service to community and voluntary organisations within the county and to Staffordshire Libraries running reminiscence sessions.
What do we offer?
- Large print books - including a wide range of fiction including family sagas, thrillers, romances and westerns, and non-fiction such as
biographies and travel.
- Standard print books – a whole range of fiction and non-fiction. including craft, cookery and gardening.
- Audiobooks (CDs and cassettes).
- Pictures to Share books – books designed to prompt conversation with someone who has dementia.
- Quick reads.
- Reminiscence boxes - 10 to 20 items selected from books, CDs, multisensory items and objects linked to a theme. Examples include 1950s, summer holidays, World War II and childhood. We have over 100 themed reminiscence boxes in circulation.
- Delivery and collection service.
- A tailored service to meet special requests.
Benefits of using the service
- Reading is a beneficial activity, including for people with dementia. “Studies have shown that engaging in reading can reduce symptoms of memory decline, helping you to retain your short-term memory for longer.” – Health benefits of reading in older age? Age UK Mobility Oct 2020
- Reminiscence “is an excellent mechanism to enhance communication, raise the self-esteem of participants, empower the teller, provide a stimulating and fun activity, lift depression” – best practice manual creative reminiscence and life story work.pdf (ageuk.org.uk). We can provide a selection of themed reminiscence boxes that can be used in one-to-one or group reminiscence sessions to “evoke memories, stimulate mental activity and improve a person’s well-being” – Meaningful activities part four: Reminiscence – Dementia UK, Nov. 2020.
Feedback received from care homes
“Great service…lots of memories & conversations with our residents” –
“Great boxes, that the residents love looking through”
“Can I say what a wonderful service you provide”
“We and our residents very much appreciate and enjoy this service”
Any further questions or enquiries please contact:
Jo Shaw at the Residential Homes Service
Tel: 01785 278369
Email: joanne.shaw9@staffordshire.gov.uk
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 Holocaust Memorial Day - 27th January
"You didn’t think about yesterday, and tomorrow may not happen, it was only today that you had to cope with and you got through it as best you could."
Iby Knill, survivor of the Holocaust
Holocaust Memorial Day is One Day – 27 January – that we put aside to come together to remember, to learn about the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be One Day in the future with no genocide. We learn more about the past, we empathise with others today, and we take action for a better future.
Visit the HMD Website where you can read survivor stories, find out how to organise an event and lots more.
Visit your local library or the eLibrary to find books about the Holocaust and other genocides.
Ancestry Library Edition
In response to the Covid Pandemic, in May 2020 Proquest and Ancestry UK made remote access to Ancestry Library edition available for Library members. After nearly 2 years of temporary remote access, Ancestry has made the difficult decision to end it. Remote access for Ancestry Library Edition will no longer be available after 5pm on December 31st, 2021.
You will still be able to access Ancestry Library Edition at your local library via a public access PC.
New to Ancestry? We have created a guide that you can download here
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Jigsaw Time
Try your luck against the clock with our Jigsaw puzzle which is all about inspiring goals for 2022!
As always pop your time in the comments and have fun!
Click on this link to play
Check out our Facebook page for a new jigsaw each Sunday at 7pm
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Quiz Time
Do you know your advertising slogans? Pit your wits against our quiz master and pop your score in the comments!
Try the Quiz here.
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Newspapers Direct to you phone, tablet or laptop with NewsBank!
Get the newspapers you read 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 site has had a recent makeover and has lots of exciting new features for you to explore including:
• Range of searchable local, regional and national newspapers, including 4 image editions of The Telegraph, Guardian/Observer, Times and Daily Mail
• Quick links to daily headlines, special reports and top local newspapers
• Hot topics with the latest topical news and information
• Advanced Search options
• Read Speaker web reader function to support visually impaired readers
• Citations
• Download, e-mail, print and options to copy links
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.
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The 2021 Winter Mini Challenge for children, run by The Reading Agency in partnership with WWF, is still running until 16 January
More information on the Challenge and how to get involved can be found, at wintermini.org.uk so follow the link to start the Challenge and log their reading!
Your local library has got loads of books to choose from!
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January Night Sky Guide.
Perton Library's Astronomy volunteer, Doug, has put together a guide to the January night sky.
Download it here.
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