Information on Loughborough

Libraries support Dyslexia Awareness Week

Posted on 28/10/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

28 October 2009

Libraries support Dyslexia Awareness Week

Libraries across Leicestershire are supporting Dyslexia Awareness Week which takes place from November 1st – 7th.

Libraries in Ashby, Birstall, Blaby, Broughton Astley, Fleckney, Hinckley and Wigston will have displays to raise awareness of dyslexia, which affects one in ten people.

Information will also be available on a Library Service webpage where there will be guidance on sources of information and advice on dyslexia, as well as details of books to turn struggling readers into confident ones.  

Libraries also have a range of books to help.

For more information visit www.leics.gov.uk/dyslexiaawareness or one of the libraries listed above.

Note for editors

Dyslexia Awareness Week is organised by the British Dyslexia Association - www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Contact: Val Plant, Development Librarian, 0116 305 3820,  val.plant@leics.gov.uk

Background notes

Libraries across Leicestershire are seeing an increase in visitors as the UK finds itself in a recession. Traditionally, people turn to public libraries during hard economic times - for cheaper entertainment, to help with employment, for free access to computers and to help them save money and be ‘greener’ by borrowing free books rather than buying.

Leicestershire Libraries have seen vast improvements recently as part of the £8 million transformation programme and staff are inviting the public to step into their local library to discover all the up to date services and facilities available for no or little cost.

Visitors will be supported by libraries over the coming months in their health, wellbeing, career prospects, lifestyle and general enjoyment by:

  • · Stepping up to savings and improving finances – a free internet service where all the consumer price comparison and information websites are available, there are free books to borrow and you can have a cheap night in with a DVD that you can keep for a week
  • · Stepping Up to success and improving job prospects – with free newspapers, free internet facilities and a large choice of titles for all sorts of learning and development
  • · Stepping Out - alone or with friends and family to free events
  • · Stepping Into the library’s welcoming surroundings where you can read all the latest best sellers for free and get up to date DVDs and audiobooks.
  • · Stepping Up to a challenge - train your brain with crosswords, Sudoku and general knowledge quizzes.

Details of library developments can be found on www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Details of events can be found on www.leics.gov.uk/events

Facts and figures about Leicestershire Libraries for 2008 – 2009

  • · 55 libraries
  • · 92,378 hours open
  • · 3,853,867 visitors
  • · 6 Mobile libraries
  • · 412 PCs
  • · 22,205 DVDs to rent
  • · 728,628 books to borrow