tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39988219195691606852024-03-12T23:36:19.896+00:00Discover more...The official blog of Swansea public libraries, and the UK's longest running public library blog.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-62959301864912124292012-04-02T13:19:00.000+01:002012-04-02T13:19:42.169+01:00Hello again!<div>
Well hello there! </div>
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Since Facebook pages has moved over to the Timeline format we decided that it would be a great time to re-launch our blog! Please bear with us over the next few weeks as we iron out any wrinkles.<br />
2012 has already been a very busy year, Penlan library re-opened after a refurb and the 'New Year New You' activites went down a storm. We've got the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games coming up, not to mention the Children's Summer Reading Challenge and our Autumn programme of special events! <br />
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There's plenty to be looking forward to over the next 12 months in Swansea Libraries so we'll be sure to keep you posted, as well as keeping you up to date with all sorts of other weird and wonderful things!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-43725910505979277432012-02-01T14:10:00.003+00:002012-02-01T14:17:09.519+00:00Coming soon!After a hiatus Swansea Libraries blog will be back with regular posts in Spring 2012. See you then!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-34384978609952090462011-09-26T15:38:00.002+01:002011-09-26T15:42:06.779+01:00Paige Turner has left the buildingAfter almost 5 years of loyal and secretive service, Paige has finally hung up her quill and passed the blogging mantle on to some of the up and coming youngsters of the library service.<br /><br />The blog will continue at the same address, and will be <em>the</em> place to catch up on all the goings on at Swansea Libraries (well - here and on Facebook and Twitter!).<br /><br />There will even be the odd guest post from Paige herself (incognito of course).<br /><br />Happy reading.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-36949581586131341772011-05-17T12:04:00.002+01:002011-05-17T12:06:43.886+01:00Two facedThe well established Swansea Central Library facebook page has been joined by a sibling <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Swansea-Libraries/215612135117953">Swansea Libraries </a>- where you can find out information about all the wonderful libraries in Swansea.<br /><br />woo-hooSwansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-29697373005117173342011-05-17T12:02:00.002+01:002011-05-17T12:04:12.478+01:00I heart twitterI was a slow burn (me?!), but I love how I can use it to talk about important cultural events with other interested professionals <em>as they unfold</em>.<br /><br />Really though, Estonia?Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-22591321412242244662011-05-17T11:56:00.003+01:002011-05-17T12:02:26.356+01:00Cilip of the tongueThere are many mixed feelings about CILIP (The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) in the realm of librarians and people who care about libraries, especially now when libraries across the country are under threat of closure.<br /><br />However, I must pause to praise the recent CILIP Wales conference, held last week at the fabulous Metropole in Llandrindod Wells. I didn't go (some say I was banned..) but I did follow proceedings on Twitter and the conference was briefly trending at 4th in the UK - not bad for a bunch of Welsh librarians.<br /><br />#cilipw11 for tweets from the conference.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-40899354253555327812011-05-17T11:13:00.001+01:002011-05-17T11:14:29.167+01:00I can haz weblogOMG - I'm unblocked, I'm unblocked!! Posting to be resumed once I have finished cartwheeling down the corridor.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-22605608303063317142010-09-06T12:26:00.003+01:002010-09-06T12:30:02.261+01:00Keep on RunningSo well, I was please to receive an email last week from "the powers that be", informing my erstwhile colleagues and I that the Paige Turner blog has been identified as the longest running UK public library blog. How cool is that?<br /><br />Of course, I couldn't let my identity slip, so I joined in with the laments - "if only we knew who the mysterious Paige was - we could let her know <sigh>"<br /><br />Anyway - this is 100% true, a real librarian has said so, <a href="http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue64/hammond/#40">in print and everything</a>.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-75366277788932986202010-08-07T13:10:00.002+01:002011-10-07T15:15:27.952+01:00ArchaeologyGosh, I read <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/07/rereading-love-dole-walter-greenwood?CMP=twt_iph">this</a> years ago. Brilliant article, perhaps I'd better go digging for my old copy.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-86748360664995964992010-07-18T17:37:00.000+01:002010-07-27T20:01:46.189+01:00Reading...Masses at the moment, including <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Eagle-Score-Parker-Novel/dp/0226771083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280257143&sr=1-1">this</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Ice-Score-Parker-Novels/dp/0226771091/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280257179&sr=1-2">this</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sour-Lemon-Score-Parker-Novel/dp/0226771105/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280257179&sr=1-4">this</a> from Richard Stark's awesome Parker series - reissued in new versions by Chicago University Press. Parker novels are my comfort reads at the moment. The Noirest of the noir... without Stark there would be no Tarantino - fact.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-81938282610874232342010-07-12T11:18:00.000+01:002010-07-27T19:57:13.774+01:00The first cut is the deepestOr is it? The sword of Damocles is hanging over the heads of all public services at the moment, and we genuinely don't know how we will be affected. What we do know is that in times of hardship, recession, unemployment and squeezed public services - the public library is more important and relevant than ever. I hope that the opportunities that libraries bring into people's lives are recognised, valued and spared as much as possible.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-47388431096986501672010-07-02T15:46:00.000+01:002010-07-27T19:49:28.134+01:00Reading...<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Child-Julie-Myerson/dp/0747591903/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280256482&sr=8-5">The Lost Child </a>by Julie Myerson. This has been on my bookshelves for about a year but somehow, even though I wanted to read it, I was sure I'd hate it. I didn't.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-91812802577828294462010-06-23T12:02:00.000+01:002010-07-27T20:07:38.295+01:00Reading...<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=grow+up+herring&ih=3_2_3_2_1_1_1_0_0_3.62_47&fsc=-1">How not to grow up </a>by Richard Herring. This book is awful. I loathe it, and I now loathe him, which is a shame as I got much comedy mileage out of recreating Fist of Fun scenes down the pub as a young 'un. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwEVzOegqzw">Weak Lemon Drink anyone</a>? Answer Me!!!!<br /><br />I shall continue to worship at the altar of the <a href="http://www.stewartlee.co.uk/">Stewart Lee </a>and leave the Herring alone.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-80502129031875978022010-06-03T14:35:00.002+01:002010-06-03T14:41:59.736+01:00I'm not a trend bucker...Well, actually, by association I am!! <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/10223424.stm">This article </a>shows Welsh Libraries well and truly bucking the trend of declining and stagnant public library usage seen in other parts of the UK.<br /><br />Leading from the front (as ever) are Swansea's libraries, with Swansea central Library coming in as the busiest library in Wales and more pleasingly, the 10th busiest in the UK, despite a fairly modest population.<br /><br />Well done Welsh Libraries - we have proven that the public want and will use good libraries and this is a reflection on the hard work and investment that have gone in over the past few years.<br /><br />We can only hope that the sucess of this service is in some way recognised by those wielding the budgetary axe in the months to come.<br /><br />fingers crossed.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-40290659359873205942010-05-26T14:31:00.002+01:002010-05-26T14:33:52.747+01:00Reading...<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-History-Donna-Tartt/dp/0140167773/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274880735&sr=8-1">The Secret History by Donna Tartt</a><br /><br />I remember this coming out,and later being a mainstay of "one hit wonder" displays (that was before The Little Friend). Never inclined to read it until now, maybe I'm entering my "once a decade" fiction phase...Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-19678583338728235182010-05-26T14:26:00.002+01:002010-05-26T14:29:00.788+01:00...BONG<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8668000/8668267.stm">Panorama </a>had an equally doom laden premonition but the programme did at least send out the message "mess with libraries at your peril"Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-45058356909691690602010-05-26T14:24:00.001+01:002010-05-26T14:26:46.169+01:00BONG.<a href="http://www.thebookseller.com/news/119135-rough-ride-predicted-for-libraries-after-spending-cuts.html">The Bookseller's take </a>on tough times ahead...Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-8752636445742273332010-04-29T13:36:00.003+01:002010-04-29T13:59:28.581+01:00Have you heard...You can now <a href="http://staffnet/index.cfm?articleid=36518">download audio books </a>from the comfort of your own home - how cool is that? Don't ask me about the detail though because although I attended a presentation about it I was rather distracted by the charming <a href="http://www.gordongriffin.com/">Gordon Griffin </a>and didn't pay as much attention as I should have. <blush><br /><br />I can certainly recommend getting hold of<a href="http://www.gordongriffin.com/audiobooks.php"> some of Gordon's narrations </a>as he is truly fabulous!Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-15602808132672377352010-04-29T13:35:00.000+01:002010-04-29T13:36:39.006+01:00Love in the Library...Looking for love, or just a good night out?<br /><br />Why not try your hand at <a href="http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=36472">a spot of speed dating </a>at the lovely Killay Library?Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-7475281451792381102010-04-29T13:33:00.001+01:002010-04-29T13:34:59.022+01:00Reading....<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-David-Sedaris/dp/0349119775/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272544469&sr=8-1">Naked by David Sedaris</a>Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-25815673742334286282010-03-17T16:25:00.002+00:002010-03-17T16:33:33.635+00:00I read the news today, oh boy<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8570456.stm">"Did you see Newsnight?" Did you see Newsnight?" "Did you see Newsnight?"</a><br /><br /><br />Are public libraries as anachronistic as Victorian bath houses?<br /><br />I'm throwing <a href="http://www.8ball.co.uk/PoliticalT-shirts/Politicaltshirt-JeremyPaxman.html">this</a> awaySwansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-57800872936214572462010-02-09T15:51:00.002+00:002010-02-09T15:57:30.343+00:00Safe surfing<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/02/government_advice_browse_safel.html">Interesting article </a>on the BBC website about internet safety for children. It's a difficult issue for parents, teachers and libraries to address and it's one that causes a fair number of complaints from library users.<br /><br />What is acceptable filtering for one individual is crippling censorship for another, while one person's idea of acceptable material for a child to view is inappropriate to another.<br /><br />Still - while I by and large think that CEOP is "a good thing", there is no substitute for vigilant and engaged adults helping children thought the internet maze.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2299">More here</a> and <a href="http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2298">here</a>Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-81000765234923801252010-01-29T12:55:00.002+00:002010-01-29T12:57:31.905+00:00Reading...<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jugger-Parker-Novels-R-Stark/dp/0226771024/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264769760&sr=8-2">The Jugger by Richard Stark</a>, part of his fantastic, genre defining Parker novels.<br /><br />I hate telling people what to read but really - you should.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-19282418372888490302010-01-18T10:55:00.001+00:002010-01-18T10:57:35.055+00:00Reading...<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hell-All-Charlie-Brooker/dp/0571229573/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263812162&sr=8-1">The hell of it all by Charlie Brooker</a><br /><br />Brooker for PM.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998821919569160685.post-47172279560541403722010-01-14T11:59:00.003+00:002010-01-14T12:16:11.298+00:00Reading...<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/do-List-Mike-Gayle/dp/0340936746/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263471348&sr=1-1">The To-Do List by Mike Gayle</a>. I've never read any of his 30's lad-lit and probably won't, but I did enjoy this non-fiction which recounts his attempts to feel like a real grown up by tackling a to-do list of epic proportions filled with the sorts of things many 30-something parents would probably be familiar with.Swansea Librarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285806207043486922noreply@blogger.com1