Information on Loughborough

Top gardener brings spring to life at Braunstone Town Library

Posted on 11/03/2010

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

11 March 2010

Top gardener brings spring to life at Braunstone Town Library

Braunstone Town library is featuring a talk by author Andrew Mikolajski (Lecturer at Warwickshire College) on the subject of growing fruit in containers.

The event will be held on Monday, 22nd March from 6pm-7pm. Tickets cost £2 and are available from the library. To reserve a place call 0116 3055900.

The talk is part of a “Spring to Life” promotion which is seeing top gardeners Nick Hamilton (Barnsdale Gardens), Derek Cox (from Radio Leicester’s “Down to Earth”), Graham Pavey and Andrew Mikolajski  visit Leicestershire Libraries this month to celebrate the end of winter and the advent of spring.

All are well known names around the East Midlands, and they will be bringing their expertise to various libraries during the month.

Places may be limited, so early booking is recommended.

David Sprason, Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities, said: “This is an excellent programme of events and is sure to be of interest to many people across the county”

Development librarian John Martin said : “The events will encourage people to get out into their gardens, and put the winter weather behind them. “

For those unable to attend an event, Leicestershire Libraries can still help;

All libraries have a good selection of gardening books for people to borrow. More information can be found at: www.leics.gov.uk/focusongardening – so there is no excuse for anything other than green fingers!  

For further information please contact Development Librarian John Martin (john.martin@leics.gov.uk or 0116 305 3813)

Background notes

Libraries across Leicestershire are continuing to see an increase in visitors as the UK finds itself recovering from a recession. Traditionally, people turn to public libraries for cheaper entertainment, information about finding employment, free access to computers and the internet, help with saving money and being ‘greener’ by borrowing free books rather than buying.

Leicestershire libraries have seen vast improvements recently, as part of an £8 million refurbishment programme.

Self service machines are now being introduced at major libraries across the county and will allow people to borrow and return books, CDs, DVDs quickly and easily, contributing to a much more effective and improved customer service.

A new mobile library has also been introduced. The mobile service enables residents in rural areas with no static library to access the service from their community.

It’s free to join libraries around Leicestershire. The service:

  • offers free book loans
  • enables you to research free information
  • offers free use of computers
  • offers free use of the Internet via Broadband
  • offers music and films available for hire from as little as £1 per week

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

Details of events can be found at www.leics.co.uk/events

Facts & figures about Leicestershire libraries in 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

Keep up to date with what’s happening in your library:

www.twitter.com/LeicsLibraries

www.facebook.com/YourLibrary

http://leicestershirebooks.wordpress.com