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Join us for a monthly library chat. We'll talk about a variety of library related topics, from books to events, and plans for the future.
Jack : Hello, everyone. My name is Jack Carey and welcome to the Westmeath Libraries Podcast. This podcast will be giving you a rundown of events and services available to you via the libraries of Westmeath County Council. If you have any questions about the contents in this podcast or the newsletter which covers many of these topics, please feel free to contact us via library at Westmeathcoco dot i e
For queries about the events in this podcast that are taking place in specific branches please reach out to the staff of that specific branch. You can find details for all Westmeath libraries by visiting your local branch library or by visiting our website: www.westmeathculture.ie
As was said last week, we have a summer starts reading in all libraries across not just Westmeath but across the country.
Summer Stars is a reading program that encourages kids to read over the summer, though it is coming up, too the time when people are getting ready for the school and for the school year. Summer Stars is still continuing, so if you haven't gone down and got your own leaflet to start Summer Stars, please feel free to speak with the local library staff.
In addition, we also have My Little library bags available to anyone who is starting junior infants this year in 2023. So feel free to come on in for any child to get their free little bag with free books for parents to read to them.
National Heritage Week is taking place between the 12th and the 20th of August 2023.
This is a week that celebrates Ireland's cultural and natural heritage. We have a variety of events going on throughout Westmeath libraries that are here to effectively promote all of the variety of Irish culture that we have on offer. From exhibitions and Athlone library to spinning workshops and Castlepollard and even traditional Irish cooking in Mullingar.
I'm honestly just scratching the surface of the sheer amount of events that we have going on in Westmeath libraries for National Heritage Week. If you want to know more about them, please feel free to have a look at our newsletter, which gives a comprehensive list of what's going on throughout the last week, as well as exactly when and where they are taking place.
As I said on multiple occasions over the past several months, we have a variety of events that are specifically tailored to children of all ages. For example, we have a variety of parent and toddler groups and storytimes going on across many libraries as well. If you want to speak with staff events and what exact times that we have available, just go into your local branch and ask away.
We also have a well-known children's author, James Hannon, visiting on August the 22nd in Mullingar Library. There is also a book clinic for kids who want to get a professional's opinion from local libraries and on what exact books that they should read next. And these ones are going to be taking place in Castlepollard on August the 11th, which doesn't require any bookings. So anyone is welcome to come.
And finally, of course, there is our well-known Lego building sessions. These are taking place across multiple libraries. So once again, you're going to need to speak with your local staff to find out exactly what's going on. But it can range from anywhere between specific themes to free for all building sessions. So please ask away at your local branch.
There is going to be a Breast Cancer Ireland information session going on in Castle Holland Libraries on the 16th of August at 11 a.m.. This allows people to listen to one lady's personal experience of a breast cancer diagnosis. It will also allow you to get a bit more information on exactly on this disease. So if you're interested, you can book with Castlepollard Library staff.
Athlone Library is also hosting a trad music therapy session led by Sorcha Costello and it is organized by Féile na Sionainne. If you wish to register for this and there are a variety of events that will be taking place on the case of August for children sessions, teenage sessions and a dementia friendly session. And these will all be taking place on the 8th of August.
And if you would like to book, please register at email feilenasionainne@gmail.com And because I know I'm getting that pronunciation wrong I will point you towards the newsletter in order to get the spelling for that.
The Road Safety Authority is hosting a children's road safety talk in Moate library on the 24th of August at noon. All are welcome and there is no need to book.
This event will be free of charge and is suitable for all children aged six years and older. People will receive free high visibility jackets as well as several other small prizes that can be won. A member of the Road Safety Authority team will be present in order to tackle all elements of road safety.
And as usual, there are plenty of arts and crafts events going on this month in Westmeath libraries. We have a variety of events going on at most library, including Make Your Own Bookmark on the 2nd of August, as well as a Monster Doodle Day on the 11th of August.
Mullingar Library is also hosting a arts and crafts hour on both the fourth and the 18th of August. And this one does require bookings, so get your names in for lunch. And then, of course, there's also a monster doodle going on in Athlone on the 23rd.
And for those who know about our regular creative events, we have Knittingand crochet groups going on across the and across the county. So if you want to join in for those or set up your own, you can contact library staff and find the nearest one for yourself.
The advice on your device meetings are continuing to be a very popular events going on in the libraries. For those who do not know, this is just regular sessions usualy in the morning across all of our Westmeath libraries where staff are make themselves available in order to explain how to use your information technology, things like your computers and your tablets in relation to apps and other services available from the library.
These can be things like our e-books our audiobooks that can be found on apps on your phone, or even language learning courses and digital magazines.
We also have book clubs as usual in Westmeath and these can include able book clubs, children's book clubs and anything in between. So if you're interested, contact your local library to find out more.
Right, so we now have a very special guest here. We have a fellow colleague of Mullingar sorry of Westmeath Libraries. A former member of the Mullingar Library staff here. Caroline, how are you doing?
Caroline: I'm doing great and thank you for having me on your podcast.
Jack: Excellent. So I brought you here, Caroline, because I have been doing this podcast for quite a while and I will actually be finishing up my podcast career in Mullingar very soon and I'll be handing it over to you as you.
Caroline: Yes.
Jack: And what I want to just give an idea because I've been doing this podcast for a while and but I've only ever had the Mullingar perspective. I've only worked in this large library beside the council buildings as I've been doing this podcast and I just wanted to bring you in in advance just so if there's ever a thing that we need a different perspective, what would you say is the different perspective? Because you've worked in more than one library and and I just want to know what you think is different between Mullingar and the other libraries that you've worked at.?
Caroline : First task was one, things I want to get across is the ethos of libraries. I think people in kind of cold age are quite surprised that library are free. You know, the amount of times that people come in and go, well, how much do I owe you now for this book?
And, you know, how long can I borrow it for? How much is it to join is a question that I get asked. So it's really interesting that people are still asking when actually the ethos of libraries is all about free access to knowledge, to information. And I suppose the other ethos is that, you know, we try to make libraries really welcoming.
I'm a lot older than you Jack, but when I was growing up libraries were very quiet and yet, you know, no talking. And so when I started my career again, because prior to this I worked in the arts when I became a librarian few years ago, I was trained over in Castlepollard, by lovely Anne Byrne who runs the library over there.
And I was really surprised at just the difference of ethos which is Hello, how are you? Come in. This is your library and we are your public servants here. You know, we're here to help you.
So I think just to answer your question, back to your question, in the smaller libraries, maybe there's a bigger chance to get to know more of the community personally.
Although saying that I did get to know people here here in Mullingar. Between, so there's two very diverse communities between Castlepollard and Kilbeggan. They are very blended and international communities, which is quite surprising. In Kilbeggan there's a high Brazilian and Polish population which I hadn't realized. I was being told, oh, very, it's a much older demographic and it's also a big commuter town and actually what I'm finding is on the ground as people, as, you know, post-pandemic, everything is still people are still cautious. You know, you don't get the occasional phone number. I'm just getting over that experience of isolation and going to the library because it's it feels almost like an in-between place between a coffee shop and you know what I mean? Like, it feels safe.
So just with regard to communities like so in Castlepollard and was I suppose I saw a lot more of a cross-section of demographics. So you'd the older people, the very artistic over in Castlepollard, they love the visual. And as a community they really we use the library resource. As they would come in, they would do research there. And certainly by the time I was leaving the kind of post pandemic fall-off of business had really risen up to pre-pandemic standards, which was great. But you do get to know the community.
And a conversation is an incredible thing because the seeds of some kind of activity normally come through very organically in conversation. So you can talk to somebody, like I remember chatting to some mothers here in Mullingar and they were saying, you know, Do you know where anything is happening?
I was able to say well, actually we're going to be doing one, you know, sign up. And all these are things, and like the resources around the sensory rooms, they were, you know, and the meeting rooms, once the community heard what was available, they were really utilising them. I suppose what I saw with Mullingar there was very serious students here. And like the desks were always, you know, it was hard to get a desk at certain times of the year. So there's a very there's a definite sense of people coming to the library to really sit down, get the head down, do their work, and they like the kind of relaxed atmosphere as well. Now, I suppose no library is totally silent anymore, so you need to think of earphones for some.
And I think it actually surprises some people that they are community hubs the way they are. The Castlepollard community had a great influx of Ukrainian refugees and we had a fabulous experience there, I got to know people who I'm still friends with now, you know. So really binding relationships and friendships and... actually I've made new friends in the library because they are very funky places. And over in Kilbeggan,as I say, there's a big Brazliian community and a Polish community so I'm trying to reach out and see if we can do some kind of Brazilian music night or something and kind of reach that community.
Jack: Well, while you bring it up, I was actually going to ask, because we've talked a lot about the demographics of the kind of the general feeling of the library is like. That can be different. And but what about events? What have you seen? Is there a particular disparity of events when it comes to the different libraries? Are there any particular libraries that have a particular focus on a particular aspect of the community when it comes to events?
Caroline: I do think some localities are more receptive to some things than others, you know, and that could be be just demographics. It can be preference. I know we had a screening of a fabulours older lady, she's 98 and she's celebrated in Kilbeggan. Her name, oh, my gosh, what is it now? That's come out of my head, Kitty Flynn, I think, is her name oh, I'll be killed by Stan McCormack the local historian.
But we did a film screening of her and that was so well attended. So I think the thing about smaller communities is that they're very good at celebrating and also they have a sense of pride around place. But events wise, what I have noticed is think the organizers from the library trying to be as fair, sp that everybody can get a taste of ...
And I think that's only right. You know, so we have everything from like organic flower arranging to eco projects to IT stuff.
So we're trying to keep it as democratic as possible, but you will see that there are certain preferences. We had a fabulour turnout for Enda Seery's musical recital.
Jack: Yes I heard, I talked about that last podcast
Caroline: Yes? And I was worried because you know the way you do, and it was raining! But we were very lucky with loads of people.
Well, for example, I did a monster doodle. Firstly whats a Monster Doodle? well, itsthis big long sheet of paper that children will come in on. And I always think it's a wonderful way for children to make friends.
But again, because I've been told the demographic is much older... 22 children! I nearly died. I was expecting maybe six, but we had a massive turnout. There's some things you just can't plot for, you know, like our heritage officer here in Westmeath is so good, Melanie McQuaide. She's sponsored some really lovely projects. Here in Kilbeggan we're going to be doing basket weaving, which unfortunately is booked out and I'd say she could have run it six or seven times over.
Jack: I suppose it's a great thing to see. Yes there maybe some different preferences but the important thing is the libraries are always there to cater to what the people want.
Caroline: And I can understand this is very unusual because it is kind of something that people may not be aware that the libraries run arts events because so often it's kind of part of the arts office and people don't realize, well, actually librarians are very good.. you're just walking in with a book and suddenly a conversation starts and somebody says d'you know what? I'm really interested in crocheting or heritage lace, would you know? And you say I do, I do know something! Or somebody comes up with an idea. So what I think is really it cuts out the spin, it cuts out so many a people, because you're just having a direct conversation with your librarian who heads off to their line manager to say "I was just chatting to that woman there, who wants to do whatever," and we'd have a little think and see if we could arrange things. That's a very unusual facility because I think people mostly think libraries are just about books.
And in the new national plan where they're talking about libraries, as safe spaces, sanctuary, not just, you know, you come here to be safe, but that you actually can find yourself in a library, you know, through conversation, through attitudes towards each other and respect for one another. And just to openness to a conversation around starting something as well as, of course, you can find a good book, you could find information.
Jack: I think that's exactly how we got our Climate Action group set-up. From a conversation now once again don't quote me on that I don't think that's exactly how it happened but yeah just people talking.
For you guys that are interested in that feel free to contact us and ask for Colm.
Caroline:
Absolutely delighted. And I know for example, because I do think he's very pro-active in the environment. I'm hoping that when I and hopefully I get the crown of the podcast, probably, after you've abdicated and I would love to chat to Colm. And then I know that my colleague Manus in Kilbeggan is very proactive in the environment as well, you know. So, you know, we have expertize in our librarians, this is the other thing, you know, like your secret life. So let's talk a little bit about your secret life.
Jack: I mean if you're talking about my interest in running games and things like that, which funnily enough, my colleague Rory over in, Castlepollard is running D&D games. I mentioned that a while back on the podcast as well.
Caroline: Dungeons and Dragons?
Jack: Yes
Caroline: That's fantastic. Sorry I don't know what d&d is
Jack: That ismy secret life. I enjoy running games for people.
Caroline: Yeah. He also tells stories of people, talks about their storytelling skills.
Jack: Yeah. So, yes, I do like giving and giving a good storytelling session even even when I don't have a book in my hand. I will, I will spin a story of Celtic mythology or something like that. And it's Great.
Caroline: You're brushing yourself off very quickly
Jack: I'm trying to I'm trying to avoid that topic. I like talking about the library as a whole as opposed to be specific.
Caroline: So this is the other thing, the fact of library staff. You know, how do you audit the fact that you're really, really good storyteller and that you engage? You can't! They're the immeasurable gold. And I think quite often we can be so quick about statistics, who's coming in, who's going out, how many books are coming in that you forget is actually the staff that are listening to communities.
Jack: I think that's that's the really cool thing about getting feedback from the community, particularly for events that we do. And because we will like we will do all of the storytelling and all the events that we do, all the stuff that I mentioned in the podcast, it's all very great. But we would very much like to hear feedback from people and the people who go to them, the people who chose not to go to them.
We want to know what things work, what things don't what don't doesn't work for people so that in the future we can cater our events to our community.
Caroline: I agree with you a little bit on that, but I will give a caveat saying here's one caveat. Sometimes you don't need a lot of people, you know, the way sometimes we just think of successes is capactity. And this is where I think libraries are again very unusual. I mean, for example, I started a poetry afternoon with a residential home in Tyrellspass, Bethany House.
So I phoned them up and I said, look, would any of your residents be interested in coming on over to the library, I'll make them a cup of tea. I'm going to try and get to see what we made need as opposed to maybe what they studied in school. We pull on the old nostalgia strings, and of course, I love I love poetry.
And the Activities Co-Ordinator, so she did a risk assessment. And the most she could bring was four and herself as a group. okay really doesn't matter come on in we have a cup of tea. So again, not a massive crowd. No. And I think that's the thing to say to people. Don't worry as isn't always about attracting the multiples, you know it can be the small.
Jack: It's not about the broad appeal it's about finding the niche appeal that people that really enjoy.
Caroline : What happened after that poetry reading session? Now how do you measure this? They would sit in the library and we'd make them a cup of tea. We read poems and they began to see people coming in that they haven't seen for years and having a conversation. And then the people that came in loved the poetry. So the circle got bigger and bigger and bigger. So we ended up with 12 or 13 regularly turning up. So we could sit and read the and have a cuppa. that's fantastic. The activist co-ordinator did say there was a bit of a row in the rest home over who'd get to come the next time.
Jack: Working too well.
Caroline : So we're going to be starting that again. We've wound down for the summer and we're going to start again in September. So just let people know if they're around Kilbeggan on a Tuesday afternoon in September, call us and see. Are you in, are you reading a bit of poetry. Come on in and read poetry and I might be doing memoirs out there.
But just to go back to the whole idea of events don't have mmm. So if you have a little idea out there, anybody listening.
Jack : The events on the newsletter, they're not always the be all and end all of what the library could do for you. It is what you want to put into the library. If you want to come up and ask the staff member and try and pitch an idea to us, we are more than happy to try.
Caroline: And we don't mind failures either.
Jack: Sometimes an event doesn't work out, that's perfectly fine. The important thing is that you try.
Caroline : Yeah, yeah.
Jack: So I think that's been fairly comprehensive on what happens in the various libraries. And of course everyone has now had has a good idea of, of the person who will succeed me. Thank you very much for coming here, Caroline, so much. Thank you. All right. So as was just mentioned, and this is indeed my last signing off of something out of the Westmeath libraries podcast.
So I hope you guys have all enjoyed and I hope that you'll enjoy Caroline's even more. There you have it, folks. This has been the Westmeath Libraries podcast. This is your host, Jack Carey. Thank you and have a wonderful day.