LIBRARIES WEEK (Oct 8-13) is the annual showcase of all the creative, innovative and diverse activities that libraries have to offer and this year, with a focus on wellbeing, they will showcase how they bring communities together, combat loneliness, provide a space for reading and creativity and support people with their mental health.
In Carmarthenshire a series of events will be held that will focus on music and demonstrate how libraries can play a key role in our wellbeing. The music workshops will dovetail a live gig taking place at Llanelli Library on Sunday 14 October as part of the ‘Get It Loud In Libraries’ campaign.
Mark Jewell, Library Services Manager explains, “We are very excited to have secured a live music gig as part of the ‘Get It Loud In Libraries’ campaign. The exclusive concert will feature The Estrons, the Welsh-Canadian pop-rock band and will conclude a week of events during Libraries Week when each of Carmarthenshire’s libraries will have activities on offer.
“To celebrate the end of Libraries Week we will be supporting the gig with a music workshop, bringing in planned music activities, linking with local musicians and providing new technologies from the recording studio to allow potential musicians undertake new experiences.
“Music can play a big part in our lives and has been known to improve and promote wellness through alleviating stress and allowing a person to express themselves. Remember libraries are not just about books. Come down and join us, tickets are on sale now on seetickets.com website or book directly for the workshops with Llanelli Library!”
Welsh public libraries have seen a huge increase in their services and in addition to loaning books you can also download e-magazines and audio and more and more of them are offering spaces for people to come together to talk and chat, having identified social isolation as an issue within society.
Welsh Government Culture Minister Lord Elis-Thomas said: “While Libraries Week is a great chance to discover the range of things you can do at your library, from play and learning for children, to managing your health, to accessing free wifi and games, to finding a job, the focus this year on wellbeing allows us to consider the wider role libraries can play to strengthen our communities. Many libraries are at the centre of people’s lives and they have the potential to transform those lives by allowing a space for experiences to be shared and for promoting learning opportunities.
“I’ve had great opportunities to see the excellent work that has been done in many libraries throughout Wales with help from the Welsh Government’s transformation fund, where libraries have had the necessary investment to reinvent themselves and to make themselves relevant to people’s busy lives.”
Kathryn Parry is Development Manager for CILIP Cymru Wales, the library and information association and believes Libraries Week is important as it highlights the ongoing vital work of libraries: “Working for CILIP is a pleasure throughout the year as I am able to see the breadth of professions supported by librarians and library workers. The aspiration this year of concentrating on wellbeing is a perfect fit as it reflects the variety of services offered. Our library staff support students in schools, colleges and universities, while at the same time linking doctors and health professionals with those working in government to research and provide guidance when it comes to academic writing and policy creation. This week is about celebrating the profession as a whole while remembering that these services are delivered all year round and long may it continue to do so.”
Libraries Week is a great opportunity to showcase each individual library throughout Wales and with over 250 libraries across the country in many different shapes and forms, large and small, on wheels or within four walls, there is much to discover.
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