Online Clwb Clonc

Clwb Clonc

We are still meeting online every Monday at 11 a.m. If you would like to join us and keep up with your Welsh language skills, then sign into Zoom. The log-in details are the same each week -Meeting ID: 760-4305-6456. Password: 5dgcwT. We’d love to see you

 



 

Library Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Reading Challenge

The first ambassadors have been announced for the Summer Reading Challenge 2020 including: Jacqueline Wilson, Paul O’Grady, Cressida Cowell, Charlie Condou, Philip Ardagh, David Baddiel, Rob Biddulph, Sam and Mark, Hacker T Dog, Ben Fogle, Joseph Coehlo, Katie Thistleton, Harry Baker, Konnie Huq, Guy Bass, Steven Butler, Gareth P Jones, J M Joseph, Jennifer Killick and Laura Ellen Anderson!

Are you ready for the Summer Reading Challenge? #LetsGetSilly http://ow.ly/pkZl50zXSd7

 



 

Libraries lost in Conflict

WENVOE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com
Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary


 

News

Hay Festival Online. We were so disappointed that this year’s festival was cancelled but if you haven’t already subscribed, Hay Player allows you to play as much of Hay’s audio and film as you like. For an annual subscription of £10. you can access thousands of audio and film recordings of great writers and artists from Hay Festivals around the world.

Cancelled Hay trip. If you bought a ticket for the library trip to Hay, a refund can be requested by telephoning the number on your ticket. Alternatively, the value of the ticket(s) can be off-set against a future trip.

Hay Festival 2020 Goes Digital. Well, we weren’t there physically but what a treat we had instead. All the events were streamed live so you could see your favourite ones from the comfort of your armchair. The event I have chosen to report to you is “Libraries Lost in Conflict”. The interviewer was John Simpson and the participants Bettany Hughes, Edmund de Waal and Paul Boateng


Libraries lost in Conflict

“LIBRARIES ARE A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR HUMAN CIVILISATION”

Libraries Lost.

December 1989 Rumania Central University Library Bucharest 500,000 books destroyed.

August 1992 National University Library Sarajevo Shelled by Bosnian Serb army.

2016 Library of Mosel University by ISIS. 1 million books destroyed. One of the most devastating acts in human history.

What do we lose?

Libraries are easy targets which disrupt a whole community.

Destroying past, present, future.

The loss of a repository for shared memories, emotion, collective experience, hope.

The value of Libraries

Learning, storytelling, encounters – benchmark of a civilised country.

Books are precious – culture, humanity, crucible of ideas, expression of freedom.

People love books, they will walk for 7 hours to have one, trek for hours by camel.

When did libraries begin?

1004 World’s first public library in Cairo.

IRAQ 5,400 years ago Birth of writing, Birth of libraries. Archives, Records, Memories are curated.

Libraries have been around for 5,400 years, let’s raise our voice and make sure we keep them.

Comment

This article brought home to me the unseen as well as the seen value of our library in Wenvoe. We will re-open our Community Library when it is safely possible and hope to develop our services, but will be needing the support of our local Community for our fund raising activities if we are to succeed.

Sylvia Harvey, Wenvoe Community Library

 



 

“The Belly of Paris”

Off the Shelf

The Belly of Paris

 

In our Zoom meeting this month we discussed Emile Zola’s ‘The Belly of Paris’. Les Halles (the belly of Paris) was the huge central market of the capital and the centre of this mid 19th century novel. Florent was wrongly imprisoned on Devil’s Island for murder in the coup of 1851. Florent manages to escape and return to his native Paris where he lives under a false identity with his half-brother Quenu and his wife Lisa, above their charcutier shop. He is found a position in the market as a fish inspector.

This is a story of intrigue, petty jealousy and rival social positioning amongst the working class of Les Halles and depicts the widening gap between the rich and poor of Paris. Florent is an ineffectual character who, after being tested to his limits by the stall holders, finally gains the respect of the market traders. However, his true identity is discovered by his sister-in-law’s jealous neighbours. Florent who has involved himself with a group of socialist activists, is turned in, is arrested and deported again.

We felt that although there was not much of a story to the plot, Zola perfectly described the market, and the lives and social conditions of those who worked there. He depicts the poverty, and the constant striving for social standing and respect by the working class. In his vivid description of the market halls, the stalls and the characters, he takes us into the homes of the traders, describes their clothes, food, habits, and language. His portrayal of the produce and the sights and smells of the market provided such an atmosphere that we felt we could be taking a live tour of Les Halles. We gave the book a score of 8/10.

When Will The Library Re-Open?

WENVOE COMMUNITY LIBRARY

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

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

When will the Library re-open?

You will probably have heard the First Minister announce that libraries in Wales can now re-open. Vale libraries are currently seeking guidance from Public Health Wales about the necessary safety measures. This is likely to be some time ahead for community libraries and no date has been suggested. However, Barry and Penarth libraries, are working on a Click and Collect service. We will keep you updated next month with full details how to access the service when it is in operation.

Clwb Clonc meet online every Monday at 11 a.m. If you would like to join us and keep up with your Welsh language skills, then sign into Zoom. The log-in details are the same each week -Meeting ID:760-4305-6456. Password: 5dgcwT. We’d love to see you.

Summer Reading Challenge

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is still going ahead but obviously will be facilitated online at http://ow.ly/skcU50zDzWW The “Let’s Get Silly!” campaign will open on 1st June leading up to the launch day on Friday 5 June.

The digital challenge platform will include a safe sign-up process, a personal profile area where children can set reading goals, review books, view book recommendations and access guides to e-lending. There will also be a forum to chat to friends, play games, download and print activities, as well as family activities with rewards and unlockable content to keep children and families engaged throughout the summer months. The platform will be FREE for children and families to use.

Lockdown Library activities.

Here are some ways to access new books, even though we are closed

The National Shelf Service https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPUIqlJM0aieXdq-LxKDvWA/live. This is a new daily YouTube broadcast featuring book recommendations from professional librarians. The daily videos will focus on helping children and families discover new, diverse reading experiences. The broadcast will run Monday to Friday at 11.00am each day at https://www.cilip.org.uk/nationalshelfservice. The selected titles will be available to borrow as e-books from most local libraries via their websites.

Welsh Libraries

This year the Get Creative Festival has moved online with #GetCreativeAtHome. Head to the #RBdigital app and check out their range of crafting magazines (including MollieMakes magazine), which are packed with tutorials on all sorts of creative projects. #GetCreative RBdigital UK https://libraries.wales/my-digital-library/e-zines/

Online Book Group Wales – Borrowbox https://libraries.wales/my-digital-library/borrowbox

Each month, titles will be chosen by popular vote. Titles will become available as eBook or/and eAudio through our Borrowbox service, or you can join in with your own print copy. There will be a Welsh and English title available for discussion every month. They will prompt a ‘half-way’ discussion, followed by a final discussion at the end of each month.

Wonderful children’s eAudioBooks are available as simultaneous reading titles from BorrowBox this month, so no queues!

Star Wars

Read Star Wars Comics today on the RBdigital app or website – use your library membership number to register! https://libraries.wales/my-digital-library-rbdigital-comics/

Off the Shelf

In our Zoom meeting this month we discussed Emile Zola’s ‘The Belly of Paris’. Les Halles (the belly of Paris) was the huge central market of the capital and the centre of this mid 19th century novel. Florent was wrongly imprisoned on Devil’s Island for murder in the coup of 1851. Florent manages to escape and return to his native Paris where he lives under a false identity with his half-brother Quenu and his wife Lisa, above their charcutier shop. He is found a position in the market as a fish inspector.

This is a story of intrigue, petty jealousy and rival social positioning amongst the working class of Les Halles and depicts the widening gap between the rich and poor of Paris. Florent is an ineffectual character who, after being tested to his limits by the stall holders, finally gains the respect of the market traders. However, his true identity is discovered by his sister-in-law’s jealous neighbours. Florent who has involved himself with a group of socialist activists, is turned in, is arrested and deported again.

We felt that although there was not much of a story to the plot, Zola perfectly described the market, and the lives and social conditions of those who worked there. He depicts the poverty, and the constant striving for social standing and respect by the working class. In his vivid description of the market halls, the stalls and the characters, he takes us into the homes of the traders, describes their clothes, food, habits, and language. His portrayal of the produce and the sights and smells of the market provided such an atmosphere that we felt we could be taking a live tour of Les Halles. We gave the book a score of 8/10.

Your contributions: We would love to receive a review or synopsis of a book you are reading during lockdown. Please email your contributions to wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

 



 

“Birdcage Walk” by Helen Dunmore

Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore

 

Not to be beaten by the lockdown we held our meeting via Zoom. This month’s book Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore was set in Bristol during the time of the French Revolution. Lizzie Fawkes was brought up by her idealistic widowed mother with whom she is very close. Her mother has remarried but is in poor health. Lizzie is recently married to widower John Diner Tredevant whose first wife is understood to have died in Paris. Diner is an entrepreneur who has overstretched himself in building a grand crescent in Clifton. In different times he would have sold the grand houses, but the war has made potential buyers reluctant to invest. After his workmen walk out, he has to abandon his venture. Diner is a complex character, demanding and emotionally needy. The novel becomes very

dark following the death of Lizzie’s mother in childbirth. Diner’s financial problems begin to affect his personality and Lizzie has suspicions regarding the death of his first wife. This was a novel about mortality, and it was Helen Dunmore’s last novel, written during her terminal illness in 2017 when she died aged 64. We thought the relationship between mother and daughter was wonderfully described and the love between them was palpable. Her description of the walks on Clifton downs made us feel that we were walking beside her on her journeys. Overall, we gave the book a score of 7/10

 



 

Now You’re In Lockdown

Aren’t you pleased that you’re a library member?

Now you’re in lockdown, aren’t you pleased that you’re a library member so you can enjoy our fabulous collection of online materials such as ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines? You’re not a member? Well we’ve got some good news; online library registration is now active!

Just click the “Join Online” button on our online catalogue and become a member in minutes: https://wales.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/vog_en

As if we didn’t already have enough to offer, we’re delighted to add ULibrary Digital to our list of online services. Discover even more audiobooks, available to listen to instantly with your library membership. Ulverscroft are offering their eBook service for free up until July 31st. So if you are having trouble using either of the Vale services or finding what you want to read you could try this. Ulverscroft ebooks—https://www.ulibrary.net/register/

Digital Communities Wales—https://www.digitalcommunities.gov.wales/covid-19/

has a host of resources worth looking at, especially on the padlets.

A Dinas Powys volunteer, who is a keen Bridge player recommended this site for others keen to learn and play Bridge online – https://www.bridgebase.com/

Clwb Clonc

We are still meeting every Monday at 11 a.m. but rather than in the café, we are at home on our computers. If you would like to join us and keep up with your Welsh language skills, then sign into Zoom. The log-in details are the same each week -Meeting ID: 760-4305-6456. Password: 5dgcwT. We’d love to see you, bring your own coffee.

Your contributions

We would love to receive a review or synopsis of a book you are reading during lockdown. Please email your contributions to wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

 

 



 

‘Tombland’ by C.J. Sansom

‘Tombland’ by C.J. Sansom

This month, our book was ‘Tombland’ by C.J. Sansom. This was the seventh in the series of Matthew Shardlake, the hunchbacked lawyer detective.

In this case Shardlake is directed by Lady Elizabeth (the future queen) to investigate the murder involving a distant relative. In so doing, Shardlake, aided by his assistant Nicholas Overton, finds himself embroiled in the peasant rebellions of 1549 and in particular Kett’s Rebellion in Norfolk. Sansom crammed a huge amount of historical information in the book’s 800 pages but contrary to it being a tedious read, it transported us into the 16th century and we all felt that we were alongside Shardlake in his quest.

Sansom’s books were new to most of us and as we enjoyed the book so much, we felt that we would have liked to start with the first book of the series. We gave ‘Tombland’ an overall score of 8/10.

 



 

March Library News

March Library News

 

The Cancellation of Planned Events and Activities: The following events have been cancelled:

Gardeners’ Question Time

Bus trip to Hay Festival

For those who have bought tickets, we will contact you individually.

Easter Raffle: The tickets sold as well as the prizes which have again been generously donated, will be moved to the Village Show .

 

Clwb Clonc. The editor of the Dinesydd visited us last month for a photoshoot. Our meetings are going strong with about ten of us regularly attending on Monday mornings for a lively chat to practise our Welsh speaking skills.

Volunteers: We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new volunteers and Friends of the Library. We depend on the support of the community to keep the library running and to support the events and activities that pay the bills. We look forward to working together again soon.

 



 

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