Why not explore what your local library can offer you? Here is a taste of the event coming up at your local library this March.
March 3: World Book Day
Westmeath Libraries encourage everyone to drop into their local library and borrow a book. Why not pick up a book from the Quick Read series and try a new author? Remember, everyone who borrows a book from a Westmeath Library on World Book Day can enter a free draw with prizes of a €20 book token for adults and a €10 book token for children to be won in each branch.
In addition, the Aidan Heavey Library in Athlone will be hosting a storytelling session with Gillian Stanley at 4.30pm. Children aged six and under are welcome to join Gillian to celebrate World Book Day but booking is essential.
March 7-13: Library Ireland Week
The theme for Library Ireland Week 2011 is ‘Smart People use Smart Libraries’. As such, Westmeath County Library Service will be launching their Clipper DL eAudiobook service. This service will allow people to download audio-books from the comfort of their own home, removing barriers by offering 24 hour access to the service. All you need is a pc, broadband and of course, membership of Westmeath County Library Service!
Moate Library will be also be challenging young artists to complete a comic strip as part of National Library Week.
Márta 5-7: Seachtain na Gaeilge
Is í Seachtain na Gaeilge cheiliúradh bliantiúl cultur, oidhreacht agus Teanga na nGael. Seachtain na Gaeilge is an annual celebration of Irish culture, heritage and language. This year, Mullingar Library will be hosting Scéalaíocht for local schools, and Castlepollard Library will be presenting prizes to winners of the competition to design Carta Phoist do Lá Fhéile Pádraig. The Aidan Heavey Library will be celebrating our musical heritage with seisiun sna leabharlann with the talents of local musicians and local school children.
Highlights for Seachtain na Gaeilge will include: Kevin Flood’s Relax with Art talk in Mullingar Library which will focus on the works of many well known local artists, and the launch of Dolores Keaveney’s new book Jenny an Chearc Bheag Dhonn in Mullingar Library.
March 1- 31: READiscover your local library
This year, Bord Gáis Energy has once more stepped in to support the READiscover campaign, encouraging people to visit their local library and explore the wide range of activities and resources available to them.
As part of the READiscover month, libraries in Westmeath are ablaze with activity. Many of the libraries are working with local schools to arrange tours during March. The Aidan Heavey Library in Athlone has re-launched its Class Challenge quiz - open to local schools.
Ballynacarrigy and Killucan Libraries will be holding St Patrick’s Day Card competitions. Successful participants in the Fás elearning in the library project will be receiving their certificates of attendance during March.
Highlights of READiscover will include author Dolores Keaveney’s visits to Athlone, Killucan and Castlepollard libraries where she will meet local school children. Children in Kilbeggan and Moate Libraries will have the chance to meet acclaimed storyteller Aideen McBride. Storytelling is a critical part of Irish culture and is of huge importance in allowing children to develop their imagination and their ability to create stories. In addition, the Aidan Heavey Library will be hosting a talk by award winning author Neil Richardson.
Westmeath Libraries are also supporting the Mullingar One Town One Book Project. This is a home school community liaison initiative which will encourage children and their parents and siblings to read one book, Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet. This is an exciting adventure story which follows 13-year-old Brian, whose plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, leaving him to face survival with only a hatchet.
Booking is essential for many of these events so please contact your local library for further information. Keep up to date with what’s happening at your local library by visiting www.westmeathcoco.ie/library or follow on twitter.
