blended approach of in person and online looks to be the way forward for the future of lending materials within our library service. After hours events, such as book launches were suspended again on November 17 due to the high transmission rates of the virus nationwide and no events were held in December. However, a variety of exhibitions, outreach and other initiatives continued across all 10 libraries. Irish Sign Language Day was celebrated in December with an online performance of carols by the Cork Deaf Choir as well as a recording of the story Eugene Eyebrow by Breda Hassett which got a special mention in the LGiU Newsletter. A flash fiction competition entitled A Cork Christmas attracted many entries recounting stories from The Lord Mayor’s Concert, the turkeys in the English Market, memories of Woolworths, untangling Christmas tree lights to riding the Ferris Wheel. The winners received Waterstones vouchers. Blackpool Library celebrated Christmas in December 2021, with a unique exhibition: Christmas Memories , commissioned by the library in conjunction with Cork Folklore Project, consisting of large-size storyboards recounted seasonal recollections of nine local people. Blackpool Library and the Cork North Community Work Department of the HSE held an intergenerational Board Making Workshop at the library. A moment to share, and a memory to make for Grandparents and Grandchildren from the area, the workshop was facilitated by a craft artist on both mornings; board games were taken home with relish to be enjoyed together over the holidays! The library also took part in the Blackpool Christmas Market at Blackpool Plaza, along with Cork City Partnership, Cork City Council, The Foyer, Graffiti Theatre Company, The HSE, Blackpool Men’s Shed and other community partners. Library staff distributed just under 100 Red Reading Nest bags to visitors to the market, together with Play Packs from Let’s Play Cork, and library card wallets. December saw the wrap up of our Cuddle and Read Initiative, an early intervention Literacy Programme in National Schools for junior and senior infants. This year the programme was expanded to three National Schools in our area. Hollyhill Library held a small Christmas Carol Concert outdoors on the library plaza, this was a Music Generation Cork, Creative Tradition and Scoil Iosagán collaboration. Children from Scoil Iosagán sang Christmas Carols on the plaza which was enjoyed by the passing crowd. The library also held Trad in the Library while you browse. The live music sessions, provided by talented tutors from Creative Tradition was part of a series of sessions that took place lunchtime from 1- 2pm, from Nov 19 th to Dec 17 th . Cork City Libraries hosted the Arts for All Winter Platform entitled “Talk, tass, tour and taster”. U nfortunately, due to Covid and Storm Barra, some of the events were cancelled but the Growing Imaginations Book in a Bag event went ahead. The event was documented on film and the video, and when ready, will feature on the Arts for All website. Cork City Libraries in collaboration with local primary and secondary schools continued its Digital Device Loan initiative. In December Hollyhill Library with the marvellous assistance of schoolteachers in local schools loaned 10 more laptops to families in the area, which can be kept by the families for 12 months. December 2021 saw the last of the Community walks leave from Hollyhill Library. The Community Walk, a HSE and Cork Sports Partnership initiative left from Hollyhill Library Fridays at noon, and anyone could join in. We look forward to hosting this initiative again in the new year. Children’s services across the 10 libraries launched the Touch -type Read and Spell Licences which were distributed to interested schools around Cork City at the beginning of December. We have purchased 1050 licences for three years and they are distributed to students through schools as well as a certain number of licences which are to be distributed to adult learners. The Touch Type, Read and Spell course is a typing course that teaches keyboarding, develops reading and spelling skills, builds confidence, and motivates learners to succeed. The licences essentially allow an individual to sit on the course which has 24 course levels, each with 31 short modules. TTRS is designed to help Students who experience spelling, reading, or writing difficulties and adults who want to learn typing and/or require help with their literacy skills.
7
Powered by FlippingBook