Welcome
Welcome to our July edition! This month we're excited to
open our new play space in the Children's Library at Central Library,
and coming up we have creative sessions, support for businesses, book
recommendations, an online exhibition and more. We also have a
call-out for any old, broken toys you no longer want!
If you're not already, make sure you're following us on
social media to get the latest news and see what we're up to. You can
also check out our What's On in Leeds Libraries page on Leeds Inspired for
more details.
Tiny Totley
Yorkshire Contemporary, (formerly known as The Tetley)
are delighted to announce that their artist-designed play space, Tiny
Tetley Studio, is moving to Leeds Central Library under a new name:
Tiny Totley Studio!
We are all thrilled that artist Stephanie Jefferies’
beloved play space will have a home in the city centre.
Open from Friday 12 July in the
under-fives library, Tiny Totley Studio will offer a unique, creative
environment featuring tactile objects, a slide, a den, and a bespoke
sound installation. It’s designed to provide a free, family-friendly
space for children to engage in playful exploration, bridging the gap
between art and play.
We know it'll be a fantastic addition to our children's
library and we can't wait for families to visit!
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 This year's Summer Reading Challenge
starts Saturday 6 July and is a FREE holiday activity for children
aged 4-11 all about reading for fun.
Children can read anything they like and collect free
rewards. This year's theme, Marvellous Makers, is
all about creativity. From dance to drawing, junk modelling to
music, there's something for everyone!
Children can take part for FREE, either at your local
library OR online here.
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Creative sessions coming up...
 Botanical Art: Watercolour Lilies
with artist Monair Hyman
Saturday 17 August, 12.30-3.30pm, Art Library, Leeds
Central Library
Expertly guided by Monair, you will be observing from
life and the examples in Art Library books and Special Collections
to produce botanical drawings. You'll learn colour mixing and
transfer all your ideas to a final piece using Winsor and Newton
watercolour paints.
All materials are included and the paint palette will
be yours to take home.
Open to all abilities. Book here.
Tickets are £37. Age 14+
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 Life Drawing: 4 week course with life model
Mondays 2, 9, 16 and 23 September, 5.30-7.30pm, Art
Library, Leeds Central Library
Venture into life drawing in this relaxed, supportive
four-week course taught by artist and tutor Paul Digby.
You'll explore figure drawing including line, gesture
and shade to develop your own artistic style.
Paul has a strong portfolio exhibiting extensively,
including EAST Gallery, Royal Society of Sculptors Gallery, Leeds
City Gallery, the Cornerhouse in Manchester and the Saatchi
Gallery. www.pauldigby.co.uk
Places are limited - please book here. Tickets
are £50 for the series. Age 18+
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Leeds Libraries need toys!
This Summer we want to run our first Hebocon,
where the goal is to make the world's best worst
robot! This could be ripping the head off a doll, sticking it on a
dinosaur's body, attaching wheels to its legs and seeing how far it
will go! Think Sid from Toy Story...
But we can't do this without lots and lots of toys! If
you have old, unused, broken toys, taking up space in your cupboards,
sheds, or garages, we can use them! Please bring them along to your
nearest community hub and library. Toys such as dolls, teddies,
robots, cars, especially anything with wind-up or battery motors,
anything that can be cut apart or dismantled and reconfigured that is
no bigger than 50cm is welcome!
Hebocon helps young people learn about how toys are
made, develop some engineering skills, be creative, and, most
importantly, have lots of fun! We will announce the dates when we
have enough toys!
We have been inspired by our colleagues at Barnsley
Libraries. See what their Hebocon looks like here.
What's happening in our community libraries?
 Horsforth Walk of Art
Horsforth Library & Community Hub will be taking
part in Horsforth Walk of Art on Saturday 6 July.
Drop into the library to add to our collaborative
collage as we aim to fill the streets, skies and waterways of
Horsforth with fantastical vehicles.
Or sign up for a ticket at our family illustration
workshop with picture book illustrator Steve James, who will share
some of his favourite creations.
Book your free ticket here.
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 Free business support from Leeds
Libraries
There has never
been more free business support available for start-ups,
entrepreneurs, and businesses through Leeds Libraries than now. If
you or someone you know is setting up a business or looking to grow
an existing one, our Business & IP Centre is here to support
you. From the first spark of inspiration to the successful launch
and growth of your ideas, we have a wealth of information at our
fingertips.
Book to a 1:1
Information and Guidance session with one of our BIPC librarians to
discuss your needs and learn more about our partnered advisors,
specialist resources, free workspaces, upcoming workshops and
funded support programmes.
Contact the team
at bipcleeds@leeds.gov.uk, or follow
our Eventbrite page to find out about
upcoming events and workshops.
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 China visit
On Tuesday 25 June, Leeds Central Library hosted a
UK/China skill sharing day, with the British Library's Living
Knowledge Network, library colleagues from different regions of
China and from the UK.
The theme was health and wellbeing, and we heard
presentations about how libraries in China support healthy living
in their communities and about the work of our colleagues in
Liverpool and Glasgow. We ran a tour of our beautiful building, led
a fun creative activity and highlighted some of our special
collections.
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Intersectional book recommendations
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 The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole
Fast paced action, deep mythos and colourful
characters are what you’ll find in this world of Gods and Monsters.
Dianna made a deal to save her dying sister, Samkiel deserted his
people after The Gods War.
This unlikely pair will have to put their animosity
aside to have any hope of saving all they hold dear.
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 Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
A true story, magically told; Darkshire shares his
misadventures as a rare bookseller. He deals with eccentrics,
nonagenarian widows, the resident ghost and books made of literal
poison and human skin.
A book for book-lovers to indulge in the arcane nature
of this ancient profession.
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 In Their Shoes by Jamie Windust
"There is no one way to be non-binary, and that's
truthfully one of the best things about it. It's an identity that
is yours to shape." Combining light-hearted anecdotes &
hard-won wisdom, Windust explores everything from fashion, dating,
relationships and family, through to mental health, work and future
key debates.
July 14th – Happy International Non-Binary
Day!
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Libraries in Leeds Online Exhibition
Exploring Journeys is a new digital
exhibition showcasing 18 rare items from the magnificent collections
looked after by librarians and archivists working at the following 11
organisations: Leeds Libraries, The Leeds Library, Leeds Arts
University, the British Library, the Henry Moore Institute, West
Yorkshire Archives, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds
Conservatoire, Royal Armouries, Thackray Museum and the Department of
Health and Social Care.
Ranging from the obvious (a historic map) to the
abstract (the journey of a rare manuscript, transmission of disease
or life-cycle of materials), this exhibition also considers the
motives behind the journeys of people and the art that journeys have
inspired.
Across the city
Leeds City Council is working towards becoming a council
of sanctuary. If you are a refugee or are seeking asylum, we want to
hear from you!
To better understand the experience of refugees and
people seeking asylum in Leeds, we invite people with lived
experience to take part in a discussion. The questions discussed will
be:
- Do you feel like you
and your community have been able to build the life you wanted
in Leeds?
- What has helped?
- What has made it
difficult?
- What would help in
the future?
Date and time: 22 July,
9:30-1:30pm
Venue: Leeds City College
Conservatoire (opposite Leeds City Centre Bus Station,
beside the BBC building and near the Playhouse)
Booking is essential! Book here.
Lunch will be provided to all in attendance, and bus
travel costs will be reimbursed for people with lived experience.
If you are unable to attend but would still like to
share feedback, you can do this anonymously by submitting comments here.
 Read Easy Leeds
Tina has been learning to read with Read Easy Leeds
Coach Gemma for the past year and recently graduated from the
scheme.
Tina: "Joining Read Easy was not a simple decision; I
was filled with fear and embarrassment, worried about the judgement
and opinions of others. My confidence was low, and I questioned my
own capabilities... Despite these challenges, my desire to become a
proficient and self-assured reader was stronger than my fears and
insecurities.
Joining the programme has been one of the most
rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. With the support and
encouragement of my wonderful tutor, Gemma, my progress is evident.
Reading has become a much more enjoyable experience for me. I can
now read aloud confidently and without fear."
Gemma: "Guiding Tina on her reading journey has been
the most rewarding experience. Watching her confidence and love of
reading grow week by week as a testament to her hard work has been
inspirational. Tina has always approached each session with
enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Every week we read together
at Leeds Central Library, which doesn’t sound like much but over
the months those sessions add up to a massive amount of progress.
I’m so proud of everything she’s achieved and excited to see the change
her new reading skills are already having in her daily life."
If you would like to help an adult to learn to read or
know someone who needs help, visit Read Easy or
call Joanne on 0775922013, or Charlotte on 07796781471.
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Find out more
Did you know we have two further library newsletters,
where you can find out more about family friendly activities, local
history and books and reading? Sign up here:
Thank
you for reading our latest newsletter. We look forward to welcoming
you soon - get in touch or find your
local library
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