It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Pontypool Library

Torfaen Libraries have been getting into the Christmas spirit with Crafts for Christmas at Pontypool and Blaenavon Libraries. 

Blaenavon Library

The participants created some stunning decorations to give their homes a festive feel. 

Padre Pio RC primary school recently held a special assembly to celebrate and reward good attendance and punctuality.

Torfaen Libraries are delighted to support this initiative and Mark Tanner, Senior Librarian at Pontypool Library, went along to present vouchers for a free DVD loan to the children from the class with the best attendance record. 

Pictured are the children from the Reception Class with (from left) Mark Tanner, sponsor Michelle Attewell from TRW and Headteacher Paul Welsh.


Torfaen Libraries staff would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

We reopen on Friday 2 January 2015

Poets and Pumpkins

October saw plenty of Halloween fun in Torfaen Libraries. 






At Pontypool Library children dressed up as spooks and witches for our half term story and craft session and the staff couldn't wait to get in on the act too.

27 October 2014 saw the 100th Anniversary of the birth of our great Welsh Poet, Dylan Thomas.

As part of the centenary celebrations, Dylan’s Great Poem was Developing Dylan 100’s international online event to help award-winning poets Owen Sheers and Mari George create a 100-line bilingual epic written by the young people of the world. Anyone aged 7-25 was eligible to submit up to four lines of poetry, each up to eight words long, on the theme of ‘Remember’. Contributions to Dylan’s Great Poem were submitted on National Poetry Day, Thursday 2 October 2014. The poem was edited by Owen Sheers in English and by Mari George in Welsh. To read the poem in English or Welsh follow the link. www.developingdylan100.co.uk

Know Your Numbers Event

‘Know your numbers’

Know Your Numbers Week, from 15-21 September 2014, has nothing to do with counting or maths but a whole lot to do with your health. 

Organised by Blood Pressure UK, Know Your Numbers Week is designed to educate you and I about the health complications associated with high blood pressure. It's also about encouraging us to monitor our blood pressure - in short, to get to know our numbers!

Torfaen Libraries Health and Wellbeing Information & Support Service is holding a community event at Cwmbran Library on Friday 19th September 10am-2pm in support of this campaign.

30 local agencies are participating including:
• Add to your life
• Disability Advice Project
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Prostate Cancer UK
• Boots the Chemist
• Torfaen Leisure Trust
• Energy Savings Trust
• Bron Afon De-cluttering service

In addition the Stroke Association will be taking blood pressure readings, Lynne Neagle AM will hold a surgery from 10 -11.30am and free refreshments will be available.

Come along and find out about the services available to you in this area and feel the best that you can!

Torfaen Libraries Health & Wellbeing Information & Support Service provides free information about anything to do with health and wellbeing including 
• Leaflets and other resources that can be taken away for free.
• Books, DVDs and CDs that can be borrowed.
• Free internet access.
All this can be accessed during normal library opening hours

While Norah Williams, the service coordinator, is based at Cwmbran Library she also visits: 
Pontypool Library Thursday mornings between 10am and 1pm
Blaenavon Library Thursday afternoons between 2 and 4pm

Norah offers confidential one-to-one sessions to provide:
• Someone to talk to
• Help with finding and understanding health-related information
• Sign-posting to other organisations 
• Awareness of local support groups
• Guided access of IT resources and internet sites
No appointment is necessary and your query doesn’t have to be about you, you may be a care-giver or you may have concerns about a relative or friend. 

Fiftieth Anniversary of the Public Libraries Act 1964

Guest Blog by Hywel James

The chief librarians in Wales celebrated recently. What did they have to celebrate you may ask in the middle of planning drastic cuts in spending and closing some libraries? Well on a break form a busy agenda with items discussing the development and improvement of services, we took the opportunity to share cake and remember fifty years since the passing of the Public Libraries Act 1964. This Act established the modern statutory library service it is the duty of each local authority to provide, and that gives everyone in Wales the right to enjoy and benefit from their use. 

As a child of the sixties I remember especially a new public library building that came in the wake of this important Act. The new concrete and glass Holyhead library- I was there at the opening - with the Secretary of State of Wales at the time, Cledwyn Hughes, opening the library in his hometown and mine. Here my life was opened to the treasures of literature of a high standard - the pleasure of following the story of Tolkien's Hobbit and excitement of reading T. Llew Jones novels - and getting valuable help with my homework whilst at school and college -  my debt is great to that library. 

As it was in the period of a Labour Government that this first golden age of public library building took place it was necessary to remind myself that the 1964 Act was the product of a Conservative government. After years of debate mainly through years of Harold Macmillan’s leadership the Act was passed. It is no coincidence I suspect that Macmillan himself was an enthusiastic reader - his favourite author Jane Austen by the way - and of course he was the heir to the company of Scottish descent that became one of the world's major publishers. It is strange to think in the present climate that we owe a debt to the Tory Party for the Act to establish comprehensive and efficient library services’!

While visiting the new libraries at Prestatyn and Caerphilly recently I was struck by the same excitement I felt as a child in Holyhead, to see new multi-purpose libraries attracting a host of new users. The lean period is ahead of us but we have survived bleak decades. Our strength as a public service is that review after review, case study after case study and our everyday experience shows the great  value of libraries to people's lives. This solid evidence will ensure the future of the public library service to continue to serve, with free access for all, for the next fifty years.

Picture  Anita Thomas (Pembroke ) and  Steve Hardman (Swansea )  both born in  1964 with  Ann Jones ( Monmouth)  Chair SCL Wales  and Hywel James (Gwynedd ) –who bought the cake !

Dyma lun  Anita Thomas  (Penfro ) a Steve Hardman ( Abertawe) y ddau wedi eu geni yn 1964 gydag Ann Jones ( Mynwy) Cadeirydd Cymdeithas Prif Lyfrgellwyr Cymru a Hywel James (Gwynedd ) -prynodd dy gacen !

Bu prif lyfrgellwyr Cymru yn dathlu yn ddiweddar. Beth oedd ganddynt i ddathlu meddwch yn ganol cynllunio cwtogi llym ar wariant a chau rhai llyfrgelloedd? Wel ar egwyl o ganol agenda prysur o eitemau  yn trafod datblygu a gwella ein gwasanaethau cymerwyd y cyfle  i rannu cacen a chofio hanner can mlynedd ers pasio Deddf Llyfrgelloedd Cyhoeddus 1964. Dyma'r ddeddf sefydlodd y gwasanaeth llyfrgelloedd statudol modern, mae’n ddyletswydd ar bob awdurdod lleol ei baratoi ac sydd yn rhoi cyfle i bawb yng Nghymru eu mwynhau a chael budd o'u defnyddio.  
Fel plentyn y chwedegau am gennyf gof arbennig  o adeilad llyfrgell gyhoeddus newydd a ddaeth yn sgil y Ddeddf bwysig hon. Llyfrgell concrid a gwydr newydd Caergybi  - roeddwn yno yn yr agoriad swyddogol  - gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ar y pryd, Cledwyn Hughes, yn agor y llyfrgell yn ei dref enedigol a finnau.  Yno agorwyd fy mywyd i drysorau llenyddiaeth o safon uchel - y pleser  o ddilyn hanes  Hobbit Tolkien a chyffro darllen nofelau T. LLew Jones -  a chael  cymorth gwerthfawr gyda'm gwaith cartref trwy ddyddiau ysgol a choleg - mae fy nyled yn fawr i'r llyfrgell honno.  
Gan mai yng nghyfnod Llywodraeth Llafur y chwedegau oedd oes aur cyntaf llyfrgelloedd cyhoeddus  roedd angen i fy atgoffa mai cynnyrch llywodraeth Geidwadol oedd y Ddeddf Llyfrgell 1964.Hynny  yn dilyn blynyddoedd o drafod trwy gyfnod arweiniad Harold Macmillan, o'r diwedd cafwyd Deddf. Nid yw'n cyd-ddigwyddiad rwy’n amau fod  Macmillan ei hun yn ddarllenwyr  brwd - Jane Austen ei hoff awdur gyda llaw -  ac wrth gwrs roedd yn etifedd y cwmni o dras Albanaidd daeth yn un o gyhoeddwyr mawr y byd. Mae’n dyled felly am y Ddeddf Llyfrgell i sefydlu'r gwasanaethau llyfrgell  ‘ cynhwysfawr ac effeithiol' sydd gennym'  i'r blaid Toriad - rhyfedd o fyd!   
Wrth ymweld â llyfrgell newydd Caerffili  a Phrestatyn yn ddiweddar cefais fy nharo o gan yr un cyffro teimlais yn blentyn yng Nghaergybi  ,o weld llyfrgell newydd aml bwrpas  yn denu llu o ddefnyddwyr newydd. Mae cyfnod llwm o’n blaen ond rydym wedi goroesi  degawdau llwm o’r blaen. Ein cryfder fel gwasanaeth cyhoeddus yw bod adolygiad ar ôl adolygiad,  astudiaeth  achos ar ôl achos ac  ein profiad pob dydd   yn dangos gwerth mawr lyfrgelloedd i fywydau  pobl . Y dystiolaeth gadarn  hon fydd yn sicrhau  dyfodol i lyfrgelloedd cyhoeddus Cymru i barhau i wasanaethu , gyda mynediad am ddim  i bawb, am yr hanner can mlynedd nesaf.

Lose your kids in the Library this summer!

   
Mythical Maze is organised by The Reading Agency and your local library. It’s absolutely free to take part. Last year, more than 800,000 children joined in – it’s huge!

The aim of the Challenge is for children to read six or more library books of their choice over the course of the summer and into September. They can read any books they like: fact books, stories, joke books, picture books – audio books and e-books count too! As long as they are borrowed from the library, they all count.   
        
Children sign up at their local library and receive a free poster to start them off. There are scratch-and-sniff stickers and other rewards to collect along the way- all for free! Children who complete the Challenge in Torfaen will also get a free DVD loan, medal and certificate and entry into a prize draw to win a Google Nexus 7 tablet!

Going on holiday? Just take the books with you or download some of the free e-books from welshlibraries.org onto your e-reader or mobile device.

Log on to the Mythical Maze website and your children can keep track of their progress online, rate the books for other readers and get tips on what to read next.  This year there’s even an app that brings illustrator Sarah McIntyre’s amazing creatures to life! 

The Summer Reading Challenge is great fun and is a highlight of the holiday for thousands of children, but it also helps to ensure their reading skills don’t dip over the school holidays. As one Torfaen parent said of last year’s Reading Challenge: ‘This scheme has made a huge improvement to my 8 year old son’s reading.  Since returning to school in September his teacher can’t believe the progress made.  He is now actually enjoying reading and asks to read – instead of me having to make him!’

To take part in the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge, call into your local library and pick up a starter pack.

There are also weekly story and craft times in all our libraries to keep the kids amused, just give us a call and book a place.

On Saturday 26 July kids are taking over Cwmbran and Pontypool libraries from 11am  until 2pm. Come along and join in all the fun

It’s official, visiting libraries makes you happy!

It’s official, visiting libraries makes you happy!
A study commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport found that visiting libraries regularly makes us as happy as a £1,359 pay rise. While taking part in sport is valued at £1,127 a year and being engaged with the arts at £1,084 a year.

This may sound a bit flippant to the many people out there who won’t be receiving a pay rise this year or only a tiny one, but it does show what we all know, libraries are great value for money!

http://www.theguardian.com/books/shortcuts/2014/apr/23/visiting-libraries-makes-us-happy

Talking of high value services
“Use it or Lose it” is an event for interested organisations to raise awareness of and promote the sustainability of “Torfaen Libraries Health and Wellbeing Information and Support Service”. It will be held at Cwmbran Library 15 May 9.45am – 12 noon.

Add to your Life is a free NHS Wales online health check to help you live longer, feel better, and stay healthy and active into the future. It can help you discover more about your health, learn the simple steps you can take to stay fit and discover local services to help you make a positive change in your life. 

The official launch was held at Cwmbran Library on 28 April 2014. Why not give it a go?

http://addtoyourlife.wales.nhs.uk/

Love Magazines? - Get FREE E-Zines from Welsh Libraries

• Easy to access, you just need a library card
• Download 24/7 -  direct to your e-reader, tablet, smartphone, laptop or PC/MAC
• Find magazines covering all interests, from sport to fashion; nature to business; tattoos to baking and download as many as you like.
• No need to return, you can build up your own back catalogue

To try this great new service follow the link - welshlibraries.org

Here's a taste of what's been happening recently in Torfaen Libraries

World Book Day, 6 March 2014
Invited classes were welcomed into Pontypool Library on World Book Day by a variety of story book characters. Here's Winnie the Witch sharing a story with children from Padre Pio RC Primary School.

Teen Quest Challenge
Pictured above is Abigail Lewis, the lucky winner of the Teen Quest Challenge. Abigail is a member of Pontypool Library's Teen Reading Group and is seen here being presented with her prize, £100 to spend at Amazon.

Bluesy Susie and the Hot 3
A small but enthusiastic audience enjoyed a great evening of music in Cwmbran Library's recently refurbished community room. Look out for details of more great events to come.

Finally.. looking for inspiration on what to read next?
Sometimes the best way to read a novel is with the perfect soundtrack. Check out this  fun link  
http://mashable.com/2014/03/26/book-suggestions-90s-albums/
These essential 90s albums could lead you to your new favourite book! 

World Book Day 2014

World book day
Thursday 6 March 2014 is World Book Day. If you visit Pontypool Library on that day don’t be surprised to see Winnie the Witch serving behind the counter or Where’s Wally hiding behind the bookshelves as library staff dress up as their favourite book characters.


Cwmbran Library News
Cwmbran Library’s Community Room is looking amazing following a recent face lift. Facilities include smart TVs and a digital projector.

The room is available for hire by community groups and commercial organisations at very reasonable rates. Contact the library to make a booking.

One of the first events to be held in the room was a talk by author, Gareth W Williams about his book Y Teyrn, a detective novel written in Welsh.

Do you want to get a job or improve your skills and knowledge? Cwmbran Library has a lot to offer:
Bridges into Work - Fridays 9.15 - 11.30 am
Learn Direct (free Courses at your library) – Fridays 3.30 - 5.30 pm

Read to Me Service
Torfaen Libraries’ latest initiative, the “Read to Me Service” is progressing well. Volunteer Reading Companions, who will visit older or disabled people to read aloud to them one to one, have been recruited and met up for the first time at a training workshop delivered by the Reader Organisation. 

The inspirational and practical session covered the therapeutic benefits of reading aloud and best practice for delivering one to one sessions.

New Year resolutions flagging already?

New Year resolutions flagging already?

Why not call into Torfaen Libraries for inspiration? If you want to  improve your health, expand your skills and knowledge or just relax with a good book we can help.

Torfaen Libraries Health & Wellbeing Information & Support Service

We provide lots of free information about anything to do with health and wellbeing. 
• Leaflets and other resources that can be taken away for free
• Books, DVDs and CDs that can be borrowed
• Free internet access
• Shared reading sessions

We aim to provide support, by helping with all the things people want and need to feel the best that they can. 
Whether you have a query about local health facilities (local NHS Services, patient groups), or health matters (conditions, treatments, local help & support) or if you just want to eat more healthily or give up smoking, this service is for you and those you care for.

We will support and listen to people‘s health and wellbeing queries and concerns by offering confidential one-to-one sessions to provide:
• Someone to talk to
• Help with finding and understanding health-related information
• Benefits awareness
• Sign-posting to other organisations 
• Awareness of local support groups
• Guided access to IT resources and internet sites

These sessions are available on a drop-in basis as follows:
Cwmbran Library        Monday 9.30am - 4pm; Tuesday 2pm – 4pm; Friday 9am – 4pm
Pontypool Library       Thursday 10am – 1pm
Blaenavon Library      Thursday 2pm – 4pm
(Appointments can be arranged outside of these times)

To find out more contact Norah Williams, Library Health & Wellbeing Officer
Tel. 01633 647654, 
email: norah.williams@torfaen.gov.uk 
or ask the library staff for further details 

Torfaen Adult Learners Complete The Six Book Challenge

Pictured receiving their certificates from Jill Newton of Torfaen Libraries are,

( from the left)

Brian Tapper, Clair Francis and James Francis.

Five learners from classes at Pontypool Community Education Centre were recently presented with certificates and a selection of prizes for successfully completing the Six Book Challenge.

The Six Book Challenge is an annual Reading Agency initiative that is promoted by Torfaen libraries. Readers of all abilities choose six reads and record their reading in a diary.  Learners who completed the challenge within Torfaen read a variety of texts including Quick Reads, newsletters and magazines.

Author Visit

Welsh author Gareth W Williams is visiting Cwmbran Library on 15th February (10 am - 12 noon) to talk about his welsh language crime thriller, Y Teyrn.  
This is a free event for Welsh speakers and higher level Welsh learners. 

Blaenavon Library - Learn Something New

Do you want to get started with computers,discover your family tree or improve your skills and knowledge? Blaenavon Library has lots to offer:

Get Started With Computers Drop Ins – Mondays 10.00am-12.00 noon
Need help using a computer? Come to our friendly and informal sessions

Learn Direct (free Courses at your library)  – Mondays 3.30-5.30pm

Family History: how to trace your family tree – Thursdays 10.30am-1.00pm
If you would like to discover how to trace your ancestors and start your family tree come along to these relaxed and informative sessions. We have a great selection of books and other resources available including FREE access to ANCESTRY – LIBRARY EDITION.
Staff from the Library and Blaenavon Museum will be available to offer help and advice.

For more information contact Blaenavon Library Tel. 01495 742802
Email: blaenavon.library@torfaen.gov.uk

In the next Blog we'll focus on I.T. courses at Cwmbran Library