Christmas is almost here...


If you need some inspiration for your Christmas preparations - look no further. The library is full of fantastic cookery books including Nigella. Love or hate her she has some fantastic recipes for Christmas...

or how about Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall?

We also have lots of Christmas craft books in the adult and Junior libraries so you can get the whole family involved.

Create the perfect Christmas with a little help from us...

The Libraries will close on 

Friday 23rd Dec 12.00pm and re-open on Tues 3rd January.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our customers!

E-Books now available in Torfaen Libraries

Torfaen Libraries are now working in partnership with other South Wales authorities to provide a new free e-Book service.

Visit the new website at  www.torfaen.gov.uk/libraries and  follow the link to eBooks for Wales. You will need to be registered with Torfaen libraries, and have a PIN attached to your record. 

The service offers a wide range of titles, including biographies, travel guides, self-help books, a wide variety of fiction titles and even children’s books, and may be downloaded to selected

e-readers, as well as your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.  You may borrow up to four books for up to three weeks, after which they will disappear from your device.

No overdue fines, browse when the library is closed and choose from thousands of regularly updated titles.

YULE feel better...

If you need a break from your Christmas shopping, why not pop into Cwmbran Library on Thurs 8th Dec between 10.00am and 1.00pm and pick up some great ideas on how to keep healthy.

This will be a great opportunity for a bit of 'you' time.

• Stress tests 
• Blood pressure test 
• Consultations with Headstrong
• Make-overs
• Complementary therapies
• Refreshments 

and much more...

No need to book a place - just pop in.

A partnership between Torfaen Libraries and Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support has a dedicated information area at Cwmbran Library and there are now Macmillan Information Points at Blaenavon and Pontypool Libraries.
 
We provide lots of free information about anything to do with cancer. This includes books, leaflets, CDs and DVDs and some recommended websites. There is also some information to help children who are affected. All this information can be accessed during normal library opening hours.
 
We aim to provide a source of support by helping with all the things people affected by cancer want and need. It’s not only the patient who lives with cancer so this support is also available to the carers, families and friends, (& you don’t need to be a Torfaen resident to use the service)
 
We will support and listen to people affected by cancer by offering confidential one to one sessions to provide:

• Someone to talk to
• Help with finding and understanding cancer-related information
• Benefits awareness
• Sign-posting to other organisations such as self-help support groups
• Guided access of IT resources and internet sites

These sessions are accessed on a drop in basis as follows:
 

Cwmbran Library

Monday  -  9.30am -  4pm
Tuesday  -  9.30am - 12noon
Friday  -  9am - 4pm
 

Blaenavon Library

Tuesday  -  2pm - 4pm
 

Pontypool Library

Thursday  -  9.30am - 4pm
 
(Appointments can be arranged outside of these times)
 
To find out more, or if you want to talk to the co-ordinator, Norah Williams,
you can ask the library staff for further details or call 01633 647654
or email: macmillan.cwmbran@torfaen.gov.uk|
 
Further information is available at http://www.macmillan.org.uk/| or contact 0808 808 00 00
  

Macmillan Co-ordinator
Tel: 01633 647654

 

Libraries' Fortnight

Libraries Fortnight is in full swing in Torfaen libraries.

So far we have had Sara Edwards reading and singing to around 30 under 5s - she was lovely and the kids all joined in with the nursery rhymes.

Daniel Morden delivered an exciting session to school children in Blaenavon Library on Thurs. The children were transfixed and all took out a book with their library cards.








Cwmbran Library had a visit from Phil Carradice on Friday. He read from a few of his short stories and poems to a group of adult literacy students. They all had a go at creative writing at the end and thoroughly enjoyed the session.

On Sat Darran Smith from Funeral for Friend helped a crowd of young people to write a music track using different techniques including beatboxing, mcing and more. It was loud and great fun.

As the fortnight draws to an end I would like to thank all our invited guests for their hard work and for being excellent library champions.

Blogging for the library service

Hi,
I have started this blog for Torfaen Library service. I will be posting weekly blogs to keep everyone in know about what we get up to. If you work in a library then you will already know the vast range of actvities we all offer. It can get a little frustrating when people think of our job as little more than some-one who stamps books and says 'shhhh!'
Instead of moaning about this I intend to talk about all the great things we do. I will fill this blog with the funny, interesting, challenging and unexpected day to day activities that we carry out.
Feel free to leave comments and I will post all those that make good, clean and constructive reading - or make me laugh.
Thanks for calling...
Rosie :)