Essex Libraries update including half term events

Free online half term event – meet children’s author Catherine Emmett

We’re delighted to announce our first ever live online event for children will be taking place this half term. Come and meet Catherine Emmett author of the fantastic new picture book King of the Swamp.

At the session Catherine will read from her book, there will be a craft activity and there will be a chance to ask Catherine questions.

The event takes place on Friday 30 October 11am to 12noon. Find out more and book your place now!

Half term online family workshops with Dogs Trust

If your family has recently grown with the addition of a new puppy or adopted dog, you may wish to know how to keep your dog happy, learn more about their behaviours and understand how to behave safely around dogs. During half-term (26-30 October) Dogs Trust, in partnership with Essex Libraries, are hosting four online family workshops to teach you how. More information, details of dates and times and how to book your place can be found on our website. Book early as places are limited!

Book of the Month

Our October Book of the Month is the enchanting novel Gingerbread by the prize-winning Helen Oyeyemi, a bewitching and inventive tale about motherhood, family legacy and…gingerbread. 

Influenced by the mysterious place gingerbread holds in classic children’s stories – equal parts wholesome and uncanny – you’re invited into a delightful tale of a surprising family legacy, in which the inheritance is a recipe. 

Reserve your copy from the library or download the e-book or e-audio with BorrowBox.

Book of the Month anniversary

It’s been just over a year since we launched our Book of the Month with unlimited access to the e-book and e-audio versions on BorrowBox, and what a year it’s been!

There’s been a fantastic selection of reads on offer, and we’re delighted so many library members have been reading them.

The 12 titles have been downloaded over 5,000 times and the number of people regularly using our e-book and e-audio service has almost doubled!

And the most popular of the books? It was The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh, with 935 loans!

Find details of the other Book of the Month titles on our website.

Keeping children safe online

With a digital Halloween approaching due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents are being alerted to the possibility that children may take their celebrations online this year. This could result in sharing frightening content and harmful online challenges.

The Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB) are running an online safety awareness campaign, sharing messages around how to have an open conversation about the online world with children. They’re encouraging parents to teach online safety to younger children as they would road safety.

Follow the online safety awareness campaign on Facebook @ESCBSafeguards and Twitter @EssexSafeguards. You can also access resources about online child exploitation on the ESCB website.

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