Public Libraries/ Shared Services closures on 5 and 6 December

 

To support whole team training and development across Customer Services and look at how we provide the best service to our customers there will be a number of service closures or reductions on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December 2023. 

Tuesday 5 December- closures

• Dunbar Library
• East Linton Library
• Musselburgh Library
• Port Seton Library
• Prestonpans Library

Wednesday 6 December - closures

• Haddington Library
• Longniddry Library
  
• North Berwick Library
• Ormiston Library
• Tranent Library

Brunton Hall 

To support whole team training and development across Customer Services and look at how we provide the best service to our customers Brunton Hall Customer Service desk will be closed between 1:00pm to 2:00pm for lunch on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December 2023.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Your Libraries Supporting Your Wellbeing

Carers Collection Titles

In 2021/22 the library Service received funding from the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) through the Scottish Government's COVID recovery fund to support health and wellbeing work in our libraries. We were delighted to have Catherine Findlay Middleton join us from November 2022 to October 2023 as our Health and Wellbeing Officer and while we are very sad to have to say our goodbyes we'd like to share some of the fantastic work Catherine instigated that we will continue to develop.

Catherine worked with our teams to identify what we were doing well, where we could improve and where there were gaps. She mapped local health and wellbeing support across our communities so that our team can help you find local sources of support and establish community folders and noticeboards in each of our libraries - look out for them next time you visit!  

Our new health and wellbeing pages on the library webpage are designed to help you find trusted sources of information and support. Click to visit our Health and Wellbeing pages 

We know that if you don't use a library regularly you may be unaware of the wide range of activities, resources or events we offer so Catherine worked hard to establish relationships with partners across our communities and across East Lothian including Enjoy Leisure, Volunteer Centre East Lothian, Alzheimer's Scotland, Dementia Friendly East Lothian, Young Carer's Network, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, Local Area Partnerships, GP practices and more which will be continued locally and as a service.

To highlight just a few of the many outcomes from these partnerships:

• Some of our libraries now offer sensory stories and support groups and we'll continue to look at how we can support neurodiversity and accessibility for all with an update to our webpage, a regular audit of our spaces, awareness training for our staff and we will partner with local groups and families to ensure our service is as inclusive as possible. If you have suggestions, ideas or would like to be involved in how we provide more inclusive spaces then please contact Caroline Messer - Team Manager, Library and Customer Services at cmesser@eastlothian.gov.uk 
• A partnership with the Carers of East Lothian has led to a carer's collection, roadshows and training for our staff and we will continue to build on this wonderfully positive relationships. 
• Our library staff have completed Dementia Friends training to help increase their knowledge, awareness and confidence and we'll continue to work with partners locally to support those living with dementia to feel welcome and safe in our spaces.

Dementia Awareness Week information stand

Thank you to all partners who have engaged so positively with Catherine and our teams to bring such as strong wellbeing focus to our service. The support from Catherine over the last year has been invaluable in opening up our libraries to new local partnerships and opportunities and different ways of working in some cases and though we will miss her we'll be inspired by her drive to make things happen and ensure we partner with everyone to improve the wellbeing of our local communities across East Lothian.

Book Week Scotland 2023

 

Book Week Scotland is a week long celebration of books and reading that takes place every November. During this week, people of all ages and walks of life come together to share the joy of reading. This year Book Week Scotland runs from Monday 13 November 2023 to Sunday 19 November 2023.  

Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust - the national charity changing lives through reading and writing - will deliver events and activities across the country linked to this years theme of Adventure. Now in its twelfth year, Book Week Scotland was initiated by the Scottish Government.  

Hundreds of free events happen during Book Week Scotland across many different local authorities, funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).

Every year, the Scottish Book Trust also produces a free book made up of true stories from people all over Scotland. This year's book is called 'Adventure' and these will be distributed to our libraries during Book Week Scotland for you to pick up and enjoy!

Find out about events being run by the Scottish Book Trust, including their digital events, by visiting the Scottish Book Trust page or following Book Week Scotland on Twitter or Facebook pages. We will also be sharing their digital events on our East Lothian Libraries Facebook and Twitter pages.  Read on to find out about East Lothian Libraries' fantastic programme of events! 

Programme of Events 

• All our Book Week Scotland events are free
• Booking is required for all events, please see the appropriate event for booking information 

Johnson and Boswell's Scottish Adventure with Joseph Waterfield, Monday 13 November, 6:00pm at Haddington Library  

In 1773 the literary Scottophobe Samuel Johnson and his friend and biographer James Boswell embarked on a tour of Scotland from the Central Belt to the Western Isles. Come along for the ride as Joe Waterfield from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) uses archive photographs and drawings to recreate this unforgettable journey. Tickets are free but booking is required. Please contact Haddington Library by telephoning 01620 827827 or emailing haddington.library@eastlothian.gov.uk to book your space. 

Author event with Martin MacInnes and Heather Parry, Tuesday 14 November, 7:00pm at Haddington Library 

Booker longlisted author Martin MacInnes and the award winning Heather Parry will talk to us about how places they’ve travelled to or have lived influenced their work as well as speaking about their most recent novels - 'In Ascension' by Martin MacInnes and 'Orpheus builds a girl' by Heather Parry. There will also be questions from the audience. Tickets are free but booking is required. Please contact Haddington Library by telephoning 01620 827827 or emailing haddington.library@eastlothian.gov.uk to book your space. Night Owl Books will have a stall at this event if anyone would like to purchase copies of their books to get them signed.

A Morning of Storytelling with Ailsa Dixon, Wednesday 15 November, 11:00am at Tranent Library

Join us, and the Carers of East Lothian, for a morning of storytelling with Ailsa Dixon. This storytelling session will involve adventure, Scottish Mythology and music. The event is designed exclusively for unpaid carers. Ailsa is a traditional storyteller and musician deeply rooted in place and passionate about sharing traditional tales and unheard histories.  Refreshments will be available.  To sign up please contact the Carers of East Lothian by telephoning 0131 665 0135 or email centre@coel.org.uk

Author talk by Abi Elphinstone, Thursday 16 November, 3.45pm at Dunbar Library

Join us in welcoming best selling children's author Abi Elphinstone to Dunbar Library. Abi will be sharing her real life adventures that have inspired her books, from dog sledding in the Arctic to living with Kazakh eagle hunters in Mongolia. She will also be talking about her latest novel ‘Saving Neverland’ - a modern re-imagining of the classic tale which takes readers back to the magic and adventure of Neverland. Free event, but booking required. Please telephone Dunbar Library on 01620 827827 or email dunbar.library@eastlothian.gov.uk to book your space. Night Owl Books will have a stall at this event if anyone would like to purchase copies of Abi's new book and to get it signed.

'Birds and Books Nature Walk, Friday 17 November, 2:00pm at Musselburgh Library

Join the Countryside Rangers as they take you on a nature walk around Musselburgh and learn about all the birds and wildlife you encounter on the way! This event is for all ages. Free event, but booking is required. Please contact Musselburgh Library by telephoning 01620 827827 or emailing musselburgh.library@eastlothian.gov.uk.

Big Wild Life Forest school, Saturday 18 November, 10:30am - meet at North Berwick Library and then onto the Lodge Park, North Berwick.

Big Wild Life are running a forest school where families can explore and connect with nature by learning about the creatures that live in the forest, den building, woodland crafts and storytelling. Sessions are aimed at Primary 4 to Primary 7 aged children and their families. Free event, but booking required. Please telephone North Berwick Library on 01620 827827 or email northberwick.library@eastlothian.gov.uk to book your space.