books

Under 5’s and their families celebrated National Bookstart Week with FREE Bounce & Rhyme events on the beaches of Devon.

Over 350 parents and children attended the events which were designed to encourage reading as a fun activity. They were held by Devon Libraries in conjunction with Bookstart and Children's Centre staff across the county. Themed ‘Under the Sea’, events were held at Ilfracombe, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Dartmouth & Exmouth and were aimed at under 5’s and their parents and carers.

Reading resources were gifted to parents and children from Devon Libraries...

At a time when 1 in 10 young people have a diagnosable mental health issue, Devon Libraries are today launching a scheme to support them with expert endorsed books available to borrow for free.

Reading Well for young people is a national scheme, part of the hugely successful Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme, which will provide 13-18 year-olds with high-quality information, support and advice on a wide-range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm, and difficult life pressures, like bullying and exams.

With the proportion...

Starcross Primary School held a special launch last week for the publication of “The Seaside Train”, a book celebrating the unique and very scenic Riviera Line which links Exeter, Starcross, Newton Abbot and Paignton.

This book was inspired by the Citizens’ Rail train, a Class 153 single coach train which was given a special livery last year by Great Western Railway to celebrate the Citizens’ Rail project. This was an EU Interreg Project, led by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, which brought more frequent trains and station improvements to the Riviera Line and involved...

Devon is continuing to lead the way nationally when it comes to library services.

Recent figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) annual library survey showed that the number of libraries across Britain has fallen and visits to libraries are down by 3.9%. In the South West there has been a 1.4% fall in usage in the past year.

However, Devon is bucking the trend. Not only has it kept all 50 of the county’s libraries open, but over three million visits to Devon libraries in 2014/15 ensured a 10% increase across the county. PC and WiFi...

Libraries across Devon are taking part in a national initiative to help people learn new digital skills in order to support economic growth and improve wellbeing.

According to a recent report by the House of Lords, the UK is in danger of falling behind in its digital skills capabilities, which could cost the economy around £2 billion.

In response The Society of Chief Libraries (SCL) and the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians have joined forces to launch ‘The Universal Learning Offer’.

Bringing together hundreds of unique self-directed learning...

Can you help us please?

We urgently need CD’s, DVDs, PC games and books, so we can stock up our charity shops in time for the big Christmas rush.

As a local charity we needs £6.1m to run our vital services and we're hoping Exeter Daily readers can help us raise £30,000 from this appeal.

Your donation will contribute to helping hundreds of terminally people and their families living across Exeter, East and Mid Devon.

The donated items will be sold in our 19 Hospiscare charity shops and online from the our retail warehouse, the Hospiscare Enterprise Centre in...

Exeter library is celebrating its 50th birthday on October 22, and the public is being called on to join the festivities.

The library, then called the ‘New City Library’, was unveiled by the Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, on Friday 22 October 1965.

The opening followed the previous library, in Castle Street, being bombed in 1942.

Since then hundreds of thousands of people have passed through its doors and used its services.

And now, to mark the birthday celebrations, the public is being urged to share their memories and experiences.

Library staff...

Library users in Topsham will benefit from extended opening hours thanks to additional support provided by volunteers. From 7 September the opening hours will increase from 15 to 19.5 with the library open until 6pm every Monday and Thursday for ‘Library Extra’ sessions hosted by Estuary League of Friends volunteers.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service, said:

"These new opening hours are excellent news for residents in Topsham, especially children and families who now have an extra afternoon to use the library...

The team behind the seventh Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival are looking forward to welcoming more first class authors, historians and biographers to East Devon in September.

Tickets for this year’s festival will be available online on Friday 24th July from 5pm, and offer the opportunity to see the usual mix of best-selling, award winning and inspirational authors, including Paula Hawkins, author of record breaking novel, The Girl On The Train, which has been on top of the UK hardback book chart for 20 weeks.

As well as new authors like Paula making their way to the...