Devon and Torbay libraries are set to burst with colour, sound, and imagination this autumn as Libraries Unlimited unveils its exciting new programme, running from 1st August to 31st October, under the vibrant theme ‘Get Creating’.
Far from the quiet spaces of the past, libraries will host everything from craft workshops and discos to live theatre and concerts. Visitors can learn to make musical instruments, explore bugs, build fantasy houses, or create watercolours, mosaics and screen-prints—all within their local library.
A new season of events from workshops to discos, theatre to films, storytelling to markets, is coming to libraries across Devon and Torbay from August to October this year.
The Get Creating season encourages communities throughout the county to get in touch with their creative side, whether participating in activities or watching performances, there is something for everyone, even if they wouldn’t describe themselves as creative. Most are offered free or at a very low cost.
It’s the second time Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs libraries across the county, has...
The 100th anniversary of the Devon County Library Service is being marked this month by Libraries Unlimited, the charity that manages 54 libraries in Devon and Torbay.
The Devon County Library Service was launched in 1924 with the aim of providing a single county-wide service giving all residents free access to books. Before then, many of Devon’s individual scattered community libraries were operated by subscription, or aligned to institutions such as the church, or funded by individual local authorities from people’s ‘rates’.
Three Devon authors, who are all members of the same writing group, will be sharing their experience of the rocky road to publication, in an attempt to help other writers get published.
Yaara Lahav Gregory, Anna Lunk, and Sophie Pierce will be in conversation at Exeter Central Library next month (March 12th), in an event entitled One Writers’ Group: Three Routes to Publication.
All three have had books published in the last year, but know what a lonely business writing is, and how difficult it is to get published. The trio will share their experiences in an event at Exeter...
A major drive to establish a wide network of community libraries in Devon's rural areas is to be launched by the county council.
The community libraries will be developed as an alternative to the current mobile library service which is faced with falling numbers of users and rising costs.
Members of Devon's Cabinet today agreed to decommission the ageing mobile library vehicles and set aside cash to help community groups and parish councils set up new community libraries.
The Cabinet heard that less than 3,000 people out of Devon's 815,000 population now used...
Crowdfunder appeal launched to install a Library Card Music Player device in Exeter Library for the Summer Reading Challenge.
The Library Card Music Player Project, which was originally funded by the Arts Council England, allowed for the building and installing of three music-generating devices that have been installed into three different libraries in the UK. Each device plays a short melody created from a borrower’s library card and, every time a borrower uses the card, they will hear the same tune.
The Summer Reading Challenge , presented by The Reading Agency and funded by...
Libraries Unlimited has announced that libraries across Devon will temporarily close from Friday 20 March, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Across the county, library staff are trying to continue to provide library services in different ways.
In Exeter, they are trialling ‘books by post’. Others will be providing online sessions such as Bounce & Rhyme, reading groups, and story times. There will be IT help, provided remotely.
Staff will be checking in by telephone with customers who they know to be vulnerable and needing social contact.
Pupils at Exeter Cathedral School were delighted to welcome the Gruffalo to unveil their new Pre-Prep Library.
Nursery and Pre-Prep pupils (aged 3 to 7) have been looking forward to their new library for several weeks. On the day of the opening, the children were thrilled to find the Gruffalo sitting in the library, ready to read a few books and enjoy a conversation about his unusual eating habits!
The Gruffalo was very impressed with the new bookshelves and furniture. He particularly enjoyed squeezing into the old fireplace and reading aloud to each class. Everybody, from...
Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs Devon Libraries and Torbay Libraries, has appointed Professor William Harvey as Chair of the Board of trustees.
Will, who takes up the role with immediate effect, is Associate Dean of Research & Impact and Professor of Management at the University of Exeter Business School. He conducts research, teaches and consults in the areas of reputation, leadership, talent management and migration and has worked with pharmaceutical, healthcare, energy, local and national government, aviation and food organisations.
Scorching Summer Reading Challenge results revealed as Devon and Torbay’s library staff come together for second annual staff conference and AGM Over 12,000 children and young people in Devon took part in the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge, with a record number of participants completing the Challenge by reading six books during the summer holidays.
An impressive 6,661 children aged between 4-11 were awarded their very own medal and certificate for completing the Challenge at one of the 50 Devon Libraries, and an additional 649 children completed the Challenge at one of the four...
