The Library Hub In 2023



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


THE LIBRARY HUB IN 2023


Many readers will remember that in 2016 a group of Wenvoe residents took over responsibility for our village Library to save it from closure by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Thus was born our Community Library.

Subsequently Wenvoe Community Council obtained money to replace the old building with the new one we see today which opened in Autumn 2021 as the Library and Hub for the Community. An article giving more background appeared in the November 2021 What’s On.

This item is a report to the residents of Wenvoe about the activities of the Library/Hub during 2023.

2023 Activity Report

The Library has seen it’s stock of books revised so that all books in the Adult section are modern or have been recently borrowed. New books arrive regularly and by arrangement with the Vale Library Service, our Volunteers request authors and titles which are popular with our readers. In addition, any book not held in the Library can be borrowed electronically, from home, by a registered user, being delivered to the Library for collection.

A ‘recommendations’ section has been opened where readers can champion a book they enjoyed with the book displayed as a guide to borrowers. New books are displayed as well as other selected reads. All displays are changed regularly.

Themed months were introduced in Autumn 2023 starting with Halloween and then Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. Books about the theme are displayed, including children’s books, enabling borrowers to have a ready source of material and parents,suitable books to inform their children about the subject.

On alternate Thursdays classes of children from our Primary School come, with their Teachers, to borrow and return books. This has been arranged with support from all Teachers, covers the whole School and encourages the skill of reading and the value of books as a resource for life.

New individuals have registered for library services throughout the year with borrowing activity being brisk.

Hub activities are numerous and wide ranging. Some are held when the Library is open, others are closed sessions.

Monthly:

The village PCSO attends on a Wednesday afternoon when he is on duty, to report on criminal activity and answer queries from residents. The times are announced on the Wenvoe Community Facebook page and in the Library; any resident can come.

During winter months talks are given, usually by a local resident, on topics of interest, again open to

anybody. There is a small fee to cover heating costs.

A Wellbeing session has started. Individuals with mental health concerns, and their carers, can come to a private session where they can exchange information and talk with others in similar situations. Carers who have come say they have found the sessions very helpful.

Weekly:

Clwb Clonc is a Welsh language group for those who wish to use their Welsh, or learners new to the language. It has proved very popular and is open to anyone.

Smaller groups using French and Italian languages have also started. These language groups are established by like-minded individuals who welcome people to join them.

Stitches is a group who make handicraft items.

Parent and Toddler group encourages parents of young children for friendship and activity. It is musical with piano, singing and reading stories.

Silver Foxes is a private session limited to men, to provide an opportunity for friendship, comradeship and discussion.

Financial matters

The Library/Hyb is self funding and costs about £5,000 per year which has to be raised. Our main sources of income are:

The coffee/refreshment area. This has been very successful and continues to give a major source of income. Anybody is welcome to come in for a drink when the building is open.

Coach trips have taken place during to London and the Christmas Market in Bath. Open to anybody, they were popular.

Raffles were held at Easter and Christmas with donated prizes.

Library/Hub Management Team



Wenvoe Community Hub – Feb 2024



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wellbeing Group: 2nd February, 2.00-3.00pm.

Cuppa with a Copper: Wednesday 2:30pm. TBA.

Talks at the Hub: Friday 23rd February at 7.00pm., Ross Thomas is back with another engaging historical talk – ‘Oliver Cromwell-Warts and all’.

Stitches at the Hub. Mondays 1.00-3.00pm

Our stitches group has been meeting for over four years working on a diverse range of crafts to include knitting, sewing, crochet and embroidery If you would like to spend time with like-minded crafters, learn new techniques, or are having difficulty with following a pattern, completing a project, or just seeking inspiration then this is the group for you. There is no charge and no need to book a place, just turn up with your work.

Are you struggling to commit to your new year resolutions? Let the Hub help you.

If you haven’t visited the library Hub in a while, now is the time to let us help motivate you to keep to the goals that you set yourself for the new year. If

you planned to find a new hobby, read more, keep fit, eat healthily, learn new skills, or plan an exciting trip then we might be able to help you keep on track. Additionally, if your goal was to get to know your community better or make new friends, then why not join our team of friendly volunteers?

NEW BOOKS

Non-fiction: 60 Remarkable Buildings of the National Trust. Spanning 900 years, this book tells the stories behind 60 buildings including a medieval tithe barn, a Jacobean mansion, and a Victorian lighthouse.

Crime: The Island by Catherine Cooper. Influencers and journalists are at a luxury resort in the Maldives when the island is cut off by a storm and people start dying. Are the guests really who they seem to be?

Welsh Language Fiction: Coed y Brenin by Colin Jones. Aberarthur is a sleepy village in South Wales. Lots of people live here, and each person has a story.

A Good Read: Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’ Farrell. This vivid evocation of the beauty and brutality of Renaissance Italy and of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

Young readers: The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club by Alex Bell. On an expedition to the Icelands, Stella and the explorers see a world of danger, adventure, and snow pirates

 



Welcome To Autumn



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


 

WELCOME TO AUTUMN
I am sure that many visitors to the hub over the past month have seen the entrance hall basking in shades of orange and gold, embracing the start of the Autumn season.
Conkers and acorns were in abundance along with a super-size pumpkin donated by Anwar from the village store. Inside the hub Halloween was supported by a suitably spooky display.
But let’s not forget what the primary function of the Hub is and that is books! Both displays include a selection of Halloween & Autumn related books available for loan once the displays are taken down.
Can we look forward to more displays in the Hub entrance? The answer to that is a resounding YES. Following on from the Autumn/ Halloween displays, November will see the entrance hall decorated to represent Fireworks & Remembrance and of course Christmas will be the theme for December.
Watch this space for news about the 2024 monthly themes.
Bernie Bird


Here are some new books recommended for you


Fiction:

Hunting the Falcon -Henry V111, Anne, Boleyn, and the marriage that shook Europe by John Guy and Julia Fox.

Nonfiction:

The Palace. From Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of History at Hampton Court by Gareth Russell.

Crime:

Shadow Stock by Andy McNab.

Lying Beside You by Michael Robson.

Romance:

The High Notes by Daniel Steele. Her new novel of stardom and ambition.


Dates for your Diary


Wellbeing Group Friday 17th November 2 -3 p.m. We continue with our monthly group meetings and welcome new members to join us.


Talks at the Hub Friday 24th November 7 p.m. To commemorate Remembrance month, Andy Kellett will return for another popular talk, entitled Shot at Dawn: military executions WW1


Christmas themed Whist Drive Thursday December 14th, at 2pm in the Hub. Call in

for further details

Christmas Raffle. Look out for our wonderful prizes. The draw will take place on Saturday 16th December at 12 noon.


Test your literary knowledge

  1. Name all four March sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.
  2. Who is the current Poet Laureate?
  3. What is the name of Harper Lee’s second novel published 2015?
  4. Which two authors won the Booker prize in 2019?
  5. Which Emily Brontë novel is the inspiration for a Kate Bush song?
  6. What is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series?

 

Quiz answers here

 



COMMUNITY HUB NEWS SEPT 2023



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


 

Congratulations Amy Bainbridge

We turned out in force to congratulate Amy for gaining a first-class BA Honours degree in Illustration. Amy was presented with a book token by Claire Ellis who along with Amy has been volunteering with us since Wenvoe Community Library opened in 2016.

Talks at the Hub

Our monthly talks will recommence on Friday the 22nd of September at 7p.m. with Robert (Bob) Bird’s talk entitled A Short History and Measurement of Time. Bob is a fellow of the British Horological Institute and will give an entertaining historical perspective on time and reflect on his 38 years’ experience in restoring mechanical time pieces including a surprising link to Wenvoe.

Tickets are available now at £3 from the Hub.

 


Here are some new books recommended for you


Nonfiction. Close to where the Heart is by Malcolm Alexander. Set in the wild and remote landscape of Eday, Part of the Orkney archipelago, this book is an honest tale of rural life from the only doctor on the island.

Crime.Triple Cross by James Patterson. A killer smites undercover of darkness, triggers no alarms, and leaves no evidence behind. Alex Cross faces his toughest case yet.

Romance. – One Time Love by Taylor Jenkins Reid. From the New York Times Best Selling author, an epic love story


Cuppa with a Coppa

Our next meeting with our Community Police Officer is at 2.30p.m. on Wednesday 27th September.


Wellbeing

We continue with our monthly group meetings and welcome new members to join us on Friday 8th September at 2p.m.


Stitches Monday 1-3

Bring your hand stitching or knitting/crochet’ quilting, embroidery project and chat with like-minded crafters over a cuppa..

Group feedback – We have several weekly meetings at the Hub. Here a few words to sum up what the Stitches group feel about meeting up with fellow crafters:

Companionship, sharing skills, meeting friends, we’ll have you in stitches’.

 



COMMUNITY HUB NEWS AUG 2023



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


Summer Reading Challenge 2023

How to take part through the Hub:

  1. Tell us that your child would like to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
  2. We will get you signed up and give you a special reading record, which also has instructions on how to access fun reading activities online.
  3. The challenge is for your child to read six books over the holidays.
  4. Your child can borrow and read books, e-Books, and audiobooks of their choice. They can read anything they like: fiction, fact books, poetry, joke books, picture books and graphic novels all count towards completing the Challenge!
  5. We will provide special incentives along the way.
  6. Your child will receive a certificate for reaching their Challenge goal.
  7. There will be a special prize for each child who has read more than six books over the holidays.

 

Additional Summer Opening Hours

The Library will be open on Thursdays over the summer break for adults and children who wish to continue with their Sumer Reading Challenge or wish to sign up for it if they have not already done so.

The Hub will also be open. Don’t forget that as well as hot drinks we also have ice-creams, lollies etc. on sale.

We also have lots of new children’s books, plus toys, jigsaws, puzzles and games to amuse adults as well as little ones.

The opening days are 27th July, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st August from 11.00am – 1.00pm

 

BFI Replay – 60 years of screen stories digitised and preserved just for you.

Exclusively available to UK Public lending libraries, BFIReplay is a FREE resource for users to browse and enjoy for leisure or study. There are thousands of digitised videos and television programmes from the collections of the BFI National Archive and UK regions and nations film archives, alongside contributions from other significant archives such as BBC and ITV.

The videos span six decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s, offering a glimpse into Britain’s past, its people, and places; recording and revealing an era of rapid social, industrial, political, and technological change. You can be sure of lots of nostalgic Welsh content too. To access the platform just click on the BFIReplay icon on the Library Hub PC desktop.

 

Date for your diary

Cuppa with a Coppa: 2:30pm Wednesday 30th August.

 



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

 

Birthday celebrations
The library volunteers got together to celebrate Sylvia’s 80th birthday with her.


Sylvia Harvey, one of the founding Directors of Wenvoe Community Library way before it became a Hub, was instrumental in ensuring that the village retained a library service.
New Patio
The patio to the side of Hub is now available to users to sit and enjoy a drink in the fine weather. We look forward to seeing you there. Don’t forget that we also do take-way drinks, ice creams and lollies.
Summer Reading Challenge – Ready, Set, Read.
Just to remind you that this year’s Reading Challenge is aimed to keep children’s minds and bodies active over the summer break.
Children will be challenged to get reading over the summer holidays. From July to September, young readers will be able to join a superstar team of athletes and their marvellous mascots as they navigate a fictional obstacle course. The Youth Sport Trust has developed fun activity cards, which, alongside the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge Book Collection will aim to keep young imaginations active over the summer holidays. By participating in the challenge children will have the opportunity to explore new reading material, develop skills and discover new interests. Alina Trigger


Amelia Farm Trust Visit
What a lovely morning we had with the Mother & Toddler group on Wednesday at the Amelia Farm Trust. It was a beautiful day with, thankfully, a bit of a breeze, so it wasn’t quite so hot.
We started off with a play in the playground and Ellis looked really cool driving the tractor. Then we set off to explore. The little ones were enthralled by the animals, although they were a bit surprised by how loud the donkeys were! It’s a great learning environment for the children to expand their vocabulary while having a great time. They loved seeing the alpacas and the sheep, who had recently been shorn.


A walk under the tree canopy was a bit of very welcome shade, especially when we came across the Gnome Village. Then a sit, a drink, and a snack by the lake, where we saw loads of beautiful blue dragonflies.
There were some very tired tots (and grownups) by the end of the morning, but it was great fun!
Anne Leslie

 


 

Coming Soon at the Hub



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


Coming Soon at the Hub


Wellbeing Group:

2 pm Friday 3rd March

The Hub is more than a depositary for books, it’s about making connections in the community and maintaining people’s wellbeing. This is a self-directed, peer support group for carers and those they support who are living with dementia, and other memory loss conditions or mild cognitive impairment. Further details at the Hub.


Noson Lawen,

Friday 10th March in the Village Hall

Join us for a bilingual evening of mirth and merriment performed by local talent for your amusement and entertainment. Tickets £8 to include refreshments. Bring your own bottle and glasses (or a straw).


Cuppa with a Coppa:

2:30pm Wednesday 5th April

This is an increasingly popular event with the community where Stephen Davies, our Police Community Support Officer, talks about the latest scams and incidents that have occurred in the village over the last six weeks. Stephen will be on hand to listen to your concerns and to offer crime prevention advice. This is your chance to discuss any policing issues that may be affecting you as an individual or as a community.


Talks at the Hub

You will need to book early to get a seat at these popular events. Tickets are £3 and are available at the Hub.

March 7pm., Friday 24th-March

Russ Kielty, 217 (Dambusters) Squadron, Making the Difference

Russ will talk about one of the most famous squadrons in the RAF, formed during the Second World War to carry out a single special and dangerous task.


7pm., Friday 21st April

Gardeners’ Question Time with Mike Tucker, Joyce Hoy, and Gordon Jones. Bring your questions and specimens to our specialists who will be pleased to answer your horticultural questions.


Information at the Hub- NewsBank

If you are a library member, then why not access your newspapers online? All you need is your library ID number and your PIN and you have a wealth of material at hand. We have these details if you have lost them. If you go to the VOG Library site, you will find NewsBank under the heading of Electronic Resources. NewsBank is a free searchable platform that consolidates current and archived information from thousands of newspaper titles. Beyond the library, professionals of all kinds can use NewsBank resources to access useful information of value to their organisations.



Our New Shelves Have Arrived



WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com


Coming Soon

Cuppa with a Coppa

2:30pm Wednesday 8th February

Wellbeing Group

2.00 pm Friday 10th February

Talks at the Hub

7.00pm Friday, 24th February. Anne Jones, Romance in Wales. Tickets £3 on sale now.


Advance Notice

Noson Lawen

Friday 10th March in the Village Hall

This is a bilingual evening of merriment and mirth where talented members of the community perform, and others make fools of themselves for your entertainment. Further information and tickets will soon be available at the Hub.


Our new shelves have arrived

We have been busy sorting our new shelving and we hope that you will call in and see how smart the library is now. The old shelves, apart from being heavy to manoeuvre, were not equitably accessible to our borrowers. A grateful thanks to the Vale of Glamorgan who supported our bid for funding the project.

To make space for the new shelves, we needed to reduce the existing stock by withdrawing many of the older books. Don’t worry, we left plenty of space to accommodate newer stock.

Most of our members now borrow books from the online catalogue where there is a huge selection of books from which to choose. If you haven’t yet viewed the catalogue, you will find it at the Vale of Glamorgan website. Scroll down to Libraries and click onto On-line Catalogue on the left of the screen. You will be asked for your library card number and your PIN number (the 4-digit number you were given on registration). Just let us know if you have lost these. Remember to ask for your chosen books to be sent to Wenvoe. Many borrowers have also downloaded PORI, the new app from Welsh Libraries which will allow you to access Welsh public libraries catalogues from your mobile device.

If you don’t feel comfortable ordering your books online, our volunteers are always happy to sit with you and search the catalogue for books you might enjoy


Some new titles this month

We have a selection of new craft and children’s books this month as well as your favourite crime and fiction titles. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

Adult Crime, Thrillers and Fiction

James Patterson – The Horse Woman

David Steele – Invisible

David S. Ross – Dashboard Elvis is Dead

Sheila Norton – Secret of Angel Cove

Simon Booker – Three’s a Crowd

Local History

Glyn M Jones – Sully – a Village

 



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