Aura Libraries Flintshire: launch of Ffrindiau Darllen Cymraeg/Reading Friends Cymraeg

Be sure to look out for some extra special storytime sessions on our social media this week in celebration of World Book Day (March 4). We would love to hear from our library members about which books you will be enjoying this #WorldBookDay. Send us a message on Facebook (@LlyfrgelloeddAuraLibraries), Twitter (@LibFlintshire) or Instagram (@llyfrgelloeddauralibraries).

Ffrindiau Darllen Cymraeg

We love hosting reading groups at our libraries and have been delighted to see our wonderful library members stay connected with us online via our Zoom reading groups. We are excited to announce the launch of some brand new online Zoom sessions starting this month: Ffrindiau Darllen Cymraeg (Reading Friends Cymraeg) in collaboration with Siop y Siswrn.

We truly believe that sharing a love of reading and discussing the wonderful world of books is a great way to stay connected during difficult times. The purpose of Ffrindiau Darllen Cymraeg is to create a space for Welsh learners and speakers to come together to socialise, build confidence and discuss a love of reading together. Two sessions will run on a monthly basis: one for intermediate Welsh learners and one for advanced learners and fluent speakers.

The session for intermediate learners will run every second Wednesday afternoon of the month between 2pm-3pm, with the first session taking place on Wednesday, March 10 at 2pm. The session for advanced learners and speakers will run every second Tuesday evening of the month between 7pm-8pm, with the first session taking place on Tuesday, March 9 at 7pm. To register for these sessions or any of our other regular Zoom events, please email Library Manager Susannah Hill at: susannah.hill@aura.wales

Weekly Book Corner

Keeping Mum by James Gould-Bourn

This week’s recommendation comes from Ceri at Buckley Library. Ceri recommends Keeping Mum by James Gould-Bourn. She said: “This book is centred around a father and son who are dealing with the loss of their wife/mum. Although the premise of the book sounds quite sad, it is both funny and uplifting. I give this title an Aura Book Score of 4/5.”

Keeping Mum by James Gould-Bourn is available to borrow from your local Aura library. If this book sounds right up your street, why not add it to your next Select and Collect order: search our online library catalogue and reserve titles, or email or telephone your local library. As a reminder, our libraries are currently open for Select and Collect orders only: to make an order please telephone us on 01352 703750, or email us at libraries@aura.wales . You can browse our catalogue at www.aura.wales/flintshire-library-catalogue/ and place a hold on items to collect from the library counter. We will just need to know your library membership number, a contact telephone number and email address, your book requests/preferences, and your preferred collection point.

Babies and Books sessions with Bookstart/Book Trust Cymru

Last week we posted our first ‘Babies and Books’ video session on our Facebook and YouTube page and will continue to post video sessions every Friday at 10.30am. These new online sessions will be all about lap time bonding with your baby and sharing books and rhymes. They will be short informal sessions (along with some Zoom sessions) aimed at babies aged 0-18 months. The sessions will include extra special Bookstart resources which you will be able to order through our Select & Collect Service.

We also have the Bookstart packs available from Book Trust Cymru for you to order. These are specially created book bags for you to keep and treasure and share with your child. Baby packs are for babies aged 0-12 months and Early Years packs for children aged 18-36 months are available to order and collect from your local Aura library as part of a Select and Collect order. If you would like to order a pack, we will just need to know your name, which pack you would like to order and your preferred collection point.

Author of the Month: Ian McEwan

Novelist and screenwriter Ian McEwan is our March 2021 Author of the Month and one of our favourite authors here at Aura Libraries. He is admired for his powerful prose, evident right from the beginning of his career with his brilliant gothic short stories, to his novels and screen adaptations.

Whether you are discovering his books for the very first time, or revisiting some of his best known and loved titles, we have put together a small reading list to set you off on an Ian McEwan adventure. Enjoy!

Where it all began: The Cement Garden (1978), The Comfort of Strangers (1981), The Child in Time (1987)

The game changers: Enduring Love (1997), Amsterdam (1998)

Beloved on the big screen: Atonement (2001), On Chesil Beach (2007)

Not just a one trick pony: First Love, Last Rites (1975): Short Story Collection and first publication, The Daydreamer (1994): Children’s fiction

Most recently: Machines Like Me (2019), The Cockroach (2019)

Aura Libraries top recommendation: Nutshell (2016)

From everyone here at Aura Libraries, thank you for reading, stay safe and we hope to hear from you or see you soon! Whilst we may be facing difficult times, remember: we are always united by books!

• Aura is a charitable, not-for-profit, organisation responsible for managing the majority of leisure, libraries and heritage services in Flintshire. Aura is owned by its employees and operates for the benefit of local communities.