suffolk libraries direct — library information, renewals, reservations, news and events News

Suffolk libraries' new online catalogue

Alex — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:55:00 +0100

We have now launched our new library catalogue. To have a look at it and play with it, please click on Search & reserve in the menu on the right.

Whenever you want to get back to this information page, simply click one of the Help links (e.g. right-hand menu).

1 My Account

You can access your account details, renew your loans and check up on the reservations you have placed by clicking on Sign in or renew in the right-hand menu. You'll be taken to an account overview. Any blue text in this overview is a link that you can click on for more details.

1.1 Loans & Renewals

To view your loans and renew any that are due back shortly,

click on the 'Current Loans' link, just beneath the 'Loans' header
either check the checkboxes next to the loans you wish to renew and click on the 'Renew Selections' button, or
click on the 'Renew All' button if you would like to renew all your loans.

Loans that can be renewed will now be renewed — please make a note of the new due date.

1.2 Reservations

To view your reservations, scroll down to the section on the 'My Account' page titled 'Reservations / Bookings'.

The first line confirms whether some of your reservations are available for collection (if at least one title is available you will be able to click on this line to see the details of your reservation).
The second provides a quick overview of all your reservations still being processed (if you have at least one reservation that is not yet available you will be able to click on this line to view the details of your outstanding reservations).

2 Searching the Catalogue

Click on Search & reserve in the menu on the right to be taken to our search page. Here you can simply type any keywords in the search bar and click on 'Search' to find the titles you are looking for.

2.1 Advanced Search

The search bar provides you with an easy way to find what you are looking for. If you need a little more refinement to your search then you can explore the advanced search functionality. To access it, please click on the 'Advanced' link on our search page.

2.2 Search Results

Whether you performed a normal or an advanced search, after clicking on 'Search' you will be taken to the search results. The results will be sorted alphabetically by title. If many results were returned you can narrow your search down.

2.2.1 Refining the Search

You can further refine your search by clicking on the orange 'Refine Set' button along the top of the search results. You will be taken to an advanced search page to 'search within your search results'.

2.2.2 Placing Reservations

You can view more information about a specific search result by clicking on that entry's title (i.e. the title of the book, DVD, game, etc.). You will be taken to a detailed information page, from where you can reserve that title by simply clicking on the orange 'Place Reservation' button along the top of the page.

3 Comments & Feedback

We are very curious to hear how you get on with our new catalogue! Please contact us with your comments, questions, suggestions or frustrations by emailing help@suffolklibraries.co.uk or by completing our web form.

New library system — update

Alex — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:21:11 +0100

Suffolk libraries have now got a new library management system.

Unfortunately our online catalogue is unavailable – we are making final checks in our new library management system and will be back online by 5pm on Thursday 17 May.

Many of our libraries are now successfully online and we look forward to your feedback once you try it for yourselves.

Thank you for your ongoing patience with this matter and rest assured that you will not incur any undue charges through this process.

Please contact help@suffolklibraries.co.uk or complete our online form for help or advice.

The following services are unavailable:

Self service machines in libraries
Pre-booking computers (if you have never booked a computer before)
Online catalogue, renewals and transactions from home or elsewhere

8th – 16th May a new library system

Alex — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:45:00 +0100

Suffolk Libraries is installing a new library management system that will improve the library catalogue and provide you with a wider range of services.

We plan to keep any disruption to services to a minimum whilst we install the new system and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

We will extend your loans for this period and you will be able to continue borrowing, returning and renewing items in the library.

You can still telephone or email suffolk libraries direct at any time.

We regret that the following will not be available 9 – 16 May:

Self service machines in libraries
Pre-booking computers

Online catalogue, renewals and transactions from home or elsewhere will be unavailable from 5pm on 8 May until 16 May.

The following will be disrupted 9 – 16 May:

Public computers and access to the internet; please speak to staff for assistance

Thank you for your patience at this time. We look forward to your feedback on the new system when it is available.

May 20-26 is Dementia Awareness Week

Mel — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:10:10 +0100

‘Remember the Person’

Organisations across Suffolk are supporting the Alzheimer’s Society to encourage people to ‘Remember the Person’ – the theme for Dementia Awareness Week 2012. Organisations are working together to provide information and encourage people to look beyond the dementia and remember that every man or woman living with dementia is still a person.

Nearly 11,000 people in Suffolk have dementia - two thirds of these live at home and can feel very isolated. Alzheimer’s Society is trying to encourage the general public to understand the condition and come along to an event to find out how they can help those affected or to be put in contact with a Dementia Support Worker in their area.

Events include:

Information/Awareness stands in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Beccles and Halesworth
Memory Day in Ipswich
Music and Memories morning in Bury St Edmunds
Singing with Artlink in Lowestoft
Reminiscence Assembly at Long Melford Primary School
Reminiscence with Artlink in Cavendish
Tea dance in Lowestoft
Tea Party in Ipswich

For information of an event near you please contact your local office or telephone your local library to see what they have on offer.

If you are unable to get to any of these events a booklet ‘Remember the Person’ is available and includes a section on’ What is Dementia?’ and also outlines ‘Ways to help a family living with Dementia. To obtain a copy or find out what support is available in your area, please phone your local office:

East Suffolk Office - 01473 237301
West Suffolk Office – 01284 766433
Lowestoft & Waveney – 01502 514712

Sue Vincent, Alzheimer’s Society Campaign lead for Suffolk said:

‘The Alzheimer’s Society Suffolk events are a great way to raise much needed funds and get people talking about dementia. We hope lots of people will join us this Dementia Awareness Week™.’

‘We need to tackle the misunderstanding surrounding dementia if we are to ensure people with dementia are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Our events are a great opportunity to spend some time, whether you have five minutes or half an hour, to learn a bit more about dementia.’

Alzheimer’s Society is also hoping that local businesses and individuals will hold their own fundraising events between 20 – 26 May 2012 to raise valuable funds for people with dementia and their carers. There are as many as 800,000 people in the UK with dementia and as many as 11,000 in Suffolk

Dementia Awareness Week 2012 is sponsored by Saga Homecare. Together Alzheimer’s Society and Saga Homecare hope to maximise awareness and understanding of dementia across the UK.

Web site: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Email: eastsuffolk@alzheimers.org.uk
westsuffolk@alzhiemers.org.uk
lowestoftandwaveney@alzheimers.org.uk

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Suffolk libraries

Mel — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:10:10 +0100

Find out what's happening in a Suffolk library near you here

Or go to the official website: www.thediamondjubilee.org/

Adult Learner's Week Quiz

Alex — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:10:10 +0100

Celebrate Adult Learner’s Week in your local library from 14th-19th May, by taking part in our quiz.

Adult Learners’ Week is the UK’s largest annual festival of learning. Ask for our quiz and use our free online resources to find the answers: Suffolk Reference Direct.

The Listening Project

Nilima Banerji — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:01:05 +0100

Have you heard about the Listening Project? The BBC and the British Library have come together in an ambitious new partnership which aims to capture the nation in conversation.

he Listening Project will invite people across the UK to share an intimate conversation. Some of these conversations will be broadcast by the BBC and curated and archived by the British Library building a unique picture of our lives today and preserving it for future generations.

What people talk about is their choice. It could be a moment of joy, sadness or reflection. This project is about creating the space for people to have that conversation they always meant to have.

Radio 4’s Controller Gwyneth Williams said: “We want to bring a new kind of conversation onto Radio 4, made possible by the unique nature of radio, its intimacy and entanglement in the lives of audiences.

The Listening Project will invite people across the UK to share an intimate conversation. Some of these conversations will be broadcast by the BBC and curated and archived by the British Library building a unique picture of our lives today and preserving it for future generations.

What people talk about is their choice. It could be a moment of joy, sadness or reflection. This project is about creating the space for people to have that conversation they always meant to have.

Lesley Dolphin's Good Read on BBC Radio Suffolk

Mel — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:41:12 +0100

BBC Radio Suffolk's Good Read feature takes place every Monday at 2.10pm (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday).

Every Monday Lesley Dolphin talks with someone, often from a local book shop, who chooses that week’s Good Read - not necessarily a new title.

Don't forget to listen in!

Lesley's Readers'

A virtual reading group that anyone can belong to. Read the books on your own or join or set up your own reading group and tweet, blog, listen to and phone in Lesley Dolphin's programme 'All about Suffolk' on BBC Radio Suffolk to discuss the book of the month.

This months book will discussed on Lesley's Readers on Tuesday 8 May 2012 at 2.00pm so please tune in and have your say. Lesley will also be announcing the new title on her bookshelf. More here>>>

World Book Night - Gainsborough Community Library

Sarah — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:03:52 +0100

On World Book Night over 200 books were given away and a wonderful time was had by all.

We toured the Gainsborough area on the big book bus from 3 – 6pm giving away over 200 books.
We headed back to Gainsborough Community to give away more books and for the evenings activities – candle light readings, refreshments and Shakespeare.
Volunteers armed with a supply of books to give away.
All Hallows Guides performing Romeo & Juliet in the library.
All the fantastic volunteers aboard the bus.

www.gottoread.org.uk - For more information about these fabulous activities on World Book Night 2012.

Gainsborough Library World Book Night Sleepover

Sarah — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:20:34 +0100

The morning after our girls' only World Book Night sleepover which took place on Saturday 21st April.

It was attended by 21 girls aged 9 - 16.

We enjoyed pizza, planted bulbs and read Sleepovers by Jacqueline Wilson. A local PCSO joined us for a scrabble tournament in the evening.

In the morning we enjoyed a cooked breakfast in the community café run by Voices.

World Book Night at Woodbridge Library

Sarah — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:04:36 +0100

We had a great evening celebrating World Book Night 2012 on 23rd April at Woodbridge Library with stories and songs around our campfire. There was a lovely selection of cakes and biscuits to eat with free tea and coffee and a book swap too. The event was attended by about 50 people, 4 witches and a skeleton.

Lesley's Readers - Find out the next title

Sarah — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:51:58 +0100

Tune in to Lesley Dolphin and 'All About Suffolk' on BBC Radio Suffolk on Monday 30th April at 1.10pm to find out the next title on Lesley's Bookshelf and why you need to order your copy before 9th May!

Also find out how we are getting on with the first read 'Life with the Lid off' by Nicola Hodgkinson and what's happening on the next Lesley's Readers on Tuesday 8th May.

Reviews of The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Sarah — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:23:42 +0100

Lesley's Review

The Queen is trying to get her corgis under control when she comes across a library van in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. She steps on board and out of politeness borrows a book. So starts her discovery of the delights of reading. The Queen becomes a real book worm and loses her enthusiasm for her public duties. She surreptitiously reads while waving to the crowds, gives up on small talk and quizzes people about their favourite books instead. She even asks the French prime minister about a writer at a State Dinner. Her Private Secretary is not amused – at first he thinks she is developing Alzheimers, and then he starts hiding her books.

This is delightful and with the Jubilee celebrations and the worry about the future of our libraries I think it’s the perfect book. Alan Bennett must have had a real twinkle in his eye as he wrote and I would really like to think that Her Majesty has read it!!

If you enjoyed this book you might like to try similar reads suggested by Suffolk Libraries on the page Similar Reads on Lesley's Bookshelf

Sarah's (from Suffolk Libraries) Review

I loved this book. It was funny, charming and actually believable - should the Queen ever encounter a mobile library at Buckingham Palace! The characters were well drawn in a short space of time. My favourite character was Norman Seakins who seemed constantly bemused by his good fortune. I liked hearing the Queen's thoughts about various authors - 'Authors she decided, were probably best met within the pages of their novels.'

The childlike delight of the Queen in discovering the joy of reading is wonderful. Written with great fondness for the Queen the book is all the same better for the underlying presence of Alan Bennett's sharp and witty satirisation.

Read this book, love this book and this book will make you smile, even on a wet Jubilee Spring day.

Please use the comments form below to post your review of 'The Uncommon Reader'.

Find My Past

Cathy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:16:29 +0100

Family History database containing over 750 million UK records now available for free from computers in all Suffolk libraries and record offices.

Use this link to search the most complete England Scotland and Wales census collection and complete birth, marriage and death records.

World Book Night 2012

Sarah — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:31:14 +0100

World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of people gift books within their communities to spread the joy and love of reading on Monday April 23.

Suffolk libraries are celebrating World Book Night with special late night openings. Events include giving away free copies of some of this year’s chosen books, candlelit readings, book swaps, special guests, quizes and games and much more. We are looking forward to a very special evening so come along and join in the fun.

Find out what is happening in a library near you.

To see the list of 25 world book night titles go to the World Book Night website.

Ipswich Library Meccano Exhibition

Sarah — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:00:39 +0100

The recent Ipswich Library Meccano Exhibition was a great success. Here are some amazing photographs of the displays for you to enjoy.

People's Book Prize

Nilima Banerji — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:33:38 +0100

The People’s Book Prize is a national competition aimed at finding, supporting and promoting new and undiscovered works: a truly democratic book prize decided exclusively by the public.

There are three categories: fiction, non-fiction and children's

Voting on the Spring Collection takes place until 20 May 2012 - you can vote for up to three books in each category but you cannot vote for the same book twice.

The awards ceremony will take place on 30 May 2012 so get voting for your favourites now!

Why not reserve a copy from Suffolk libraries of one of the shortlisted titles?

Spotlight on the Titanic

Cathy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:31:40 +0100

New Online! Mini website from the Encyclopaedia Britannica for primary school children, free to Suffolk Library users

The Spotlight on the Titanic includes activity centre with puzzles, games and a quiz

Lesley's Readers is here!

Sarah — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0100

Tune in at 2pm to Radio Suffolk on Monday 2nd April to hear about a new reading group supported by Suffolk Libraries.

Find out how to join in and listen to Lesley Dolphin's guests which include the author of the first read chosen for Lesley's Bookshelf. Keep up to date by following @SuffolkLibrary and @LesleyDolphin and tweet your own comments using #lesleysreaders. Meanwhile have a look at Lesley's Readers pages on the Suffolk Reads website.

Reviews of Life with the Lid off by Nicola Hodgkinson

Sarah — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0100

Lesley's Review:
What would you do if your husband falls in love and leaves you with 3 young children to bring up? Well Nicola Hodgkinson followed her dream and moved them to the countryside. The neighbours must have wondered what had hit them as she arrived at a ramshackle cottage on the Suffolk coast along with her brightly coloured gypsy caravan and horse which she tethered in the back garden.

This is a really easy book to read and Nick (as her children call her) paints a wonderfully vivid picture of life by the seaside - she makes us laugh with the escapades of her youngsters but doesn’t wimp out on the tougher stories... including memories of her own childhood and her difficult relationship with her mum.

Reading the book is a bit like following a blog as the Elf, Dan and Joe grow up. Nicola’s descriptions are so vivid that I could smell the roses and hedgerows and taste her Easter lemon curd. It’s funny and moving and heartwarming. Despite her troubles Nicola retains a healthy sense of humour and love of life, and it’s that you are left with when you finish reading: a sense of richness and wonder. Although you don’t have to be from Suffolk to enjoy it... it did make me glad to be alive and living in this wonderful county - if I could afford it I would be off to buy my caravan and horse straight away!

If you enjoyed this book you might like to try similar reads suggested by Suffolk Libraries on the page 'Similar Reads on Lesley's Bookshelf'.

Please use the comments form below to post your review of 'Life with the Lid off:

suffolk libraries direct — library information, renewals, reservations, news and events News

Suffolk libraries' new online catalogue

Table of Contents

1 My Account

1.1 Loans & Renewals

1.2 Reservations

2 Searching the Catalogue

2.1 Advanced Search

2.2 Search Results

2.2.1 Refining the Search

2.2.2 Placing Reservations

3 Comments & Feedback

New library system — update

8th – 16th May a new library system

May 20-26 is Dementia Awareness Week

‘Remember the Person’

Events include:

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Suffolk libraries

Adult Learner's Week Quiz

The Listening Project

Lesley Dolphin's Good Read on BBC Radio Suffolk

World Book Night - Gainsborough Community Library

Gainsborough Library World Book Night Sleepover

World Book Night at Woodbridge Library

Lesley's Readers - Find out the next title

Reviews of The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Find My Past

World Book Night 2012

Ipswich Library Meccano Exhibition

People's Book Prize

Spotlight on the Titanic

Lesley's Readers is here!

Reviews of Life with the Lid off by Nicola Hodgkinson