Tag: summer

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A Planetarium in the library?

Pop-up Planetarium

This year’s summer reading challenge is all about space so, naturally, we want to learn a bit more about the skies above us. What’s the best way to learn when you’re stuck here on earth? You go to a planetarium! Sadly, there isn’t a one here in Falkirk, so we’ve decided to bring one in!

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Our friends from Cosmos will be visiting Falkirk Library with their huge inflatable dome on Saturday 15th June from 10am to 1.15pm. You’ll have the chance to step inside to visit the stars in two different space shows. There’s also an exclusive autism-friendly show.

We’ll also have some space-age fun to join in with, including games, tech and the chance to try on some space suits! You can also sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s totally free to come along and join in the activities, but you’ll need a ticket for the planetarium shows.

Tickets are £2 per person, per show. You can attend as many of the space shows as you like, but you must have a ticket for each individual show time. If you just want to come along, but don’t want to attend a show, you don’t need a ticket!

Tickets are available in person at Falkirk Library and online at Ticket Source. Doors open at 10am, unless you are attending our autism-friendly screening, in which case doors open at 9am.

The shows

Destination: Space Station
Navigate the night sky using the stars, then tour the International Space Station and the solar system beyond.

We Are Aliens: The search for extra-terrestrial life
Travel to Mars with a robotic explorer, dive into an alien ocean and search planets and stars for signs of life. Narrated by Rupert Grint (Harry Potter’s Ron Weasley).

Autism-friendly screening of We Are Aliens

All screenings are open to everyone, but we’re starting the day with a special autism-friendly showing of We Are Aliens. We’ll open our doors early at 9am to give families exclusive use of the library and freedom to explore. The show starts promptly at 9.30am.

Please note: The showing will feature sound and lights. The planetarium is a very large inflatable so there will be some low fan noise. If you’ve any questions please email us at libraries@falkirkcommunitytrust.org

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Summer books – Podcast 18

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Hello and welcome to the Falkirk Libraries podcast with Tanya and Vikki.
This episode we were chatting about summery reads.  Does the daylight and weather affect our reading choice?  All the books mentioned can be found and requested on the Falkirk Libraries page

What we have been reading and listening to:
Vikki has been reading:
• Black Wood by SJI Holliday
• Public Library and Other Stories by Ali Smith

Tanya has been reading:
• The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory
• Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different by Ben Brooks
• Seeds of Friendship (pic bk) by Michael Foreman favourite with the 5 – 7 yr olds

New and forthcoming adult books:
• The Wanted by Robert Crais
• This is What Happened by Mike Herron
• The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz (Jane Hawk thriller book 3)
• The Love of a Family by Rebecca Shaw
• Days of Wonder by Keith Stuart (author of A Boy made of blocks)

New and forthcoming children’s titles:
• Star Wars Maker Lab by Cole Horton (Non-fiction)
• British Insects and Other Minibeasts  by Clare Collinson
• Octopants by Suzy Senior (0-5)
• The Girl with the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart (9-11)
• Mirror Mirror by Cara Delevigne & Rowan Coleman (Teen)

DVD recommendations:
• All the money in the world (15)
• The Maze Runner Death Cure (12)
• Early Man (AArdman Animation) (PG)

Our Reading Agony this episode: “I’ve got to plan a child’s birthday party and don’t know where to start”  Here are some of our suggestions:

• Great British Bake Off Children’s Party Cakes and Bakes by Annie Rigg
• Kids Party Cakes Quick and Easy Recipes by Ann Nicol
• Party Animal Cakes by Lindy Smith
• Cute and Easy costumes for kids by Emma Hardy
• Quick Costumes for Kids by Deborah House
• Braids Bunches and Pigtails  50 Fun and Easy Hairdo’s for parties by Jenny Strebe
• Party Games by Lisa Reagan
• Party Games by Sean Callery
• Face Painting by Karen Harvey

Staff quote of the episode: “We’ve got a filing cabinet with no key – let’s jimmy it open and see what’s inside,”

Our discussion: We have talked about cosy reads but what about when the suns out and the nights are longer and Tanya doesn’t need a rug in her shed anymore. Does better weather affect our reading tastes? Well perhaps is the answer:  below are some of the books enjoyed in summers gone by as well as highly anticipated in summer 2018.
• Captain Correlli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres,
• The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop
• The Girl under the Olive Tree by Leah Fleming,
• The Tea Planters Wife by Dinah Jefferies.
• The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies
• The Good People by Hannah Kent
• Brief Cases by Jim Butcher
• The Lake District Murder by John Bude
• The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude
• Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews

Did you know? We have a separate section in every library for Teen readers, it’s where we keep all our past exam papers and guides, a wide range of fiction titles and comics.

Thank you for listening to the Library Love podcast, we hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and if you did, then tell a friend or colleague about our podcast; or give us a review on iTunes so more people get to hear about us. We love to hear from you and if you’d like to get in touch with us, then go to then go to librarylovefalkirk.com, Falkirk Libraries on Facebook, or @LibFalkirk on Twitter.

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