Libraries Update – November 2023
Archives+ Accreditation
Manchester’s Archives+ partnership received a second honour this week – a certificate as an Accredited Archive Service in a visit by the UK National Archives Sector. Councillor Hacking received the accreditation on our behalf from Jeff James, Chief Executive Officer and Keeper of UK National Archives following the National Archives event celebrating 10 years of their Archives Accreditation scheme. Fifty archives services attended the awards ceremony.
Christmas Book Gifting Appeal
Manchester Central Library Development Trust has launched a new appeal, raising funds to support Read Manchester and Manchester Libraries book gifting campaign in the run up to Christmas. Find out more, see a special message from Santa, and donate here!
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:
“As we approach Christmas we know that many families will face some tough challenges as the cost of living crisis continues and buying presents or new books may not be top of their priority list. But this really makes a difference so, for those who can afford to donate even a small amount to our book gifting appeal, they can be assured that they are contributing to our children’s futures as we know that children who read do better at school and have more opportunities in life as they grow older. By donating to our book gifting appeal today – whatever you can afford – you will be giving the gift of reading to Manchester children and families, struggling to make ends meet.”
Saluting Our Sisters: Global Entrepreneurship Week
Continuing with the Black History Month 2023 theme ‘Saluting our Sisters’, the Business & IP Centre Greater Manchester team arranged an event to honour Black Women from a business perspective here and now from the ten GM boroughs. An amazing panel discussed best practices for start-ups to established businesswomen across all sectors, sharing their stories about their journey.
Hosted by Carol Ann Whitehead FRSA CMgr CCMI, Deputy Chair of the Chartered Management Institute Women’s Board and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, there was a very engaging range of conversation topics with the guest speakers and the audience. Everyone also had the opportunity to network with each other as well as the guest speakers Jamilah Bruce, co-founder of digital agency MAJ Digital, Kanika Selvan who works for a tech for good mission, and international guest Foluke Michael, inspirational Salford MSc Project Management graduate.
Archives+ Activities with Manchester Schools
A very busy Archives+ team delivered 7 Shakespeare workshops to Manchester schools. 220 children attended various workshops covering Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and a Midsummer Nights Dream. Participants had the opportunity to view original archive material, create spells and much more!
As part of the Comino Poet in Residence project, 24 teachers came in to Central Library for a tour of the buildings and also to look at a range of archive material. Hey looked at Peterloo and Women’s Suffrage materials to give them inspiration for the project. The project aims to work with Cultural venues, schools and poets and musicians.
Book Review Winner – Withington Library
Withington library staff are very proud of their young customers, this years book review winner wrote an amazing review for the Summer Reading Challenge competition, and won for her age category! It was such an interesting review and it really reflected her love of reading. It’s so good, that staff proudly displayed it in the library for others to enjoy and be inspired by. This years prize winner was delighted to receive her prize of a kindle, books and a football shirt.
Baby Opera – Central Library
Central Library hosted an amazing performance by the English Touring Opera. Performers provided a wonderful opera experience for 17 babies with their parents babies under the age of 18 months. Feedback included:
“Brilliant. Olive absolutely loved it. Engaged from start to finish. Thank you”
“Perfect musical and sensory experience for babies. Loved it”
Greater Manchester County Record Office at Heaton Chapel
St Thomas’s Church in Heaton Chapel hosted a relaxed afternoon of History, Tea and Talk which featured an exhibition of Church Archives materials and historical documents loaned for the day by Greater Manchester County Record Office / Manchester Archives. Janet Flynn from St Thomas’s parish committee said:
“We had a lovely afternoon with around 45 people who aren’t members of the congregation came, some having past links with our church, some meeting friends and neighbours they hadn’t seen in decades including a 94 year old gentleman who met his former milkman from the 1960s. The archives themselves were a great source of enjoyment with people looking for relatives and ancestors. So without the wonderful help from Jenny Marsden from Manchester Archives, none of the above could have taken place – it was a great opportunity to raise the profile of the Church”.
