Live Portrait Painting in Oranmore Library

As part of the Celtic Shore Festival and National Heritage Week a live portrait painting took place in Oranmore Library on Saturday the 27^th of August.
Local artist John O’Regan painted the portrait of a local Oranmore resident over the course of the day.
This was a unique and fascinating opportunity to see an artist at work and watch the portrait as it developed from

a simple sketch to a finished work of art.

Galway's Cycling Heritage - Galway City Library

Circus Stars in Tuam Library

Over 650 children are currently registered for the Summer Reading Challenge ‘Circus Stars’ Children have also been enjoying story times and art and craft.

Upcoming events:

Teddy Bear’s Picnic on Friday 12^th August at 11.30.

Around the World for a Story: Monday 15^th August at 11.00.

Creative Radiant Child Yoga: Monday 15^th August at 1.00.

Creative Writing Workshop: Wednesday 17^th August at 11.00.

Galway Libraries Summer Reading Challenge continues in all libraries

‘Summer Completion Programme Camp’ in Ballybane Library

Well known story teller Niall de Búrca came to Ballybane Library on Wednesday 13^th July to tell stories to the children from the ‘Summer Completion Programme Camp’

Ten Top Craft books for The 2011 Year of Craft in Oranmore Library

2011 is the Year of Craft and to celebrate Oranmore Library has added lots of new craft books to their collection. If you think you’d like to learn something new, renew your interest in an old hobby or even sell your wares online we have lots of titles to suit. 

The following titles are some of the new craft books available to borrow now at Oranmore Library:

Cherished by Kim Hargreaves – A collection of patterns from her latest knitwear designs.

Modern Top-Down Knitting by Kristina McGowan- A book full of great instructions for getting the perfect fit from you knitwear.

The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss – A collection of 50 of the most popular designs from the Queen of baby knitwear design.

Amigirumi! Super Happy Cute Crochet by Elisabeth A. Doherty – Lots of cute crochet animals following the Japanese crochet craze.

Crochet Unravelled by Claire Bojczuk- perfect for anyone learning to crochet.

The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin – A great guide for the enterprising crafters looking to sell their work.

Felt Furnishings by Anne Kyyro Quinn – A beautiful book of contemporary designs with great instructions on how to make things from cushion covers to placemats all from felt.

Stupid Sock Creatures by John Murphy – Ever wondered what to do with those odd socks lurking in the bottom of the drawer? This book has the answers.

Gifts for Kids to Make by Cheryl Owen

The Crafty Kid by Kelly Doust – Two great books full of rainy day activities.

 For information on the 2011 year of craft visit www.craftinireland.com

Circus Stars in Ballybane Library Launch

 

The recent Launch of Ballybane Library Summer reading Challenge

Human Library in Westside Library

Launch of Westside Library Writers’ first book

The Westside Library Writers are launching their first book, Monday Miscellany, on Tuesday 19^th July at 5.30 pm in Westside Library as part of the Westside Arts Festival events. The book will be launched by James Harrold, Galway City Arts officer. The Westside Arts Festival Open Mic night will follow at 6.30 pm, hosted by Kevin Higgins. The event is free and all are welcome.

Monday Miscellany is the group’s first published collection. It is a collection of memories, poems and prose pieces. The book will be available for purchase on the night. The writers have previously showcased their work at Open Mic nights during the Westside Arts Festival.

The Westside Library Writers were formed in 2008 as part of the Bealtaine Festival, a festival that celebrates creativity in seniors. The group has expanded and includes all age groups from the local community. The group attend creative writing classes, three times a year, facilitated by Galway poet Kevin Higgins, in Westside Library.

This event is taking place as part of Westside Arts Festival and for more information please contact Cora or Liz in Westside Library on (091) 520616.

Mystery in Oranmore Library

Oranmore library recently held a day of mystery for its members. Borrowers were encouraged to borrow a book specially selected by the Library staff. There was a twist however- all the books were wrapped in brown paper so that library members had no idea what they were bringing home with them.

Adults and children alike willingly took the plunge and were pleasantly surprised to find books they may never have chosen by themselves. Many borrowers reported back that they found authors they had never heard of, or tried new genres such as poetry or biographies.

Don’t you love the feeling that you get when a parcel arrives in the post or somebody gives you a specially wrapped p

resent? Everybody was very excited to bring home their unique gift of a book specially selected and wrapped by our librarians in Oranmore.

Along with our mystery check out we also had a Good Reads

Wall. Library members were asked to add a post-it the wall of authors the loved and hated. We had three categories:

Treat; What would you read as a treat?

Challenge: What was your most challenging read?

Bargepole: What wouldn’t you touch with a bargepole?

Everyone loved taking part and our Bargepole Wall in particular generated lots of discussion and controversy.

Watch out for our next mystery day in the library coming soon!

Clifden Library - Write a Book Competition

Seven students of St. Caillin's National School in Aillebrack, took part in the "Write a Book" Competition 2011 Students range from 3rd to 6th Class. All seven books were presented to Clifden Library on Tuesday the 28th June.
The books will be on display in Clifden Library for the summer.

Outside Clifden Library with their Books;
Tadgh O'Neill - Ryans Story, Francesca Mc Donagh - Sweet Pea Valley, Grainne King - The True Story of Goldilocks, Amy Roberts - Amy's Favourite Foods, Eimear Roche - Animal Pourquoi Tales, Oscar Coneys- Max is Lost and Alone, Celia O'Neill - A Long Book of Poems & Short Stories

Eurochild Anthology launch in Galway City Library

24 Hours in Galway...City Library, Augustine Street

“Summer Reading Challenge”

Galway County Libraries are inviting all children to participate in the Summer Reading Challenge and discover the joy and pleasure of reading. This year’s theme is “Circus Stars”. Join the “Circus Stars” and get “Reading Stars”.

The Summer Reading Challenge takes place during July and August in all Branch Libraries and Mobile Library. It is free; all children have to do is go along to their local library and get their reading log card. It is not a race or competition, all you have to do is read and enjoy at least six books. There are selected books to help you make your choice. Reading Certificates and medals will be awarded to all children who reach the target of six books.

The Summer Reading Challenge focuses on the joy and pleasure of reading. Studies by the OECD show that children who read for pleasure are more likely to do better than does who don’t.

Last year over two thousand children were presented with Reading Certificates. The feedback from parents and teachers was very positive. Reading during the summer helps children retain and improve their reading skills. We are asking all parents and families to read with their children supporting and encouraging them.

For further information contact your Local Library or Library Headquarters 091- 562471 or email info@galwaylibrary.ie.

Ballinasloe Library and Europe Direct Centre Summer Reading and Arts Project

The Summer Reading and Arts project runs parallel with Ballinasloe Library and Europe Direct Centre's normal Summer Reading Club. The AIMS of this project are;

• To encourage an awareness and appreciation of Europe and European issues through exploring stories from different countries and cultures.
• To encourage an appreciation and interest in books and reading.
• To encourage tolerance and acceptance of difference.
• To have FUN!!
• To learn new creative skills
• To encourage personal and group development.

Participants/Numbers :Young people aged 7-11 yrs

Book Reading - Open Attendance
Wednesday Workshops - Max 15 per group.Booking is recommended

• Book Reading -Tuesday,12th July-11.30am-12.30pm
• Workshop 1 - Wednesday 3rd August-11.30-1pm
• Workshop 2 - Wednesday 10th August-11.30-1pm
• Workshop 3 - Wednesday,17th August-11.30-1pm

Programme Synopsis;

The Book Read session will introduce the theme of Tales of Europe and will include songs, movement, stories and folk tales from different European traditions/cultures.Wednesday workshops will introduce 2 stories in greater depth.The group will explore where the story comes from, the writer,original written language and relevant cultural traditions.Participants will be given the opportunity to design and create their own book cover relating to the stories using assorted papers,pens,collage materials etc. The designs will be exhibited in the library with information about the original text.

Writers will include Astrid Lindgren- Sweden, The Brothers Grimm- Germany,Hans Christian Anderson-Denmark, Tove Jansson- Finland, Alf Proysen-Norway as well as more traditional folk tales from Europe.

Social Inclusion Awareness Week 2011 - Deadline 15th July

Click on the image above to enlarge

Creativity and the Library

The Galway Ensemble in Residence, The Con Tempo String Quartet, performed this week in Portumna, Ballinasloe and Gort Libraries.

They provided the kind of experience for the public which Thomas Rehak, the Chief Librarian of the Municipal Library in Prague, referred to when he spoke at the MetLib Conference in New York last week.

Tomas Rehak said:

"The Public Library must be a place where people want to be. They must be beautiful places...living spaces...places where people can meet"

• We should support creativity
• We should inspire creativity
• We should promote creativity
• We should facilitate creativity

Libraries supporting those who want to understand the World and themselves

Contempo Quartet in Gort Library

Come hear the Galway Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet on June 15th in Gort Library @ 8:00 p.m.
Free Admission to all Concerts, and early arrival is advised.

The Galway Ensemble-in-Residence selected ConTempo Quartet to be the heart of a music development programme for Galway City and County. Based in NUI Galway, ConTempo began their residency in January 2003.

The residency is designed to bring a love of music to new people and new venues, and to enhance the experience of those already involved in music.

The Secret of Kells: Tuam Library

The Secret of Kells:

As part of the ‘One Book, One Tuam’ project, Midie Corcoran from Earwig Arts Festival, worked with Tuam schools to create a Giant Book of Kells, filled with stories of Finn McCoole and Irish legends.
The giant book is 6 foot in height and 4 foot in width and is on display in the children’s area.

3 Rivers Storytelling Festival

• Suzanne Hogan is a native Australian now settled in Athlone.She trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has worked in theatres internationally. She investigates via performance how people understand their culture and society through stories, play and dance.She has enjoyed a year long residency in Athlone’s Dean Crowe Theatre as well as several Director- in-Schools programmes as part of Westmeath County Councils Arts initiative. She has done several community projects for the Percent for Arts Scheme working with international choreographers Jeannine Maguire-Lowry and Rionach Ni Neill.

• Liz Weir has worked with all age groups for over thirty years promoting the traditional art for which Ireland is world famous. A children’s librarian by training, she now travels the world telling stories to adults and children, organising workshops on storytelling, and speaking at courses for parents, teachers and librarians. She was the first winner of the International Storybridge Award for “exemplary work in promoting storytelling between Ireland and other countries”. She is the director of the Ulster Storytelling Festival and has been a featured teller at major festivals in Ireland, England, Scotland and in the U.S.

• Danielle Allison comes from an educational background. She has worked with children in schools, libraries and festivals all over Ireland. Danielle tells a wide range of stories, which often involve audience participation. She is a founder member of The Dublin Yarnspinners .Now settled in Athlone, she is committed to bringing the t

raditional Artform of storytelling to the Midlands and is Director of the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival.

• Simone Schummelfeder grew up in the small German town of Beverungen Weserbergland. Her father inspired in her a love of stories early on. At university she learned the power of storytelling as a teaching tool. In 2006 she spent the summer studying with renowned Irish teller Liz Weir. She and her

sister are the authors of a book for children titled Ruprecht Storchschnabel -die Abenteuer des zu vorletzt Geborenen der Elfen (Rupert Stork-beak – The Adventures of the Last of the Last-born of the elves).

• Liz Warren, a fourth-generation Arizonan, is the direcotor of the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. She has performed nationally and in Ireland and England. Representing SMCC, she is the producer of the annual Mesa Storytelling Festival in Mesa, Arizona. Her new textbook, The Oral Tradition Today: An Introduction to the Art of Storytelling was published in 2008. Every summer she comes to Ireland to teach “The Irish Storytelling Tradition” as part of Mesa Community College’s Study Abroad Ireland Program.

• Aideen McBride often used storytelling in her at Primary School in Ballymun, Dublin,Now a full time storyteller She has told her stories at the National Museum in Dublin, Cultra Folk Museum in Belfast and at many, many

summer festivals. Her stories, sad and funny by turns, include yarns and folktales handed down to her by her father in Carlow. She loves to include her audience in the stories, many of which have a participatory element. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the spell Aideen weaves with her imaginative and warm delivery of these stories from the Irish tradition.