We're looking for some Summer Reading Challenge volunteers to help us with some Mischief Makers over the summer holidays. If you're aged 13-25 we'd love to hear from you. See more details on the Summer Reading Challenge web page.
Upcoming Events:
REMINISCENT
6 June - 6 July 2018
We hope you'll visit Central Library to see this inspiring exhibition by artist Maliheh Zafarnezhad on the first floor.
Maliheh explains that 'as an Iranian woman artist now living in the diaspora, Inspirations in my artworks usually emerge out of my multi-national identity, mixed culture, immigration experiences and memories from Iran.'
We're trialling Children's Hours at Stony Stratford Library on the following Thursdays:
28 June 2018
12 July 2018
Sessions offer staff led stories, songs and crafts along with educational toys. The library is closed to the public during these sessions and is used exclusively for families attending the Children's Hour.
Sessions cost £2 per child on the door and no advance tickets are required.
June 2018 is Bike Month and every Saturday in June Get Cycling MK are offering guided bike rides on five new cultural trails. All rides are at a leisurely pace with plenty of time to stop en route to take in the view, visit a cultural destination or park up for a picnic!
Starting locations vary each week and you can view the schedule on the Get Cycling MK website. Each ride starts at 10am and expect to return around 1 or 2pm and covers around 10 miles.
If you'd like to explore Milton Keynes on your own, then why not download the Redways Map (PDF, 6.7MB).
STORYLINES by Phil Smith
24 literary walking adventures around Milton Keynes
Storylines was part of the Digitalis project which helped to celebrate Milton Keynes' 50th Birthday.
Phil Smith, The Mythographer, set out to explore Milton Keynes and write a series of guides which weave a library book into the geography, signage and history of our amazing city.
Books on sale for only £2.
(Keep your eyes open for this display as it moves around the libraries.)
WOMEN WHO MADE MILTON KEYNES
April - September 2018
Visit the community libraries across Milton Keynes to see the Fawcett Society's Snapshot Exhibitions about the 10 pioneering women who helped to shape Milton Keynes.
June - Newport Pagnell Library
July - Woburn Sands Library
August - Kingston Library
September - Olney Library
The full exhibition 'Women Who Made MK' will also be hosted at Central Library in September 2018.
BONSAI and IKEBANA SHOW
Saturday, 30 June 2018 10am-3pm
Free entry to the Milton Keynes Bonsai and Ikebana Show being held in the Event Space at Central Library - with a collaborative display of trees, flowers and much more.
Come along for advice on Bonsai care alongside an Ikebana and Bonsai demonstration.
Children's Hours offer staff led stories, songs and crafts along with educational toys. The libraries are closed to the public during these sessions and are used exclusively for families attending the Children's Hour.
Sessions cost £2 per child on the door and no advance tickets are required.
Join us for drinks, nibbles and crafts on the following Wednesdays between 7-9pm (late arrivals are welcome):
27 June
25 July
26 September
31 October
28 November
Bring your own craft project and/or enjoy the planned group activity.
Reserve your place at Olney Library - there's a £5 charge to be paid on the evening.
These evenings are brought to you by the Friends of the Library in Olney (FoLiO) and all profits will be donated to FoLiO's Craft Clubs and activities.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASSES at Central Library
Alternate Thursdays ~ 10.30am - 12noon
English conversation classes are for anyone who would like to practise and improve their English as a second language, gain better skills for study or employment, or just get on in everyday life.
Everyone is welcome to join us on the day and you don't need to register, but you can register your interest by phoning 01908 254050 or speaking to library staff.
28 June
12 July
26 July
9 August
23 August
6 September
20 September
4 October
18 October
1 November
15 November
Please note that the classes are led by library volunteers and are not part of any ESOL curriculum.
Join us for this free club at Woburn Sands Library. It's open to everyone regardless of your chess playing abilities - we can even throw in some tuition if you'd like!
ACTIVITY HATCH SESSIONS at Woburn Sands Library
Saturdays 10am-12noon
Self-service play activities for children of all ages encouraging youngsters to visit and enjoy the library. There will be Duplo, toys, drawing and colouring, books, HappyLand, cutting and sticking ... fun in all shapes and sizes!
Everyone is welcome to join us.
Please note that parents/carers must remain with their children during this activity.
(Sessions are free to attend but voluntary donations are welcome)
COMPUTER HELP SESSIONS IT Buddies are waiting to help you
If you'd like a little guidance about about using computers, the internet, your iPad, tablet or phone, setting up emails or have any computer related questions you'd like answered, we have amazing volunteers called IT BUDDIES ready to help you.
We have drop-in sessions at:
Woburn Sands Library on Saturdays 10am-1pm
Bletchley Library on Tuesdays and Fridays 11am-1pm
HOOKED ON BOOKS CLUB
11.30am - 12.30pm at Olney Library
If you are between 7-11 years old and love books this is the club for you! Lydia regularly visits Olney Library and has started this free monthly club with all kinds of book related fun with a different theme each month.
* Games and Puzzles * Reading and Reporting * Colouring and Crafts * Investigations * Character Dress-up * Sketching * ... and lots more!
BRING YOUR OWN BOOK!
Monthly Book Chat Group at Newport Pagnell Library
Do you have a book that you would love to share with others? The Book Chat Group meets once a month on a Monday evening at 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome - just come along on the night and bring your favourite book! The next meeting dates are:
6 August 2018
3 September 2018
1 October 2018
5 November 2018
3 December 2018
(Note: there is no meeting in July)
For more information, please contact Newport Pagnell Library on 01908 610933. The library closes at 5pm and group members meet at the Riverside door at 5.30pm for entry.
Expert John Hanson is offering free 30 minute consultations to help you with research into your Family History. Sessions are held on Thursdays between 4.15-7.30pm and need to be booked in advance by phoning 01908 254051 or emailing the Family History department at Central Library.
28 June 2018
19 July 2018
20 September 2018
We're also holding sessions at Newport Pagnell Library 11am-3pm on:
FoLiO (Friends of the Library in Olney) support Olney Library with many activities and have lined up an amazing programme of talks for 2018. Download your copy of the events (PDF, 101KB) and save the dates.
THE DONKEY SANCTUARY AT SIDMOUTH Thursday, 5 July 2018 ~ 7.30pm
Maggie Taylor visits Olney to talk about The Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth - another FoLiO event that really shouldn't be missed! Join us at The Olney Centre and Library.
The Friends of Stony Stratford Library bring a variety of activities and events to Stony Stratford Library. Watch this space for the latest updates. More details to follow for future events - save the dates!
HEARTS AND MINDS: The Untold Story of the Great Pilgrimage and How Women Won the Vote
Wednesday, 18 July 2018 ~ 7pm
Author Jane Robinson released her book under the same name as this talk earlier this year. Like the book, her talk will describe the fever over women's suffrage that had built up in Britain by 1913. In the summer of that year great numbers of women marched on London from all corners of the country in what became known as the 'Great Pilgrimage'.
Using diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs, Jane will tell a story of ordinary people who helped effect extraordinary change and whose lives, in turn, were permanently transformed by their participation in the campaign.
Tickets for this talk can be booked at Stony Stratford Library from 27 June.
Upcoming talks:
Wednesday, 5 September 2018 7pm - Talk by Catherine Tackley: 'The Impact of Jazz in Britain'.
MILTON KEYNES PEOPLE'S STORIES
6-26 June 2018 at Central Library
Visit the Event Space at Central Library to see this insightful exhibition by Living Archive.
The exhibition shares the stories of original residents, early pioneers, and the people who have come from all over the world to make Milton Keynes their home. Showcased in films and photographs spanning the last 50 years.
ULTIMATE EIGHTIES - Milton Keynes Bands of the 1980s
April 2018 at Central Library
Visit the Discover MK Showcase on the first floor at Central Library during April and you're sure to find something (or someone) to jog your memory and take you back to your favourite 80s band.
This exhibition features just a small sample of bands from the era and Living Archive are always looking for more memorabilia.
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