Celebrating milestone of Wrexham Library

In December 1972, Wrexham Library moved from its previous location on Queens Square to a new purpose-built building off Llwyn Isaf. To help us celebrate this milestone we would like you to share with us your stories and memories of you using the library, either the old building or the new one. Were you an avid reader as a child and couldn't wait to visit the library? Have you attended any of our events and want to share any anecdotes with us? What does the library mean to you? How has the library impacted on you and influenced your life? We would love to hear from you. Email Karen at library@wrexham.gov.uk

Author of the Month 

Simon Scarrow was born in Nigeria. He travelled the world as a child, developing a passion for writing and history from a young age. Once he completed his master's degree at the University of East Anglia, he followed his love for history as a lecturer in Norwich, before finally becoming a full time writer in 2000. Scarrow is a Sunday Times bestselling author, writer of historical novels, young adult fiction and thrillers that have been published worldwide. Some of his bestselling books, selling over five million copies, include the Eagles of the Empire series, which he first began writing in 2000. A Roman military series, it depicts the trials and tribulations of the life and army campaigns of the fictional Roman soldiers, Macro and Cato, with the 21st book in the series set to be published later this year. Scarrow has also written a number of historical novels about the lives of Napoleon and Wellington, referred to as the Wellington Napoleon Quartet, as well as many successful standalone novels such as The Sword and Scimitar, about the Siege of Malta in 1565, and Blackout, a Berlin Wartime thriller. Scarrow lives in Norfolk with his wife.

Advance list for new titles

If you'd like to know in advance which books are being published during July and August, call into your local library and pick up our Advance List for New Titles flyer. If your favourite author is on the list, beat the queue by placing a reservation for it. The new list contains forthcoming books by Clare Mackintosh, John Connolly, David Baldacci, Kathy Reichs and much more!

Llay Craft Group

Due to popular demand, Llay Library now run two craft groups on a Friday afternoon during term time. Both groups have fun crafting but both specialise in working with parchment craft. If you would like to join either of these groups to make parchment cards, contact the library on 01978 855100. Tea and coffee is provided and a warm welcome awaits you.

'Unlimited Copies' Titles from BorrowBox

Did you know Wrexham Libraries offer a service where you can download 10 eBooks and 10 eAudiobooks for free for 21 days via the BorrowBox App? Borrowing digital content has never been simpler, smarter or more convenient. BorrowBox digital content is available any time from work, home or anywhere 24/7. You can reserve or borrow up to 10 eAudiobooks and 10 eBooks at a time. This month's featured 'Unlimited Copies' titles for children include The Worry Website by Jaquesline Wilson, How to Win a Nobel Prize by Barry Marshall, How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, You Are A Champion by Marcus Rashford, plus many more. To try one of these books or to choose any other e-book/e-audio books, visit www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries and follow the online services link.

Book review

Control Freak by Sean McGlynn

Sean McGlynn's Control Freak has a real authentic feel for its main theme - control. A former solicitor in an Irish town Sean's story of John and Josephine takes us down the path of girl meets boy, she believes he's 'the one' -  and like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz thinks she's on the yellow brick road to a magical life. Except it didn't quite work out like that. Realism comes back with a vengeance. The lovely young man who bought the chocolates and the flowers during the courtship metamorphoses into a total control freak, cutting her off from friends and family and ensuring that she is under his control. He's really clever too. There's no obvious domestic abuse - Josephine doesn't have black eyes and bruised lips - and her friends don't realise she is losing her identity as John subsumes her entire existence. Mind games and implied threats keep her on edge all the time. Her life is a living nightmare. Control Freak is a clever book, a subtle exploration of how people get trapped in abusive relationships without realising the signs that are out there. It's well written, leaving the reader to wonder how Josephine will negotiate her way out of that trap. Garion