Books and beyond! - Blackpool celebrates Green Libraries Week

Green Libraries Week is a national celebration of libraries, with a focus on climate and sustainability.

From 7 to 12 October, Blackpool libraries are hosting a range of fun and free activities throughout the week, which aim to raise awareness of climate issues and promote eco-conscious living.

Here's what's on in Blackpool this Green Libraries Week:

Kitchen Scraps Workshop - Library@thegrange, Monday 7 October 9.30am to 10.30am

Learn how to regrow produce on your windowsill, and craft your own upcycled plant pot to begin your windowsill garden.

Cosy Craft Session - Anchorsholme Library, Monday 7 October 1.00pm to 2.00pm

Make your own draft excluder out of recycled materials, to use at home. To book call 01253 853588 or email [email protected]

Green Doctor Consultations - Anchorsholme Library, Monday 7 October 1.00pm to 4.00pm

A Groundwork Green Doctor will be available for drop-in consultations, to answer your questions and provide advice on home energy usage.

Tidy Tots - Layton Library, Wednesday 9 October, 10.30am to 11.00am

Listen as Pirate Zoe recites a climate pirate poem, do an ocean creatures craft, and play at cleaning up some rock pools (suitable for under 5s).

Laundry Clinic - Langdale Library and Laundry Room, Wednesday 9 October 1.00pm to 2.30pm

Learn tips and tricks for how to save money and reduce wear-and-tear on your clothes, while helping the planet.

Eco VR Experience - Palatine Library, Thursday 10 October 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Enjoy an environmental-themed virtual reality experience. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required.

Meal Planner Journal Workshop - Central Library, Friday 11 October 10.00am to 11.00am

Create a notebook to help you stay on top of almost out-of-date kitchen ingredients and plan your weekly meals.

Potted Plants for Pollinators - Revoe Library, Friday 11 October 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Plant native flower bulbs to attract pollinators including bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and beetles to your garden, month after month.

Reducing Plastic Workshop - Moor Park Library, Saturday 12 October 10.30am to 11.30am

Learn about the different ways you can reduce how much plastic you use.

Green Libraries Week is also a celebration of libraries and the value they bring to communities. There are eight libraries in Blackpool and the council is committed to keeping them all open and serving Blackpool residents for years to come.

Anyone can join a library for free. With a library card, books, eBooks and eAudiobooks can be borrowed for free. There's also free ICT and internet access in library branches.

Libraries serve as a community space where a wide range of events and activities take place. Last year, Blackpool Council received a grant from the government's Know Your Neighbourhood fund to help tackle loneliness and social isolation. The grant has lead to the establishment of an art club at Revoe Library, a journaling group at Library@thegrange, and creative workshops at Revoe Library, Langdale Library and Laundry Room, and Library@thegrange.

The library service has also embarked on a series of groundbreaking events exploring augmented and virtual reality. This kicked off in Summer 2022 with Storytrails, a unique immersive storytelling experience, and has grown ever since. On Friday 25 October from 2.00pm to 4.30pm, Central Library will be hosting 'Explore Tech, Expand Worlds', a workshop where young people aged 13 to 17 can create their own games using the Unreal game engine. (Booking is essential. Email [email protected] to book).

Cllr Jo Farrell, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, said:

"Green Libraries Week is an opportunity to celebrate our libraries and the vital work they do in our community. With the Eco-Hub based in Palatine Library, and the free activities during Green Libraries Week, it's great to see our libraries playing such a key role in creating a more sustainable future for Blackpool. Libraries ignite curiosity and are hubs of knowledge. They provide a safe space for reading and learning and deliver a range of free activities - from baby bounce and rhyme and storytime, to adult learning courses, ICT help, craft groups and more. Libraries are a lifeline for many residents. We are committed to investing in our libraries so they can continue to be a place of reading, learning and community for many years to come".

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