Author: ECL

Drop by the community library during September to enjoy a great display of books you can borrow to help you towards a more organic lifestyle – gardening, farming, cooking and eating.

Completion of the first phase of alterations to the community library’s internal layout has been marked by the opening of the new IT Suite for use by the general public.

Access to the new computer area has been widened, the room has been redecorated and its lighting has been enhanced. Four Windows 10 workstations have been provided and all are internet-capable with one PC also linked to a scanner.  Accessibility has been improved with one workstation being particularly wheelchair-friendly.  Computer users will enjoy the new suite’s quieter, more private environment one step removed from the library’s main area.

The work has been carefully planned and carried out by a team of volunteers who have worked very hard to transform this popular library facility without having to close it to the public at any point.

Everyone is welcome to drop by the library and take a look at the changes we’ve made.  If you’re not already a library member why not join?  It’s free and only takes a few minutes. You’ll be surprised at what we have to offer!

Library members may use a public computer FREE for 30 minutes each day.  For non-library members the fee is £2.50 per half hour. We also have printing and photocopying facilities. As ever, our volunteers will try to offer IT help should you ask for it.  (NB: This help very much depends upon the IT skills and knowledge of the individual volunteers who happen to be on duty at the time of your visit. We cannot guarantee that someone will be able to help you).

Good news! By popular demand our weekly Rhymetime session for the very young from 0 to 3 years is going to be running through the school summer holidays.

Every Monday afternoon we meet from 2.00pm to 2.45pm to sing songs and rhymes. One of our library volunteers shows the children props which act as a prompt for a song or a rhyme. It’s great fun and the change in the children’s concentration over the weeks is often astonishing as they learn to listen, to look and to join in.

Rhymetime can help ease isolation too. Many new mums and dads have had nowhere to take their babies during the Covid pandemic and, as a result, have sometimes felt very isolated. Having a chance to get out of the house and meet other adults is so important. Rhymetime is a great opportunity to share time with people in the same situation and to make new friends.

Meeting other children is important for babies too. They are sometimes unaware that other children exist until they see one! They learn and develop quickly by being in a group, seeing and interacting with people, watching and absorbing what is going on, and hearing repeating rhymes and words.

Any new parents wanting to join us at Rhymetime are very welcome. It is a relaxed and very friendly afternoon.

Weather permitting, we run the sessions outside under the library’s lovely willow tree or, if the weather is inclement, go indoors. You’ll need to book. You can do so by giving us a ring on 01609 534584 or by emailing us at ecl.generalenquiries@gmail.com.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge ended on 11^th September. Well done to all our junior eco-warriors who completed the challenge and gained their medals!

KEEP THE ADVENTURE GOING!

The Summer Reading Challenge may have ended but your community library has masses of exciting, colourful and imaginative books for children of all ages with new stock arriving every week. Your child can join the library free – just pop in and see us.

We thank Easingwold and District Lions very much indeed for their generous donation of £150 to buy a selection of reading aids for use by our home library customers.

They include magnifiers and lights for those who struggle to read the book print, book stands which are useful to support heavier books, and a CD player which can be loaned out to customers who want to try audiobooks.

The Lions, represented by president John Sutherland and fellow Lions Alec Harbisher, Ray Evans and Peter Coomer, presented the new equipment to Linda Kentley and Angela Pontefract who received it on behalf of the Home Library & Information Service.

The service is run by volunteers who make regular deliveries of books and audiobooks to customers who find it difficult to get to the library in person. It covers Easingwold and its surrounding villages. The team has continued to pick, process and deliver books and audiobooks to the housebound in a Covid-safe way throughout the pandemic, providing a vital and much appreciated literary lifeline for their customers.

Anyone who has a problem getting to the library in person can ask to join the Home Library & Information Service. You’ll find more details about the service here.