York libraries say, “We are hosting lots of exciting activities around late May and early June, so why not bring all the family and celebrate the Diamond Jubilee with us. Everyone is welcome to all our celebratory events. To find our what’s happening at your local library see below”.

Acomb Explore

Saturday 2 June 9am – 2pm at Acomb Explore

•Come along and show off your cake decorating skills and enter our competition. There will be prizes for the most creative! We will be judging at 12 noon for the best adult and junior entries. Or if you’re just a beginner, drop by and ice some of our cookies

• Not a baker? Then get creative with the kids and dress up as your favourite or most fearsome King or Queen…there will be a prize for the best dressed at 11.30am

• If you’re more of a cook, pick up one or more of our recipe bookmarks and mark the occasion with a tasty meal

• Are you more of a historian? Come along and find out what Acomb was like in the 1950s and what was happening

• The kids will be entertained all morning with activities and games, and for the brave visitors, a climbing wall

• Whilst the kids are getting messy why not pamper yourself and have your nails done and then relax and enjoy lunch with the family with 10% off all cafe prices

‘A Poem for the Queen’ competition

Ever fancied yourself as a poet? Write a poem for the queen and submit it to any York Library before the end of June for the chance to win a prize and have your work displayed at Explore York.

Jubilee Storytimes

Around the Jubilee, all of our libraries will be hosting special jubilee-themed storytimes for under 5s.

Explore Acomb, 7 June, 10.30am – 11.30am
Bishopthorpe Library, 7 June, 10.30am – 11am
Clifton Library, 29 May, 10.30am – 11am
Copmanthorpe Library, 7 June, 10.30am – 11am
Dunnington Library, 31 May, 2.15pm – 2.45pm
Dringhouses Library, 26 May, 11am – 11.30am
Haxby Library, 6 June, 2.15pm – 2.45pm
Huntington Library, 29 May, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Fulford Library, 29 May, 2.30pm – 3pm
Explore New Earswick, 1 June, 2.30pm – 3pm
Poppleton Library, 8 June, 2.30 – 3pm
Strensall Library, 1 June, 3.30pm – 4pm
Tang Hall Library, 2 June, 10.30am – 11am
Explore York, 8 June, 10.30am – 11.30am

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Explore York Library Learning Centre are inviting ‘bumps, babies, children under five and their teddies’ to attend a special event on Wednesday 13 June between 10am and 3.30pm.

The city centre Explore Centre has a day planned full of events to celebrate being a child in York, with adults being invited along to share the adventure.

Workshops and taster sessions are happening throughout the day including:

• Baby signing
• Pamper yourself
• How to tell Stories and Share Books Together
• Maternity Reflexology and Indian Head Massage

Story and rhyme sessions will be taking place at 10.30am, 11.15am and 1.30pm with all participants being given a free book to take home and enjoy together. An unborn baby of 2- weeks can hear and enjoys the sound of books being read to them.

Children can also enjoy a teddy bears picnic, use the soft play equipment and take part in the teddy trail.

Come and find out more about Children’s Centres, Family Information, NCT, The Toy Bus, Family Learning and much more.

Free tickets and information about the sessions are available at Explore York Library at www.york.gov.uk/libraries

With the long bank holiday weekend approaching, North Yorkshire Police is urging bikers using the county’s roads to ride safely and responsibly.

Hundreds of motorcyclists are expected to visit North Yorkshire over the extended bank holiday, to take advantage of the scenic routes on offer and while they are welcome it is important that the laws of the road are respected.

In the past six years, 79 bikers have been killed in North Yorkshire and the City of York with a further 622 seriously injured, and officers are keen to avoid any further tragedies. (more…)