 Welcome to Your Library Newsletter
We are delighted to share news of exciting updates, upcoming events, book recommendations, community spotlights, and much more. Whether you're an avid reader, a passionate learner, or simply love the welcoming atmosphere of our libraries, this newsletter is tailored just for you.
Stay connected, inspired, and discover new opportunities to feed your love for books and knowledge. Get ready to embark on a literary journey as we share the latest news and treasures from our libraries right to your inbox.
 2025 has been a bumper year here at Westmorland and Furness libraries. Please join with us in sharing some of our highlights and celebrating the wonderful activity happening in our library community every day. Thank you to all our staff, patrons and partners for making 2025 magical.
 Delivering The BookTrust Targeted Offer
Throughout 2025 our amazing outreach officers have been out and about meeting nursery children across W&F, sharing stories and gifting books as part of the BookTrust targeted offer. BookTrust is the UKs largest children’s reading charity. We were delighted to partner with BookTrust in providing children with baby packs, toddler packs and preschool packs completely free of charge. Our team of Library Outreach Project Officers visited our partner nurseries to deliver the packs and have a story time with the children.
School Visits
This year we welcomed hundreds of school children across Westmorland and Furness into our libraries. They have visited for a tour, shared stories together, taken part in story time with library staff, made crafts or poetry. A great time has been had by all. Thank you to all our lovely local teachers who brought their children to the library and are committed to supporting them to read for pleasure.
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 BookTastic Barrow!
We had an amazing week in June at the very first BookTastic Barrow. A celebration of the transformative power of reading for pleasure. The culmination of a year long project aiming to inspire local children. It was magical for the children to see everything come together with a week bursting with joy. What amazing authors, Sophy Henn, Patrick Kane, Patrice Lawrence and AF Harrold.
'This is exactly the kind of thing our community needs — fun, free, and unforgettable experiences. Brilliantly done, BookTastic crew!'
This event was only possible with the support of Barrow Rising, W&F Councillors and local businesses. Thank you for supporting this magical event.
'It was our honour to help so many children. Reading isn't a privilege, it's a right.' Go-rrito
 A Focus on STEM with Reading Sparks
We had an out of this world time delivering STEM themed activities. Reading Sparks harnesses the creative power of reading to engage families with science, technology, engineering and math's activities and build science confidence in communities living in deprived parts of England. We've examined amazing telescope collections, learnt all about space rocks and how to read the stars. Huge thank you to our local astronomy groups who supported this project. We really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and passion with us.
Kensuke’s Kingdom Adventure
We were delighted to be able to roll Litcraft out across W&F this Easter. Children across W&F Joined us for an exciting Minecraft-powered literary adventure where we brought Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale to life through interactive activities. This activity is a partnership with Lancaster University. |
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Engineering Fairytales
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Engineering Fairy tales had a tour around W&F this year with a 3 little pigs STEM master class.
A myriad of amazing little houses were created and so much fun had as the big bad wolf tried to blow them all down.
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 Celebrating Story Garden
The Summer Reading Challenge 2025!
We had a busy, fun filled summer this year with The Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden. 1857 children and young adults joined us in our libraries this year. The theme was ‘Story Garden’ and aimed to inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature. Our libraries have been buzzing with activity from super sign up Saturday in July right through to the finish in September. We have had workshops, craft activities, storytelling sessions on a Story Garden theme as well as children coming in to borrow books and receive their stickers and incentives. Across Westmorland and Furness an amazing 6628 books were borrowed and a further 7000 ebooks and eAudio books during the Summer Reading Challenge campaign!
We are already looking forward to the Summer Reading Challenge 2026 when the theme will be ‘Read to the Beat’.
Magical World of Marvellous Mushrooms
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The fascinating Kylie Dixon lead us in her fun story art workshops.
Children across W&F found out all about Kylie's mushroom book characters and harnessed their imaginations with stories and character design sessions.
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Storytime With Fairy Peasbottom
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The magical Fairy Peasbottom delighted children across W&F.
Children and adults alike were transported with her beautiful story time performance. There was music, dance and fairy magic. Just the perfect way to get the summer started.
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Manga Mashup Workshops
Following a fabulous set of workshops in Barrow and Kendal last year we were delighted to be able to bring Mega Manga events to Penrith this year. Featuring highly acclaimed Manga artists and in collaboration with The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival. Young people got the chance to learn amazing Manga skills from a professional Manga artist.
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 Go Green Heroes Launch
We launched a brand new collection called Go Green Heroes. This wonderful selection of books was expertly compiled by our Library Development Officers. And is now available in libraries across W&F. Patrons were able to explore the Go Green Heroes collection and discover how they can help protect our world while enjoying some brilliant books all about looking after our planet.
Dementia Collection Relaunch
Research has shown that taking part in activities based on the interests and abilities of a person with dementia can significantly improve their well-being and quality of life. This year we were delighted to be able to revamp Memory Bags. These bags are available for loan across W&F. They are aimed for use at home with individuals or family members affected by dementia to promote reminiscence or discussions. Themes include topics such as Gardening, Growing Up, Holidays, The Royals, Local Sports and School Days. We were delighted to include a brand new Shipyard memories bag this year with the support of BAE community fund.
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 A Thank You From Love Barrow Libraries Team
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our amazing celebration for the end of the 'Love Barrow Libraries' Volunteer Project. Love Barrow Libraries Project lead said,
We wanted to share this achievement with our fantastic community. It was truly special to come together and reflect on everything we've achieved over the past 18 months. We shared stories, met other volunteers, and celebrated the impact these projects have had on our communities, which was incredibly heartwarming. Special 'Thank you!' to Olivia Dacre for the wonderful Live music performance, Steph at Cherries Catering for the incredible food and beautiful layout, Tessa Blades and the team at Libraries Connected for all their support; and special attendees Mayor Judith McEwan and Bill McEwan, along with our incredible volunteers and members!
Emma Wallwork
New Story Sacks Coming Soon!
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After Emma's amazing project we were delighted that our Know Your Neighborhood funding was extended. Library staff and our wonderful volunteers have been beavering away in the background designing and planning themes. Selecting and sourcing toys, books and games to create a brand new Story Sack collection. Keep an eye out for the launch coming soon! |
Our Freedom: Then and Now. Comic Book Launch and Exhibition.
Towards the end of the year we celebrated the brilliant Our Freedom: Then and Now project. We were delighted to have been selected participants in a nationally recognised project. This new UK-wide, locally-led arts and creative program has produced 60 new pieces of work reflecting on what ‘Our Freedom’ means to local people and their communities. Our project saw collaboration with amazing artists, poets and an archive center delivering fantastic creative workshops for young adults over the summer. Culminating in the launch of an exhibition and new comic-art book created specially for us by artist Lyndon White.
Thanks to our project partners Cumbria Archives, Future Arts Centres and Lakes International Comic Festival. These sessions are possible thanks to a grant award. Delivered in partnership with Libraries Connected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by the UK Government through Arts Council England.
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 Reading Well for Families Launch!
This year we launched Reading Well for families in collaboration with The Reading Agency. A new collection of recommends reading to support parents and carers to look after their wellbeing in pregnancy and the early years and includes a range of recommended books and supporting digital resources. Look for the Reading Well for families books in your local library – they’re free to borrow.
 Throughout the year our libraries promote and celebrate national campaigns which benefits our communities. during these campaigns libraries produce displays, showcasing relevant and recommended books and engage in outreach work with communities promoting reading for pleasure and the many associated health and wellbeing benefits.
 World Book Night
This year we were successful in our application to be a book giving origination for World Book Night. We chose to focus on supporting men and partnered with men's groups and mental health support across W&F to distribute 300 copies of the wonderful, The Mind Manual by Dr Alex George.
 Great Big Green Week
We had a jam-packed week for Great Big Green Week. Libraries across Westmorland and Furness showcased the brand new Go Green Heroes collection, had craft and plant swaps and lots of exciting green ideas. Particular congratulations to Bev Gee – Senior Library and Customer Assistant and Claire Dougherty – Library Outreach Project Officer at Penrith Library who joined together with over 80 children and adults from Clifton and Beaconside Primary Schools, Ullswater Community College, 4Eden and St Andrew’s Church for a giant litter pick around Penrith.
Celebrating VE Day
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Our wonderful library teams in Penrith, Barrow and Kendal dressed in 40s styles or red, white and blue to celebrate VE day. Thank you to everyone who joined us at Kendal for a themed tea party, Penrith's Family Party and Barrow's Tea Party. We celebrated with refreshments, music, reminiscence, displays and a quiz. Why not pop into your local library to explore more about WW2 and VE day on our public PCs where you can access Ancestry and Find My Past. |
 Dyslexia Awareness Week - Raise The Volume
Dyslexia Awareness Week by The British Dyslexia Association took place from 6th to 12th October. This year's Dyslexia Awareness Week theme was Dyslexia: Raising the Volume. Our Library Development Officer, Cathy, is Dyslexic and decided to Raise the Volume by taking part in a tour of local secondary schools.
Did you know that Westmorland and Furness Libraries hold a collection from the amazing publisher Barrington Stoke? We were also delighted to have successfully lobbied our BorrowBox consortium to significantly increase our digital dyslexic friendly book collection available through Borrow Box now!
 World Book Day, Read Your Way!
If you popped into your local library on 6th March, you would have seen our fantastic library staff having a great time celebrating World Book Day. We love this global celebration of books and reading. Here at Westmorland and Furness libraries, we shared pictures of our staff reading their way, in castles, up trees and surrounded by their pet rabbits! We shared stories with our story time groups and dressed up as our favourite book characters. Our wonderful outreach team visited schools and nurseries to tell stories and let the children know all about how the library can continue to inspire a love of reading for pleasure.
 Thank you to all our staff for working so hard on these promotions and taking the time to showcase the amazing variety of topic and groups Libraries support.
 Get It Loud In Libraries
Since 2005, Get It Loud In Libraries has been programming high quality, live music events in libraries in towns and cities throughout the UK. They consistently demonstrate a unique talent for identifying new and emerging artists on the cusp of breaking through to the mainstream. We were so excited to have hosted these amazing gigs this year. We welcomed, Man/Woman/Chainsaw and Moonchild Sanelly to Kendal Library, Luvcat and Katherine Priddy to Barrow Library.
Murder Mystery @ The Library!
We were delighted to welcome crime author Martin Edwards to Kendal, Penrith and Barrow Libraries for his murder mystery night tour. Library staff got into the 1920's spirit with bow-ties and feathers to host murder mystery evenings among the bookshelves. Three evenings of cosy crime set in a Lake District country house unfolded, written by crime author Martin Edwards and presented by staff from our Kendal and Penrith libraries, and by Ulverston Outsiders amateur dramatics society at Barrow Library. Tickets sold quickly and audiences weighed up the evidence over wine, coffee, tea and biscuits.
"We had customers who said it was their first time in the library but would definitely come back," said Kinga Cichowska, Library Development Officer.
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 Author Talks and Events
Throughout the year we welcomed some fascinating and fun authors to our libraries. We love having author sharing their story's between the book shelves and are very thankful to all the authors who visited us this year. Including, Annie Whitehead, Kenneth Wilson, Anne Taylor, Alan Cleaver, Jeremy Craddock, Sharon Gosling, Zosia Wand and Katie Hale.
This year our libraries also offered free access to amazing digital author event in collaboration with BorrowBox. Borrowers were invited to watch from home the multi award winning, internationally recognised authors Liane Moriarty, Graeme Macrae Burnet, T.M. Logan, Dervla McTiernan and Kate Atkinson!
Third season for Liverpool Philharmonic
As we entered the third year of Barrows special collaboration with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra we were treated to sell out concerts packed with popular classics and old favourites. These performances were specially designed to be informal, engaging and enjoyable for very young children and for people living with dementia.
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 National Theatre Collection 3 is here!
We were excited to be accepted by National Theatre as a library partner to offer National Theatre Collection 3 for free! Library users can access amazing theatre productions on our public PCs. Simply log in and enjoy world-class performances in the library.
Lake District Music Summer Festival - Concerteenies
This summer we were joined by Lake District Music Summer Festival for the magical Concerteenies. Penguin Blue and his friends were in for a surprise! Concerteenies is an award-winning producer of musical activities for children (and their adults) combining stunning performances from professional musicians in a relaxed environment.
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 Libraries Development Framework
We are delighted to announce that Westmorland and Furness Library Service is one of the first 20 public library services in England to join the newly launched Libraries Development Framework!
The framework is a national benchmark that helps demonstrate our commitment to ongoing improvement, innovation, local communities, partnerships, and the values of public libraries.
Find out more about the network here: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/suppo.../supporting-libraries
 Go All In. 2026 The Year Of Reading!
We are really excited for 2026 the year of reading. Everyone knows the benefits of reading: it expands your world, sharpens your mind. It might even make you more creative or successful. But we believe it's just a matter of shifting the focus. So for the National Year of Reading in 2026, we're bringing reading to where culture is. We believe reading is a powerful plug-in to the things you already love – a great way to go deeper into your existing passions. Put simply we say: ‘if you’re into it, read into it’. We’re asking the nation to Go All in and see how reading in all its forms can unlock more of what you love – whether it’s music, baking, family time, films, sci-fi or… anything. Every month we will be highlighting our favourite reads around a chosen hobby or topic. Check out our January picks below.
So whatever you're into.
Get ready to GO ALL IN.
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