Hello from us all at Chelsea Library! This is our third blog post and this time we wanted to tell you more about a couple of the regular events that happen here every month.
Chatterbooks at Chelsea Library
Chatterbooks are reading groups for children aged eight to twelve years old – there’s more information on our Chatterbooks page on our website.
On Saturday 9 February the Chelsea Chatterbooks group celebrated Chinese New Year. The children could look at, play with and borrow all the books we collected for the occasion from around the libraries in the borough: Chinese martial arts, the Terracotta Army, Calligraphy, ancient emperors, Chinese cookery… it’s amazing how many fantastic things come from China!
We had New Year Chinese music in the background and lucky red decorations all around the library. We found out what Chinese horoscope sign we all were: we had Monkeys, Pigs and a Rat! What a party!
The kids also did some crafts and answered a quiz about China. The best entry will win a free book – he winner will be announced at our next Chatterbooks meeting.
We are holding our free Chatterbooks sessions on the second Saturday of each month, from 10am. All kids aged eight to twelve are invited – just turn up on the day. The more the merrier!
The Chelsea Library Chatterbooks Gang
Chelsea Library’s reading group
Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. – C.S Lewis
Enjoy reading? Book groups are a great way to develop your critical thinking in an informal context whilst deepening your appreciation of literature. They can be a lot of fun too. Whether you’re a book club veteran or would just like to meet new people and try something new, please do come along to Chelsea Library’s reading group. For those who haven’t been to the last meeting a copy of the next month’s title can be picked up at the reservations shelf. Just ask a member of staff.
At our next meeting on 21 March we’ll be discussing ‘The Long Song’ by Andrea Levy. You will have the chance to take home a free copy of Sebastien Faulks’ ‘A Week in December,’ courtesy of the London-wide Cityread project. Cityread London is a campaign to spread a love of books and reading to the widest possible audience throughout our capital. (More information about this campaign can be found on the Cityread website). This year’s title is set in London and if the reviews on are anything to go by it looks like being literary Marmite – or perfect fodder for a lively meeting, disputatious but always civil.
The group is welcoming with a respect and understanding that individuals will differ in how much they wish to comment and hold forth in discussions. In depth knowledge of the text is not assumed or required, although having read the book will certainly help! The titles for this year have been selected up ’til September and we’re doing some time travelling, exploring some classics through Hardy’s ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ and Hemingway’s ‘A Moveable Feast’. We’re also visiting the 1970s with Ian McEwan’s latest offering ‘Sweet Tooth’, described by the author as “a way in which I can write disguised autobiography”. One of the contemporary treats is Patrick Dewitt’s offbeat and picaresque Man Booker shortlisted adventure ‘The Sister’s Brother’s’.
And finally, some good news: we can now plunder the treasures of the Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster Libraries’ reading group collections. and vice versa.
James Dunne
Customer Services Assistant
Chelsea Children’s Library – refurbishment
Just to let you know – Chelsea Children’s Library will be refurbished in March – so it’ll be closed from Monday 11 March 2013 for a couple of weeks. All regular children’s sessions such as baby rhyme time and storytime will be postponed while the children’s library is out of action. We’re really sorry about this – sessions will be taking place at our other libraries during this time so please take a look at children’s events page on our website.
rbkc libraries blog 