Branch Opening & Closing Times for Christmas & New Year

Branch	Last Day Open	Closing Time	Re-open	Opening Time
Dunbar  (Bleachingfield)	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Wed, 4 Jan	9am
East Linton	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Thurs, 5 Jan	10am
Gullane	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Thurs, 5 Jan	2pm
Haddington (John Gray Centre)	Sat, 24 Dec	4pm	Wed, 4 Jan	10am
Longniddry	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Wed, 4 Jan	2pm
Musselburgh	Sat, 24 Dec	4pm	Wed, 4 Jan	10am
North Berwick	Sat, 24 Dec	4pm	Wed, 4 Jan	10am
Ormiston	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Wed, 4 Jan	2pm
Port Seton	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Thurs, 5 Jan	2pm
Prestonpans	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Wed 4 Jan	10am
Tranent (George Johnstone Centre)	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Wed, 4 Jan	10am
Wallyford	Sat, 24 Dec	1pm	Thurs, 5 Jan	2pm
Library & Museum HQ	Friday, 23 Dec	4pm	Wed, 4 Jan	8am

Book Week Scotland 2016

We have a fantastic programme lined up for you this year, with an all star cast! Nick Crane, co-presenter of Coast, TV vet Steve Leonard, crime writer James Oswald, hugely popular children's author Barry Hutchison; Peter Kerr, author of Snowball oranges, they'll all be beating a path to East Lothian to join us during Book Week.
The chance to meet Alexander McCall Smith for a literary lunch has already sold out but to make up for that disappointment we can offer a special deal on tickets for our Saltire Taste and Talk event at Colstoun House, near Haddington. Tickets are available from Haddington library for just £8.00 until 19th November, instead of the full price of £12.50. This is an incredible opportunity to meet Mary Contini, Sue Lawrence, Mark Greenaway, Christopher Trotter and Wendy Barrie - see the attached programme for full details. The event starts at 10.30am, finishing at 7.00pm and the one ticket provides admittance to all these sessions.
Book Week this year is from 21st to 27th November.
Book Week Scotland Brochure

                                                 

Award-winning author Peter Kerr launches his new book in Haddington

The Clyde Valley Stompers became, in the 1950s, Scotland’s premier jazz band. They were the focus of “Stompermania” and enjoyed huge commercial success. And then in 1963 they disappeared mysteriously from the scene. In “Don’t Call me Clyde!” clarinettist Peter Kerr tells the story of what actually happened. How, at just 20 years of age he inherited Leadership of the “Clydes, how they achieved chart success, were produced by George Martin, soon to sign the Beatles, and were launched into the glitzy world of mainstream popular music.

This fondly recounted, entertaining and humorous memoir by the award-winning author of the Snowball Oranges series, chronicles the highlights, hardships, backstabbing, generosity and greed that marked the rise and fall of such an iconic band. But Peter also skilfully portrays an affectionate recollection of family life during the austerity gripped years following the Second World War.

 Peter will be appearing in the Star Room, John Gray Centre, Haddington on Tuesday 16^th August at 11.00am.

All welcome to this free event. Peter will also be signing copies of his books.

Don’t miss the BIG BOOK SALE on Saturday, 6^th August

Corn exchange, Haddington, 10.00am-4.00pm

 East Lothian Library Service is selling off loads of withdrawn stock – adult and junior, fiction and non-fiction, DVDs, Music CDs, Audio books.

Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up some fantastic bargains. Also look out for our brand new book tombola, colouring-ins for the youngsters and a visit from Lennox the Library Lion!

 

Top eAudiobooks for July

The House by the Sea  Written by Santa Montefiore Narrated by Juanita McMahon   "Nobody does epic romance like Santa Montefiore. Everything she writes, she writes from the heart."  JOJO MOYES

Ten-year-old Floriana is captivated by the magnificent Tuscan villa near her village. When the owner’s son invites her inside, Floriana knows that her destiny is there, with him. But as they grow up, things begin to change. Miles away on the Devon coastline, Marina’s hotel has fallen on hard times. The arrival of Rafael Santoro, artist-in-residence, seems to bring peace in Marina’s family. But Rafa is not who he seems… "A superb storyteller of love and death in romantic places in fascinating times." VOGUE

This Charming Man  Written by Marian Keyes Narrated by Caroline Lennon   "The laughs come fast and furious..." SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy de Courcy is marrying - because although she's his girlfriend, she definitely isn't the bride. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will her retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? "The story will stay with you long after you've read the last page." HEAT

Stolen Souls  Written by Stuart Neville Narrated by Frank Grimes    "Stuart Neville is already a crime-writing star."  MARK BILLINGHAM

It is snowing, she’s barefoot, but Galya runs. Tricked into coming to Belfast with the offer of a good job, all she wants now is to go home. Her only hope is a man who gave her a cross on a fine chain and a phone number, telling her to call if she escapes. Now she puts herself at his mercy, knowing she has nowhere else to turn. "Stolen Souls is a nightmare story in the most noir place on earth, told by an exceptional talent." LEE CHILD

Fever City  Written by Tim Baker Narrated by  Dan Russell "An inventive take on the great American conspiracy theory." THE TIMES

Nick Alston, a Los Angeles private investigator, is hired to find the kidnapped son of America's richest and most hated man. Hastings, a mob hitman in search of redemption, is also on the trail. Decades later in Dallas, Alston's son stumbles across evidence from JFK conspiracy buffs that just might link his father to the shot heard round the world. "Baker's scene-painting and dialogue are accomplished, and the conspiracy theory that emerges is ingenious." SUNDAY TIMES

A Night In With Marilyn Monroe Written by Lucy Holliday Narrated by Anna Parker-Naples   "Fresh, witty and thoroughly enjoyable." THE SUN

The last few months have been a whirlwind for Libby Lomax, not only is she dating the hottest man on the planet, but there now seems to be a decent career alternative than her current one of failed actress. But her optimism seems short-lived. When another uninvited guest, in the form of Marilyn Monroe, turns up on her ancient sofa, Libby finds she would willingly bite her own arm off for a return to normality. "One of the best books we’ve read in ages…the perfect girlie read." REVEAL Click here to reserve these titles

Maggie O’Farrell at Town House, Haddington

Simon Kesley and East Lothian Library Service present Maggie O’Farrell talking about her dazzling new novel

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE

Tuesday 28th June, 7.30pm

Town House, Haddington

Tickets are £5, redeemed if you purchase a copy of the book on the night,

 and are available from Simon Kesley bookshop and Haddington Library at the John Gray Centre.

Complimentary glass of wine, courtesy of Simon Kesley.

 

 

Focus On . . . Biographies and Memoirs

Well, we meant to make this a monthly post but you library members have been keeping us busy with book requests and suggestions. Which we love. Keep it coming!

This month we're suggesting titles from our Biographies & Memoirs collection:

eBook

Kevin Bridges has become a household name in just a few short years (well, ten years). He walked on stage for the first time aged 17 and brought the house down with his five minute set. This is his story.

You can reserve this title here

Film

The group NWA emerged from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid 1980s and revolutionized Hip-Hop culture with their groundbreaking music and lyrical realism about life in the hood.

You can reserve the title here

Book

There is no one quite like Brian Blessed. He's an actor, film star, trained undertaker, unlikely diplomat, secret romantic, martial artist, and mountaineer. He's also a brilliant storyteller who will - and you must brace yourself - simply leap out of the pages at you.

You can reserve this title here

TV

All 13 episodes from the second season of the Netflix comedy drama adapted from Piper Kerman's memoir about her time spent in a women's prison. A moving and hilarious experience.

You can reserve this title here

eAudiobook

Alan Cumming’s father Alex was a man who held his family hostage, who meted out violence with a frightening ease. Alex was the dark, enigmatic heart of Cumming family life. But he was not the only mystery. Alan's maternal grandfather, Tommy Darling, had disappeared to the Far East after the Second World War. Curious to explore this mystery, Alan committed to filming an episode of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? Then out of the blue, his father called. He had a secret he had to share.

You can reserve this title here

Author visits to North Berwick and Haddington libraries

David Munro will be at North Berwick Library on Thursday 12th May at 5:30pm, tickets are free. David is author of The Time Jigsaw and  The Time Jigsaw Deliverance.  


Catherine Simpson will be appearing in the Star Room, Haddington library on Tuesday 31st May at 7.30pm. Tickets are £1.50 from the library.

Catherine’s debut novel, Truestory, tells of a young boy with Autism who refuses to leave his family’s isolated farm and interacts with the world via his computer. His mother feels trapped there with him and the novel is told from her point of view. The novel was inspired by Catherine’s experience of raising her own daughter who has autism.

Catherine is a novelist, short story writer and journalist. She was born and raised on a Lancashire dairy farm but now lives near Edinburgh. Truestory won the Scottish Book Trust “New Writers Award” for the opening chapters. Her work has been published in Gutter, New Writing Dundee and The Scotsman among others and short listed in the Bloody Scotland Short Story Competition and the Asham Award. Fellowship. She won Tyne and Esk Writer of the Year, 2013, and the Coastword Festival Short Story Competition in 2014.

 

This is a Haddington festival event. Free programmes and tickets for some festival events will be available to buy from the library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focus on . . . Fiction in Translation

To coincide with the launch in our eNewsletter (which you can sign up for here), this month sees the beginning of our "Focus on" feature - suggesting new releases by genre in a variety of lending formats such as film, eAudio, and eBook.

This month we're focusing on Fiction in Translation; there's a vast array of fiction being produced, and if you look beyond your native tongue you'll find some gems. Luckily, our Librarians are on hand to carefully select a few of our recent additions. 

eBook

An astonishing interweaving of myth, fantasy, history and autobiography, Kenzaburo Oe's Death by Water is the shimmering masterpiece of a Nobel Prize-winning author.

You can reserve this eBook here.

Film

A romantic drama based on the novel by Posy Simmonds. Village baker Martin Joubert has an obsession with the Flaubert novel 'Madame Bovary' so when a young English couple move into the village, he is delighted to learn their names are Gemma and Charles Bovery. 

As he gets to know the Boverys he realises that their lives are running in parallel to those of the characters in his favourite novel and when Gemma embarks upon a passionate affair, Martin fears his new friend is heading for a tragic end like that of her namesake

You can reserve this DVD here

Book

No. 1 international bestseller and Swedish crime sensation Camilla Lackberg’s new psychological thriller featuring Detective Patrick Hedstrom and Erica Falck – irresistible for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo.

You can reserve this book here

TV

Deutschland 83 is a groundbreaking new series from the producers of the international Emmy award-winning Generation War. It’s 1983. The Cold War is hot. Russian SS20 Missiles in East Germany are already pointed West. American Pershing II Missiles will soon be placed in West Germany, pointing East. The threat of nuclear conflict looms.

Deutschland 83 is a coming-of-age story within a suspenseful thriller, set against the real events, culture wars and political realities of Germany in the 1980s.

You can reserve this DVD here

eAudio

Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist have not been in touch for some time. Then Blomkvist is contacted by renowned Swedish scientist Professor Balder. Warned that his life is in danger, but more concerned for his son's well-being, Balder wants Millennium to publish his story - and it is a terrifying one. 

More interesting to Blomkvist than Balder's world-leading advances in Artificial Intelligence, is his connection with a certain female superhacker. It seems that Salander, like Balder, is a target of ruthless cyber gangsters - and a violent criminal conspiracy that will very soon bring terror to the snowbound streets of Stockholm, to the Millennium team, and to Blomkvist and Salander themselves. 

You can reserve this eAudiobook here

National Libraries Week is upon us! 

We have a plethora of events and goodies happening - have a look: