Westminster Libraries Enews

arts in the city

Westminster Libraries eNews Welcome to the first edition of Westminster City Council Libraries Service’s e-newsletter about the wealth of services, projects and activities available to you through your local library. This is your opportunity to find out more about Westminster’s 11 lending libraries, two reference libraries, music library and Archives, and how you can benefit from everything that they offer.

Contents

We’re all reading... One Book for Seniors Online Westminster Many of Westminster’s libraries will now We have turned Westminster into one giant be offering training opportunities for older reading group. people

Reading London in Fiction and Fact St John’s Wood Library Reopens A weekend treat for library members - Bigger and Better writers specialising on London talk about St John’s Wood Library reopened on 4th their books August 2008.

Charing Cross Library Celebrates 60th Westminster Music library hosts birthday with a Makeover Instrumental and Choral Workshops Charing Cross Library reopened following a with the Royal Philharmonic £200,000 refurbishment Orchestra We’re all reading... One Book for Westminster

We have turned Westminster into one giant reading group and we’re inviting all library members to read our One Book for Westminster, The Mesmerist, by accomplished author, former actor and Westminster resident Barbara Ewing. Tell us what you think by completing a comments card available in all libraries. Barbara Ewing will be visiting every library to meet readers and hear their thoug hts. Look out for further information in your local library.

What would be your One Book for Westminster and why would you invite everyone to read it?

To find out more information on One Book for Westminster, please call 020 7641 1300 or visit www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries

Seniors Online

If you’re reading this, you probably have no issues browsing the internet, using computers and getting online to access your email. Imagine if you were excluded from all of this and unable to make use of all the technology available today. For many of Westminster’s older residents, going online can be quite a daunting prospect.

If this sounds like a problem experienced by someone you know, help is at hand. Many of Westminster’s libraries will now be offering training opportunities for older people to learn together in a small friendly group environment with an experienced IT tutor.

For further information about Seniors Online and training opportunities at a site near you, please call 020 7641 1300

A weekend treat for library members

Westminster’s dedicated readers are in for an exciting Saturday afternoon as writers specialising on London talk about their books. Taking 19th century London as a theme, four authors (two fiction and two non-fiction) will discuss their different approaches to research and presentation on the subject matter.

On the panel will be Lynda Nead, author of Victorian Babylon: People, Streets and Images in Nineteenth-Century London (2000), Sarah Wise, author of The Blackest Streets: The Life and Death of a Victorian Slum, Lee Jackson, author of three historical thrillers as well as a huge, illustrated book on Victorian London, and Barbara Ewing author of several historical novels set in 19th century London.

Reading London in Fiction and Fact takes place on 11th October 2008 at the Westminster City Archives. Readings will be followed by a panel discussion and an audience Q&A. Refreshments will be served and optional tours of Westminster City Archives will take place at 1.30pm, 2pm and 4.15pm

Entry is free but places are limited so please book a seat early to avoid disappointment by calling 020 7641 1300

St John’s Wood Library reopened on 4th August 2008 and expectant customers were not disappointed. The four month refurbishment has transformed the library’s layout and created 80% more space for studying, training opportunities and newspaper reading.

Customers now have access to improved stock displays, better lighting and an all-round more welcoming atmosphere.

The children’s area has been expanded to approximately double the size with the option to partition the area to reduce noise levels and now also features a reading corner. The teen population of St. John’s Wood has also benefited from the revamp through the provision of a designated area where young people can do their homework and access the internet.

St John’s Wood now boasts a self service facility allowing customers to borrow, return and renew books and pay for reservations - all without the aid of library staff. A new staircase and lift have also been installed and the library is fully accessible to disabled visitors.

With the introduction of these new high-tech machines aiding a speedier service, staff members will be freed from counter duties and able to spend more time helping customers on the library floor.

As part of the neighbourhoods ward budget scheme, St John’s Wood was awarded £3000 towards offering special IT tuition for Westminster’s Silver Surfers. In addition, a further nine computers have been installed and these new IT facilities mean one-to-one internet training sessions will be readily available to residents of all ages.

To find out more about the facilities available at St John’s Wood Library, please call 020 7641 1300 or visit www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries

Westminster’s historic Charing Cross Library reopened its doors to the public on 30th June 2008 following a major £200,000 refurbishment which included the installation of new self service machines. The eight-week revamp fully transformed the existing layout of Charing Cross Library, creating a spacious and user friendly environment.

New shelving, bookcases and furniture have been installed along with a bigger computer area and nine internet-ready computers. The first floor also boasts a seated lounge for visitors to relax and read.

Located on the edge of Westminster’s busy China Town, around 70% of the library’s books are borrowed by Chinese visitors and the library has several Mandarin and Cantonese speaking staff to cater for these customers.

Charing Cross Road has long been home to London’s book trade, with a wide range of new and second-hand book shops; Charing Cross library offers a purpose built bookshop area with a wide range of withdrawn surplus library books on sale at discount prices.

Charing Cross library is celebrating its 60th anniversary later this year, having first opened in July 1948. In November, be sure to look out for a display of the library’s history, taking place on the ground floor.

This autumn, we are inviting participants of all ages and musical abilities to take part in an exciting project with some of the UK’s finest musicians. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Westminster Music Library, and the 50th anniversary of the death of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who opened the library in 1948, we will be holding a series of music workshops.

During these four workshops, participants will compose new The Instrumental and pieces and explore a new repertoire - all with the support Choral Workshops with of musicians from the world famous Royal Philharmonic the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Orchestra will be hosted at the Westminster Music Creativity and excellence will be at the heart of these Library, 160 Buckingham workshops, using materials held in Westminster Music Palace Road, London Library as inspiration to create an original work. The end SW1W 9UD on: result will then be performed in the main library, giving participants the opportunity to showcase their work for Monday 20th October friends, family and the public. 10am -5pm This opportunity is available to organisations throughout Monday 21st October Westminster to participate. Everybody is welcome to take 10am -1pm part in this unique venture, from complete beginners to practised veterans. Tuesday 28th October 10am -1pm

For further information about the Instrument and Choral Workshops, please call 020 7641 1300 or visit www.westminster.gov.uk/ libraries/special/music/