What’s on in York: You Couldn’t Make it Up

York Explore Library : Thu 8 Sep :
6.00pm – 7.00pm :
£5 (£4 with a York Card)

A conversation between Antonia Hodgson and Tom Harper. Antonia and Tom will be talking about how they turn criminal fact into criminal fiction from both a historical and modern day perspective.

Sept 8_Antonia +Hodson +21Antonia Hodgson is the author of three historical crime novels set in Georgian England featuring Thomas Hawkins. Her latest novel in the series, set at one of Britain’s first World Heritage sites, A Death at Fountains Abbey is historical crime writing of the highest level: gripping, atmospheric, witty and exciting.

Sept 8_Tom HarperYork resident Tom Harper has written twelve crime thrillers, both historical and contemporary. His latest novel, Black River, features an expedition to find a lost city buried deep in the Amazonian jungle which soon starts to go horribly wrong. Tom Harper writes truly ripping yarns. The kind of high-octane entertainment that keeps you turning the pages

What’s on in York: Knitted Dolls Stories

York Explore Library : Sun 4 Sep : 2.00pm – 3.00pm : Free

Knitted Doll StoriesCome along to our fantastic fun-filled session of stories and crafts with children’s author, Bat Oren. Meet the Knitted Dolls, hear their stories and get creative with crafts.

This is a FREE session, but booking is advised as places are limited. This event is suitable for 5+ years.

For more information or to book a place please contact York Explore Library on (01904) 552828 or york@exploreyork.org.uk.

What’s on in York: Big City Read 2016 launched today

Programme launch and event booking from 1st September

Big City Read 2016 LogoEvents from 5 October to 1 December

In July 1917, Siegfried Sassoon wrote an open letter to the Times protesting about the conduct of the war. What happened next is the subject of Pat Barker’s book Regeneration which will be our Big City Read for this year.

York Libraries are giving away 5,000 free copies of Regeneration over October and November and asking readers to immerse themselves in the world of 100 years ago.

click for summary

click for summary

“We have put together a fantastic programme of events, together with our partners in the city, which offers something for everyone.

We are delighted to be welcoming Pat Barker to both launch and conclude the Big City Read at York Explore.

You can download the programme here Big City Read 2016 Events, and find details of Big City Read events in our What’s On listing. Copies of the programme will be available from 6 September at all York Libraries and other outlets in York.

You can collect your free copy of Regeneration from any Explore Library from 6 October while stocks last.

Events can be booked from 1 September either in person at any library in York or by phone, (01904) 552828 or (01904) 552651.

We advise booking in advance for all of our events, if applicable, to make sure of a place.

Read, Enjoy, Discuss, Share”

Lowfields campaigners attending Local Plan meeting at Acomb Library tomorrow (Thursday)

Residents, dismayed by the York Council’s plan to build on the sports field at the old Lowfields school site, are planning to register their objections at a Local Plan meeting tomorrow (Thursday).

The meeting is described as a “drop in” and takes place at the Acomb Explore Library. The Library is open between 9:00am – 9.30pm

The Local Plan has been changed to allocate 13 acres of land at the site for the development of up to 137 homes.  Previous plans had restricted any development to the  built footprint of the former school itself (6.5 acres).

In a recent survey residents indicted that they wanted more of the public green space in the area conserved with the retention of a sports pitch and the provision of a nature reserve popular suggestions.

Some residents have already recorded their objections to the Councils plan to overdevelop the Lowfields site.

Go online: www.york.gov.uk/localplan to complete the survey and to find a full copy of the Local Plan Preferred Sites document

York Council views on Lowfields development. Click to view whole reprt

York Council views on Lowfields development. Click to view whole report

Acomb Explore Library popular with residents

Library is brilliant

The library and all the staff are really excellent & informative, very pleasant

Libary results at 15th Aug 2016A door to door survey in the York Road area has found that residents rate the Acomb Explore Library very highly.

35% of respondents  say that they have visited the Library at least once over the last year.

Most have gone to borrow books, but the cafe, children’s area & internet access also attracted a large number of users.

Asked what would prompt residents to visit the library more frequently, respondents said that the opening of a police incident reporting desk and a regular Councillors surgery were both worth considering.

Library staff also attracted a number of complimentary responses (above).

There were 101,000 visits to Acomb Explore Library last year.
Since April 2016 the Library has attracted 36,000 visitors.

The survey was undertaken by the Westfield Ward Councillors team dover the last 6 weeks.