Creepy House Summer Reading Challenge

Sligo Central Library once again held a successful Summer Reading Challenge, aimed at encouraging children to read over the summer months. Coordinated by the Reading Agency in the UK, this year’s theme was “Creepy House” and the challenge ran in libraries throughout the UK and Ireland. Children aged 6-12 years were challenged to read six books from Central Library during July-August.

Sligo children certainly rose to the challenge, with over 300 joining in Sligo Central Library. Some children also joined the Library for the first time in order to take part in the Sumner Reading Challenge. Most participants read many more than six books, resulting in 6,083 books being borrowed from the Juvenile Library during the month of July 2013. The children received posters, stickers, bookmarks and wristbands when they joined, and collected stickers as they completed the challenge. Children also accessed the Summer Reading Challenge website to view author profiles, book recommendations, competitions and games.

Participating children and their parents celebrated in Sligo Central Library, Stephen Street, Sligo, on Monday 12th August at 3pm, where Mayor Cllr. Marcella McGarry and Cathaoirleach Cllr. Pat McGrath presented Certificates and Medals to all participants. The children received goodies from Library staff to reward them for successfully completing the challenge. The Summer Reading Challenge is an excellent initiative to encourage children to maintain their reading levels during the holidays and completing the challenge is a great boost to their confidence.

Man Booker Prize 2013 Longlist announced!

'This year's prize judges can breathe out, briefly at least. Faced with scaling a gargantuan mountain of books – a daunting 151 of them – they have reached the first plateau, panting and aching no doubt, and whittled out a longlist for the 2013 prize. The “Man Booker dozen” comprises an eclectic list of 13 novels that will surprise and intrigue in equal measure.

Of the various predictions that have been bandied about as to what might be on the list none have even got close. This year's judges, yet again, have shown themselves to be independent of fashion. Diverse doesn't quite do the longlist justice: seven different countries are represented on it and there is a strong hand of established authors selected (Tash Aw, Jim Crace, Jhumpa Lahiri, Colum McCann, Charlotte Mendelson and Colm Tóibín) mixed with first timers. Only Crace and Tóibín have previously appeared on Man Booker shortlists – Crace with Quarantine (1997) and Tóibín with The Blackwater Lightship (1999) and The Master (2004)'. Man booker Prize website 23rd July 2013

For a full listing of the longlisted titles please visit the official website http://www.themanbookerprize.com/man-booker-prize-2013

Sligo Libraries 'National Playday' Colouring Competition

The aim of National Play Day is to help increase public awareness of the importance of play. Promoting play is a key policy response to improving outcomes for children and supporting children’s physical and social development. Play is integral to children’s lives. National Play Day is an opportunity to link activities already undertaken by Local Authorities and many other locally based providers, youth and sporting organisations.

Ballymote Community Library Entries

Sligo Libraries ran a number of events throughout its branch network for National Recreation Week and National Playday, one of which was a colouring competition of “Nina The Owl”. The winning entries from Central Library, Tubbercurry & Ballymote Library customers can be seen in the various images.



Sligo Central Library Winners

Tubbercurry Library Entries



The image selected to be coloured in was that of Nina The Owl who is “EU guardian of children’s right to go to school and get an education.” Entries were received from a number of playgroups, pre-schools and afterschool homework clubs throughout County Sligo.  Sligo County Library Service wishes to acknowledge the support given by Sligo County Childcare Committee with regard to the distribution of entry forms and to the Department of Children & Youth Affairs for funding the events.

Tubbercurry Community Library Entries

E-books now available at Sligo County Libraries

 Downloadable eBooks are now available for all our customers with Sligo Libraries. This user friendly service has a range of books, which we will slowly add to, in all genres. Click on the following link http://sligolibraries.wheelers.co  to go to Sligo Libraries ePlatform, where you can easily register.

To register you will need your User Id Number (which is printed beneath the barcode on the back of your library card) and a unique Pin No. of your choosing. Once your details are submitted they will need to be confirmed by Sligo Libraries before you can start borrowing. You will be informed of your successful registration by email.

Once successfully registered you can begin downloading to your reader; however you will need to download an ‘e-book reader App’ specific to your device. For more information on this please click on the link below for the ePlatform help page. http://sligolibraries.wheelers.co/help/guides

Contact Sligo Library at sligolib@sligococo.ie  if you encounter any problems. Happy reading!