Libraries

Tameside Libraries Readers’ and Writers’ Festival via Zoom

Welcome to Tameside Libraries Digital Words, our month long digital Readers’ and Writers’ Festival.

Meet some of the UK’s bestselling authors; including; Matt Hilton, Milly Johnson and Rowan Coleman. 

Sophie Parkes-Nield from Mossley Writers’ Group will be running a short creative writing course based on and around what lockdown life was like during the pandemic. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a seasoned writer, an avid reader or a complete beginner. n.b. Sophie's sessions are now fully booked, but there are still places available on our other events.

Bring your family history to life as University of Manchester Professor Jerome De Groot shows you creative ways in which to tell your family history.

During Half Term John Kirk will be taking us on a story hunt and Dommy B presents a family poetry show.

All our events are free but booking is required. Bookings are being taken now at tamesidelibraries.eventbrite.co.uk or by phone on 0161 342 2031.

Find out more and see the events listing on our Digital Words page.

The next phase in restoring Tameside Library Service is the re-opening of Denton, Hattersley, Hyde and Mossley libraries on 12 October 2020, joining Ashton, Droylsden, Dukinfield and Stalybridge which re-opened on 6 July 2020. The free book reservation service is also available again.


The current library offer includes the following:
 

• Return and selection of library items.
• Pre-booked use of PCs for 1 hour only (or walk in if there is capacity).
• Printing is available at all eight libraries. Photocopying is available at Ashton Library only.
• Free book reservation service.
• Home Library Service.
• A click and collect service for those not wishing to browse.

 
 
Safety measures include hand sanitisers, one way systems, additional cleaning, managed access and capacity, quarantining books, removal of furniture that may encourage people to stay longer than necessary and sanitising of PCs between users. Customers are now required to wear a face covering to help reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 infection. We will also be maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors, and sharing these with NHS Test and Trace where requested, so that we can help to identify people who may have been exposed to the virus.

There are Perspex screens around the library counters and the use of self-service machines is encouraged. 
 
No unaccompanied children under 12 years of age are allowed into the library in order to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to.


The Home Library Service is operating on a non-contact basis and extended to include people previously shielding and those for whom visiting the library is currently a struggle for health and wellbeing reasons.
 
Open + self-access hours will not be operating and library events and group activities will not be taking place in libraries, however a full programme of online activities is available. See website and social media for details.


Fines/Book Renewal
All items that were due for return during the lockdown period had been renewed to ensure that no fines are attracted when people are unable to return them. All loan items are now extended to the first date a branch is open after 31 October 2020 to allow sufficient time for people to return their items following opening of libraries.

If you think that your items were overdue before the libraries closed in March there may still be a fine. Please contact us on 0161 342 2031 or email information.direct@tameside.gov.uk so that we can help.


Telephone enquiry service
You can get help and advice with your information or library enquiries from Tameside Libraries Information Service. You can call Ashton Library on 0161 342 2031 during opening hours. You can also renew your library items over the phone.

All Libraries Open From 12 October 2020

Story Makers 4 – Be Kind is On Now Via Zoom

After the huge success of the last three projects, Tameside Libraries are pleased to announce that Tameside Story Makers is back for a fourth time. This time the theme is ‘Be Kind’.

Story Makers Be Kind sessions are fun and interactive story sessions designed for children aged 0-4 and their families with Simon the Story Teller and the free weekly sessions are on Zoom.


Families who attend will have the opportunity to work with award winning writer Caryl Hart and illustrator Andy Rowland to create a children’s picture book which will be printed and published. 

For more information on the sessions and details of how to book have a look at the Story Makers page.
 

 

Tameside_Libraries      @tmbc_culture

    

Now’s the Time to Get Online with Tameside Libraries.

• Does someone you know need help to do more online?
• Do you need to improve your digital skills?
• Tameside Libraries can give you tips on becoming more confident online.

It’s #GetOnlineWeek2020! and Tameside Libraries are here to help you get started. Getting the most out of the internet doesn’t have to be scary. You could manage your money online, find a new job, or brush up on a skill. Even if you just have a go at the Get Online Week Bingo, it's a great way of trying something new or different.

If you feel you that everything is online these days and you don’t know where to start we can help you try something simple to build your confidence. We can help you use new apps on your device and have tips on using the internet more for things like health, learning, finding employment or banking. 

Don’t be put off using the Internet because you’re not sure how things work, try some of our ideas to get more confident and give it a go. There’s also a range of free online activities for you to try such as our Readers and Writers Festival - Digital Words, a virtual coffee morning and device advice clinics.

All events and activities are free and you can find out more on our Get Online Week page.
 

Celebrate Black History Month During October

Whether you’ve been inspired to find out more by the Black Lives Matter movement, want to find out about your own background or just explore some incredible stories Tameside Libraries has something for you during Black History Month this October.
 
Books and Other Resources
 
You can find a selection of books here on the library catalogue. There are lots to choose from and the catalogue will let you know which libraries have items in stock and whether they are on loan. You can also login to reserve and choose your pickup location.
 
 
eBooks and eAudiobooks
 
There are also a wide range of information books to read or listen to via BorrowBox plus biographies, poetry and fiction by black authors.
 
To borrow an eBook, eAudiobook, you will need to log into BorrowBox with your library card and PIN. The PIN is the DDYY of your birth so the 1st January 1990 would be 0190.
 
You can read online or download the app and start reading within five minutes. Find out more about eReading or browse a selection on the library catalogue here.
 
If you're not a member you can join online and start using BorrowBox now for free.
 
 

Find out More with our Virtual Reference tools
 
Find out about more about prominent figures in British Black History with the Dictionary Of National Biography and Encyclopaedia Britannica which are available online with your Tameside Libraries Card.
These examples are from the Dictionary of National Biography.

• Playwright and screenwriter Michael Abbensetts the British Guianan creator of Empire Road who’s earlier BBC2 play The Museum Attendant proved a shocking exposé of the racism experienced by a black museum attendant in his place of work in the 60s and 70s.
• Early Ghanaian born anti-slavery campaigner and writer Cugoano, Ottobah [John Stuart] (b. 1757?) who published Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species (1787), to refute religious and secular pro-slavery arguments. He and his colleagues demanded the immediate freedom of all slaves and the abolition of the slave trade. 
• Sir Mancherjee Merwanjee Bhownaggree, born the son of a Bombay merchant of Persian origin who studied law in England, came to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1885 and became Conservative MP for Bethnal Green in 1895 where he was criticised for taking the British-Indian line.