LGA – Information on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)
RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete used in roof, floor, cladding and wall construction in the UK from the mid-1950s to the mid-1980. We believe it was used by some municipal architects primarily in office and schools, but RAAC has been found in a wide range of...
Garden Suburb Community Library Celebrate their 10th Anniversary!
CMLNPN Chair, Kamal Shah and Network Manager, Chris Neath joined Garden Suburb Library this month to celebrate their 10th Anniversary operating as a community library. On 17 April 2012 the Market Place library re-opened its doors as a Community Library which was just...
Get Online Week Giveaway
Good Things Foundation are offering 500 free printed event packs given to the first 500 organisations who register their Get Online Week event on a first come, first served basis. Find out more
National Business Response Network
Business in the Community Linking businesses with voluntary organisations could be useful for you. In particular, their National Business response Network may be able to help your library as it provides vital support to local people; help can include operational...
Warm Welcome Spaces: New Look, New Voice
New Look, New Voice Warm Welcome Spaces have listened to feedback from partners and spaces about how the brand worked last year and wanted to create a refreshed brand that’s easy to use, accessible and better reflects the warmth and welcome that you provide for local...
LibraryOn – Talking to Customers
LibraryOn are scheduling interviews with customers who can help to tell the story of the wonderful things libraries offer. They’re doing this as part of their work to update content ahead of LibraryOn’s autumn release. They’d like to speak to customers who would be...
Help for Households – Activity Map
A list of free and low cost England-wide activities between June and September, as part of the government's Help for Households campaign. For more information on the support available during the rising cost of living, please click the link...
Phase 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provides grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. For Phase 3c of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, an additional financial year of funding has been granted by the...
Let’s make this a summer of reading for everyone
Lara Marshall, Libraries Engagement Manager at RNIB, walks through how children with a vision impairment and kids who are fully sighted can make the most of the Summer Reading Challenge. Find out more
Libraries Week becomes Green Libraries Week in 2023
Monday 2 - Sunday 8 October In 2023, Libraries Week becomes Green Libraries Week! Between the 2nd and 8th October, we are celebrating the work going on in libraries across the UK focused on sustainability and climate change. Any librarian and library can get involved....
Sensory Toys Success at Harbury Village Library Harbury Village Library has shared with us their recent success in securing funding from their local WI to purchase a collection of sensory toys to support young library users who are neurodiverse. The library was...
CyberExplorers Summer Mission for 11-14 year olds
Cyber Explorers is a government-funded education platform designed to empower second school students with cyber security skills to stay safe online and also set them on a science and tech career path. Normally completed during IT lessons and after school clubs, this...
Welcome Jane Swindall!
Jane joins the team as the Regional Network Co-ordinator for South West, West Midlands, East Midlands & Wales. Jane has worked in the voluntary and community sector for over 17 years, focusing mainly on digital inclusion, partnerships, education and community...
UK-wide Laureate’s Library Tour – H-K Applications
Using the alphabet as a compass, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage will give readings across the UK each spring this decade to celebrate the library as one of the great and necessary institutions. Would you like the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage to give a free reading in...
Willingdon Hub
Willingdon Hub celebrate its 1000th member! Huge congratulations to our 1000th member, Sue, who received a £20 book token and chocolate egg for helping us reach this amazing milestone. We’re so grateful to everyone who has supported and continues to support the...
People’s Powerhouse
The People’s Powerhouse’s want every northerner to be heard so they can influence the decisions that affect their lives. They bring northerners together so that they can decide what the future of the North should look like. The People’s Powerhouse wants to be the...
Changing the Tune: 10 Years of Playlist for Life
Playlist for Life are celebrating 10 years of inspirational work, join them for an exciting gathering of friends and partners. An inspirational day of talks, learning, sharing ideas and of course…music! This is a free, half-day event open to all. Find out more
Learn My Way & NDIN
Learn My Way The new Learn My Way platform has now been launched and is available for library users to start learning now - learners can even try a few topics before fully registering. Topics range from using devices and staying in touch online to online safety &...
‘My First 3-months with CMLNPN’ – Paul Kelly
Getting started...It’s been a whirlwind of a few months since I joined the Community Libraries Network in February 2023 as the Coordinator for the North and North Midlands. I’ve had a long work experience in the community development sector but have been quite blown...
Roman Road Library and Gym, Blackburn
Roman Road library is one of 3 in Blackburn with Darwen run with the support of local volunteers in partnership with the Council. Roman Road is managed by BwD Healthy Living CIC – a charity – and includes a Gym! Now there’s a unique approach to supporting healthy...
Fallowfield Library, Manchester – ‘Closure Never An option’ Book Launch
Fallowfield Library are celebrating 10 years of service with a book launch! Sat, May 20 at 5:00-7:00 PM Platt Ln, Manchester M14 7FB, UK The book celebrates 10 years since the start of the campaign to save Fallowfield Library and the development of The Place at Platt...
DeafblindUK
There are around 400,000 people living with deafblindness in the UK. This means that both their sight and hearing are reduced to the point where it impacts their communication, mobility and ability to access information. DeafblindUK is supporting organisations, like...
Great Get Together
This year’s Great Get Together is being held between the 23rd and 25th of June, and the Jo Cox Foundation would love for Community Libraries to be involved! Inspired by Jo Cox's message that 'we have more in common than that which divides us' the Great Get Together is...
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS)
Non-domestic customers that operate in energy and trade intensive industries (ETII) are now able to apply for additional support through the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme portal. A list of those sectors eligible for the additional support can be found on GOV.UK;...
London Mini-Conference – June 2023
Community Libraries Network welcomes you to the first regional mini-conference of 2023, taking place in Ealing, London. The mini-conference format is designed to encourage intimate discussion and networking, reduce the need for extended travel and showcase a small yet...
HI VIS FORTNIGHT 2023
HiVis fortnight 2023 is taking place between 1st – 14th June, marking a shift to a consistent, ‘first two weeks in June’ from here on in! What hasn’t changed is the aim to celebrate ‘all things’ related to accessible libraries and reading, and our desire to get as...
Loughborough Farm recruiting Senior Community Gardener
Are you experienced and passionate about community food growing and community gardening? Interested in joining our small and dynamic team of community food growers at the Loughborough Farm in Loughborough Junction, in south London? Then look no further. Loughborough...
Green Libraries Conference 2023
Green Libraries Conference - March 2023 The Inaugural Green Libraries Conference took place on Friday 24th March 2023 in London at the Wellcome Collection. 130 delegates came together from across the UK to discuss the attainable and sustainable successes of the Green...
LivingRoom – Creative Community Projects
LivingRoom is a series of micro-commissions in which we pair professional artists/companies with a local community group to create a bespoke performance or piece of artwork. Best of all, it's completely free to get involved! Take a look at some of the projects which...
Creating Inclusive Community Spaces on our High Streets
As Power to Change reflect on their interim learnings of Community Improvement District (CIDs) pilots, I consider how important community led organisations are in shaping future high streets. Community led organisations such as libraries can help breathe life back...