Welcome
Welcome to our October edition! This time we are
celebrating Black History Month, Green Libraries Week, Get Online
Week, Farsley Literature Festival and National Poetry Day, as well as
letting you know about some of our upcoming activities such as the ever-popular
family festive show, the next Cultural Conversation talk and the
Libraries in Leeds festival in November. And of course, Leeds Central
Library is joining in with Light Night on Friday 25 October.
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.
Get Online Week
Get Online Week begins on 14th October! We have free drop-in sessions
at libraries around the city. If you or someone you know needs a bit
of support to get online, then come along and speak to one of our
friendly librarians who will help get you started. For a full list of
times and locations see here.
We can also loan
iPads with data to help people struggling to access
online support - bring along proof of address to one of our Community
Hubs & Libraries in Armley, the Reginald Centre, the Compton
Centre, Headingley, Holt Park, Hunslet, or Seacroft, and you can
borrow a device for up to 8 weeks. If you are an organisation that is
delivering digital inclusion support and would like to borrow iPads
to help your work, you can also borrow devices too! Please email leeds.libraries@leeds.gov.uk
for more information.
As part of the National Databank, we are able to gift SIM cards
to help people get online too. These are available at Leeds Central
Library, Armley Community Hub & Library, Dewsbury Road Community
Hub & Library, The Reginald Centre Community Hub & Library
and the Compton Centre Community Hub & Library.
For support to get online look no further than your
nearest library!
Black History Month
At Halton Library this month we welcome the British
Library’s exhibition Beyond
the Baseline: 500 Years of Black British Music.
Throughout Black History Month, Halton Library
will be home to the panel display, helping to tell a national story
about Black music in Britain through the British Library’s Living
Knowledge Network. The display features a selection of books from our
collection linking to Black History Month.
Throughout October, the Reginald Centre is
hosting the Creative Colleagues Exhibition, featuring art by the
council’s Race Equality Network. This is a unique opportunity to see
the creative talents of ethnically diverse staff across Leeds City
Council and to find out about what inspires them and how lived
experience, culture and community influences their creative output.
The Reginald Centre is also proud to host a variety of activities to
celebrate Black History Month with an exhibition and interactive
trail launching on Tuesday 1 October and the Mahogany Market take
over on Saturday 5 October 10am-4pm, with food, music, entertainment
and a visit from the Lord Mayor. All are welcome, just drop in!
To finish the month, on Saturday 26 October, we host the
Black Health Initiative - Black music festival presents - Reclaiming
Rhythm: Voices of the past, Melodies for the Future. This will
feature a photo display and guest singer Isaac Malibu.
You'll also find a collection of eBooks and eAudio to
celebrate Black History Month on BorrowBox
Green Libraries Week
We are celebrating Green Libraries Week from 7-13
October! We have some green-themed events taking place and we'll be
sharing on social media about sustainability work, activities and
resources in libraries.
Did you know, if you use your local library, you'll be
reducing your carbon footprint and saving money? Our customers have
reduced their carbon footprints by over 2,550,000 kg of carbon over
the past year by borrowing rather than buying books. That’s about
1300 flights from Leeds to New York!
National Poetry Day
Thursday 3 October is National Poetry Day. We have some
wonderful collections in our branches from Byron to John Cooper
Clarke, or you can find a great selection to read or listen to on
Borrowbox, here.
 Leeds Beckett University Cultural Conversations
Picturing Girls on Tour: Exploring Women’s Post-War
Holiday Albums
Thursday October 24, 1.00pm, Sanderson Room, Leeds
Central Library
In the post-war period British women travelled in
pairs and female friendship groups on foreign coach holidays,
continental tours, rambles and cruises in unprecedented numbers,
taking thousands of holiday snapshots along the way. This talk
draws on a range of 1950’s holiday albums charting women’s travels
to Europe and beyond. The audience are encouraged to look through
and handle the photo albums in question and to bring along their
own holiday snapshot or album as part of a wider discussion on how
such photographs are important but often overlooked artefacts in
the historical archive of leisure.
Book your free ticket here.
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The Stolen Stories of Winterlight
Libellule Theatre presents: The
Stolen Stories of Winterlight
14 December 2024 to 5 January
2025
Can you imagine a world without stories? Words are
fading from books all over town and people are forgetting the stories
they used to know off by heart. Winterlight Festival is fast
approaching when tales are told with family and friends. If all
stories disappear and children can’t tell their own stories, their
voices may be lost forever. Newly qualified storymaker, Tan, sets off
on an adventure of a lifetime to discover the mystery of these stolen
stories. With her hapless new apprentice tagging along, will they
ever find a way to work together and return the words to the pages in
time for Winterlight?
Brought to you by the same creative team who made the
hugely successful The Storymaker’s Apprentice at Leeds Central
Library in 2022.
A family-friendly event for
children aged 5+ and their grown-ups. More info and tickets: Ticketsource - The Stolen
Stories of Winterlight
Libraries in Leeds Festival
This autumn, we're involved in a number of events as
part of the Libraries in Leeds Festival, including a webinar on how
to support dyslexic children to enjoy reading and a library walk!
We are also hosting two free events at Leeds Central Library:
 Information Literacy: A Critical Thinking Workshop
Monday 4 November, 1.00-2.30pm
Find out how to navigate your way more confidently
through today's "smog" of disinformation. Three experts
from the University of Leeds, the British Library and the Chartered
Institute of Library and Information Professionals share their
knowledge in this free, interactive session. Book here.
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 LS18 Rocks Leeds Libraries!
Saturday 9 November, all day
Join a free family friendly day of music making
resulting in a first gig at our newly refurbished music library.
Come along to listen, learn and join in with a mix of live music
performances and taster workshops throughout the day led by LS18
Rocks!
Workshops for children aged 7-11 years take place in
the morning and workshops for 11-17 year olds are after lunch. All
children aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Book here.
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And here's an event taking place at The Leeds Library,
involving our Senior Librarian for Digital...
 AI in Libraries: Beyond the Hype
Tuesday 5 November, 6.30pm
Our Senior Librarian for Digital, Liam Garnett, will
join Vice President of CILIP Sue Lacey Bryant, University Librarian
Masud Khokar, and the British Library's Digital Curator Dr Mia
Ridge for a panel discussion at The Leeds Library. They will be
talking about the benefits AI might offer for libraries, their
diverse range of users and communities. Book tickets here.
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Other highlights of the festival are: an author event
with bestselling historical fiction writer Tracy Chevalier,
TV presenter Mary-Ann
Ochota discussing the secrets hidden in Leeds’
archaeology and archives, free backstage tours and inspirational
speakers.
Tilly Lockey, a fashion model who lost both her arms at a young age,
is a motivational speaker who is rewriting the narrative on diversity
and innovation. Ash
Bhardwaj is an entertaining storyteller whose smart
thinking memoir ‘Why We Travel’ explores human motivation.
Find the full programme here.
Leeds Book Awards 2025 is open for registration
For 15 years, Leeds Book Awards has championed the best
of newly published children's books celebrating diversity of
authorship, characters, and genre. The project provides unique
opportunities for active participation in reading, reviewing,
debating, and voting for favourite books.
In 2025 the Awards will culminate in a high-profile
award ceremony at a city centre location, where children and young
people will get the unforgettable opportunity to meet with the
shortlisted authors and illustrators. There are 4 categories from Key
Stage 2 through to Key Stage 4.
Leeds Book Awards are proudly presented by Leeds
Libraries and Leeds School Library Service, and are now open for
registration from primary and secondary schools across the city.
Find more information and book
for your school here: Leeds Book Awards 2025
open for registration | Leeds for Learning
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 Enjoy
learning new creative skills in the Drawing Room at our beautiful
Art Library this autumn!
Life Drawing is one of our most popular classes. We’ve
been running affordable courses in our Art Library since 2018.
Hundreds of people have learnt or improved their figure drawing
with fantastic free books and resources to support learning,
experienced models and expert tuition. ‘A wonderful way to spend a
Monday evening’
Book for October here and November here.
Have you wanted to learn to paint but need a good
beginner's class that is relaxing and fun? We thought so! Delve
into botanical art and draw cacti with Monair Hyman on Saturday 23
November, find out more and book here
Keep in the loop with our classes, art activities and
plenty of other events here
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What's happening in our community libraries?
 Farsley Literature Festival
We've got a series of events planned at Farsley
Library as part of this year’s Literature Festival, and we can't
wait!
We start on 8 October with "The Well-Dressed
Spy: Bond, The Avengers and Swinging London",
a talk by TV and film historian and author Ian Fryer. Learn what
the well-dressed spy was wearing, from their Walther PPK to
hand-made suits and fighting leathers and why it was so important
for Britain’s self-image as London began to swing.
23 October sees the 3rd of our successful Writers’ Open Mic Nights,
in conjunction with Farsley Library Writers’ Group. We invite all
writers; budding poets, first novelists or established authors to
join us for a relaxed evening celebrating and sharing writing.
Writers are invited to read a 5 minute taster of their work.
Tickets are also available for audience members to enjoy the
evening and be inspired.
For our final event on 12 November, we welcome Leeds
author Chris
Nickson for a discussion of his new novel Them
Without Pain, inspired by the story of Arthur Mangey, a goldsmith
who made the Leeds Mace in 1696 and was hanged for treason two
years later.
You'll find more information about these events and
the wider festival here.
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Light Night at Leeds Central Library
Where Our Collections Come Alive!
Join us for an enchanting evening at Leeds Central
Library, where our historic building will be beautifully illuminated
for Light Night. Come and explore our interactive installations,
engage in fun and educational children's activities, and relax in the
magical atmosphere.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the
library in a whole new light. Perfect for families, friends, and
curious minds of all ages.
Open Friday 25 October,
6.00-10.00pm
Across the city
 Family Show: The Big Opera Adventure
Tuesday 29 Oct 3pm, Leeds Grand Theatre
Join the adventure of Opera North’s new, interactive
family show. Young ones must solve clues, unravel riddles, and even
sing along, as they help a host of operatic characters on a
mission! With music from the Orchestra of Opera North, this is a
fun and educational opportunity for families to dive into the world
of music, theatre and opera together.
Recommended for ages 5 to 12. Lasts approximately 50
minutes. BSL interpreted. Adults £16, Children £10. Book here.
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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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