News from Libraries Unlimited

As many of you will know, we celebrated our first year as an independent charity and social enterprise at the end of April. It's been an eventful year and we have achieved a lot, including opening new libraries in Bampton and Ottery St Mary, securing external funding and launching new projects and services.

We look forward to another successful year and working with you all on lots of exciting projects.

Libraries Unlimited AGM - Save the date!

We are pleased to announce that our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Monday 30th October. Full details of the event will follow, but please do save the date – we would very much like to see you there.

In order to vote at the AGM, you need to be the named representative, or be nominated by the named representative of your Friends Group. Please email Frances Tout with details of your named representative (including contact details) by the end of July.

Friends Group Regional Meetings

Our next Friends Group regional meetings will be in September. These are a great opportunity for Friends Groups to meet up and share information, tips and ideas.

We’re finalising the agenda and will be sharing it with you nearer the time.

There are places for up to two representatives from each Friends Group to attend, to book your place please email Frances with the venue/date you wish to attend and names of your representatives.

• • Tuesday 26th September, 2-4pm , Henry Williamson Room, Barnstaple Library

  • Wednesday 27th September, 10am-12pm, Room 2, The Hayridge, Cullompton

  • Friday 29th September, 10am-12pm, Room F3, Passmore Edwards Centre, Newton Abbot

How you can get involved over the coming year

2017 Summer Reading Challenge

Animal Agents, the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge, will launch in Devon Libraries on Saturday 15th July. Children can sign up at their local library and receive an Animal Agents collector folder. They are encouraged to borrow and read at least six library books during the summer, collecting rewards along the way.

Organised by The Reading Agency and libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest annual reading promotion for children aged 4 to 11. Last year in Devon, 12,000 children took part and we hope to get even more involved this year.

Friends Groups made a significant contribution to the success of the Challenge last year by funding events, gifting prizes or extra incentives, providing volunteers to help register children and run events and helping to promote the Challenge in the community.

We hope that you will continue to contribute to this year's Challenge. Please talk to your library staff about how your group might help.

Royal Shakespeare Company Live Stream

We are in early dialogue with the Royal Shakespeare Company about a project to simultaneously screen one of their productions into a number of our libraries, bringing top quality theatre to communities that might not otherwise have the chance to experience it.

We're being ambitious - can we screen it at all 50 public libraries in Devon and the 3 prison libraries too?! The event would take place some time before Christmas. There will be potentially complex technical requirements to work through as well as the usual logistical aspects of running quality events, so we really hope our Friends across the county will be able to lend their support. We will be in touch when we know more.

News from you

Dates for your diary

• Summer Reading Challenge: 15^th July - 9^th September

• Regional Friends Group Meetings: 26^th, 27^th and 29^th September

• Active Life Active Mind: Events throughout October

• Fun Palaces: 7/8^th October

• National Libraries Week: 9^th-14^th October

• Libraries Unlimited AGM event: 30^th October (evening)