Best wishes

...for the festive season, from all of us at Rotherham Library & Information Service.

We hope to see you again in the New Year, refreshed and raring to read!

All the borough's libraries will be closed from normal time or 4pm - whichever is earlier - on Christmas Eve, and re-open under normal opening hours on Saturday 2nd January.

Picture credit: Image of the Nativity and Prime, London Hours of William Lord Hastings, Master of the First Prayer book of Maximilian, Ghent (?), late 1470s, Copyright © The British Library Board

Classics at Christmas

If, in the last nine days before Christmas, you are looking for something to read over the festive period, we might be able to help.

Pop into Central Library and have a look at our selection of classic literature on display. You'll find some of the usual favourites, such as Jane Austin and Charles Dickens, and some more unexpected characters like Vladimir Nabukov and D H Lawrence.

There is no excuse for being bored over the holidays. (And, by the way, the library shuts at 4pm on Christmas Eve and re-opens at 9am on 2nd January...so stock up now.)

Portrait of Charles Dickens by Finden, after D. Maclise, from 'The Life & Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby' (British Library 012612.i.8 frontispiece) Copyright © The British Library Board

What does your library mean to YOU?

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) - which has responsibility for public libraries - published a report last week on the future of the library network. It's called Empower, Inform, Enrich, and takes the form of a series of essays on what libraries mean, followed by a series of questions the Department would like us all to answer.

The essays are written by a range of people - from the great and the good in the library world, to famous authors...there's even the thoughts of the UK director of a well-known coffee chain with literary pretensions. (Skinny Moby Dick lattè, anyone?) They certainly give food (and coffee) for thought...as, indeed, do some of the questions. Here's a flavour:

'Are there any services which you consider should be prescribed across all library services?' (Should all libraries be made to stock e-books, DVDs, actual books?) (Q10)
'Should library membership be national?' (Instead of having a different card for Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Debyshire, etc.) (Q11)
'How might library users have a greater voice in decision-making?' (Q11)
'What commercial activities should we encourage libraries to operate?' (Q13)
'What are the circumstances in which a Local Authority would be justified in closing a library?' (Q15)
'Is it important that libraries remain a statutory obligation?' (At present, libraries are protected under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.) (Q20)

If this has whetted your appetite, and got you thinking about your library - and what it means to you - then please do go and have a look at the full document. You may like to investigate this version - as it breaks it down into chunks, on which you can then post comments online.

If you care about your local library - as it is, or as it could be - then this is your chance to have your say.



Please remember, though, that if you wish officially to submit your comments, you must do so direct to DCMS, by 26th January.

Pudsey takes a trip to the Library...

Friday 13th was very lucky for some of Thurcroft Library's Reading Agents as they got to meet Pudsey Bear. I wonder if they asked him about his favourite books and whether or not he dislikes Goldilocks?

A bit of parlez-vous...

Today, 26th September, is European Day of Languages.

This is an annual thing, which started in the early noughties, whereby the EU encourages us to celebrate the diversity of European languages. It's also to draw our attention to the importance of learning a language - especially one of the 23 official languages of the European Union - and of lifelong learning in general.

Of course, many people like to take a holiday on 'the Continent', and some people travel there for work. As citizens of the EU, we all have the right to go and live in another EU country, and seek longer-term employment there, too, if we wish.

But how often do you hear travellers muttering to themselves 'Oooh, you know, I do wish I could talk to them in their own language' - or even, 'I was never any good at languages in school'. Maybe you are one of those people?

The trick is not to get fluent, but just to get by. It creates a better impression, it makes your trip more enjoyable - it is incredibly satisfying to order some food (or, even better, drink) completely in a foreign language, and have the waitress understand you. (When we went to Amsterdam last Spring, I managed to order and pay for a sandwich completely in Dutch, which made me feel great. The sandwich was nice too.)

It can also introduce you to aspects of the other country's culture and way of thinking that just aren't possible to express in English.

So, why not pop in to the library and investigate our wide collection of language-learning resources? Or maybe pick up a book on some more obscure by-ways of language, or on the history of English? There are also some freebies to take away, on languages and the EU - and, if you are inspired to take things to another level, prospectuses from local colleges, where you can find out about formal language courses.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Are you sitting comfortably?........then I'll begin.
Actually before I do, go and put the kettle on, make yourself a nice cup of coffee and return because I have a treat in store for you!
Coca Cola have their diet coke break, well if you prefer a warmer beverage Carte Noire now have their "Carte Noire Moment".

What does this have to do with books or readers I hear you cry, aaaah well quite a lot as it happens. If you're longing for more seduction and passion in your life and the Gold Blend couple aren't enough for you then log on to Carte Noires website www.cartenoire.co.uk/the-carte-noire-moment where you can choose between Dominic West, the cult star of The Wire, Greg Wise of Sense and Sensibility or Dan Stevens of The Line of Beauty. Then choose a love scene from a mix of classic, modern and emerging novels. Relax back with a rich, velvety mug of Carte Noire and when you're sitting comfortably, then he'll begin.

Having done this myself I imagine you'll begin by finding it hilariously like an adult Jackanory spoof before being captivated by their smooth seductive mellow tones as your coffee goes cold.

There is something completely comforting about being read to that I believe dwells in the heart of all of us and I often find that the experience is enhanced by a delicious beverage. However I am undecided as to whether Kraft have indeed been crafty with this promotion and will achieve increased product sales because although I know I'll be returning to my reader of choice Dominic West, whether I'll be supping Carte Noire from now on is undecided.

Whatever their motives I'm enjoying their efforts and applaud anything which brings reading and books into the limelight.

Of course in this golden age of equality it would be remiss of me to neglect the fact that all the Readers are men. Surely there are plenty of chaps out there who would relish a chapter of Wuthering Heights being read to them by their favourite female thespian? If so, who would it be, or who would be your bete noire? :)
Now if you'll excuse me I seem to have been overcome by a raging thirst.

Summer Sun Fun

Ah, August.

Balmy evenings, sun-kissed sand and maybe a cheeky little novel for the beach.

Or, as we went to Scotland - wind and rain, blasted heaths and gathering round the fire in the evenings. Yes, it was cold enough to light the fire.

One of the places we had a look round was the John Buchan Centre - a renovated church in the very pretty village from which the author's mother came.
Buchan is most famous for "The 39 Steps" - and it is true that I have never seen so many copies of the same book (different editions) in one place. But there were also displays about his early career in South Africa in the aftermath the Boer War, his (First World) War service and his later appointment as Governer-General of Canada in the 1930s. Apparently, Buchan also wrote several autobiographies and history books, worked for Military Intelligence and did post-graduate research at Oxford. All in all, a man almost as multi-talented and exciting in real life as the heroes of his novels...

As I said, it was cold enough in the evenings to light a fire and all sit around talking. My family like talking - it's the Celtic blood - and we shared plenty of jokes and stories. It's good to do so occasionally - it brings you together, it's entertaining, and there's nothing quite like telling a ghost story while the wind's rattling the window frames behind you. It occured to me afterwards that language and stories can be very entertaining - and what a great job it is to be surrounded by them day in, day out.

For information on our extensive John Buchan collection - and to find a whole host of other stories for reading by the fire, or sharing with friends and family - check our catalogue.