Latest news: Summer Fun - One giant leap into libraries
There are several really great events for children at Bury Council Libraries throughout this Summer beginning with a week of visits from our feathery and spikey friends.
26th - 30th July. Blast off! - with animals from all around this earth.
We have an array of wild animals blasting into a library near you:- cute hedgehogs and rabbits, Hawks & Owls, Ozzy - The Bearded dragon, Rosie - the Chile Rose Tarantula, scary snakes and spiders etc.
Monday 26th July 2 - 3.30 Radcliffe - Hawks & Owls.
Tuesday 27th July 10.30 - 12 Tottington - Hawks & Owls.
Tuesday 27th July 2 - 3.30 Ramsbottom - Hawks & Owls.
Wednesday 28th July 2 - 3.30 Bury - Hedgehog Rescue.
Thursday 29th July 10.30 - 12 Whitefield - Wild Roadshow.
Thursday 29th July 2 - 3.30 Unsworth - Hedgehog Rescue.
Friday 30th July 10.30 - 12 Prestwich - Ranger Rob.
Other activities this Summer include:
2nd - 6th August. Fly so high - Fly so high between the earth and sky. Parachute into the library for earth shattering fun.
9th - 3th August. Alien ooze and space dust. Get messy in the library with our hands on science experiments.
16th - 20th August. The next generation. Create an alien to challenge the doctor, Who?
Please see below for times of these events:
Monday, Radcliffe, 2pm - 3.30pm, Tel 0161 253 7160
Tuesday, Tottington, 10.30am -12, Tel 0161 253 6652, Ramsbottom, 2pm - 3.30pm Tel 0161 253 5352
Wednesday, Bury, 2pm - 3.30pm, Tel 0161 253 5873
Thursday, Whitefield, 10.30am -12, Tel 0161 253 7510 and Unsworth, 2pm - 3.30pm Tel 0161 253 7560
Friday, Prestwich, 10.30am -12, Tel 0161 253 7214
Contact your local library now for booking details or for further information Alison Davies on 0161 253 5864, email: a.davies@bury.gov.uk
Latest news: Author event: Harry Sidebottom at Bury Library
Wednesday 4th August at 7.30pm
Harry Sidebottom is the top-ten bestselling author of the 'Warrior of Rome' series of books. As well as being a popular author he is an Oxford Professor and a gripping speaker. This evening should provide a fascinating insight into the life of the Roman legions and the life of a renowned writer. Prices are £3 per ticket in advance for Library members, £4 on the evening and for non-members. Refreshments will be served.
Contact the library for tickets on 0161 253 5872/5873 or bury.lib@bury.gov.uk
Latest news: New community centre and library facilities
Bury Council has opened four new community centre and library facilities in the borough. The newly opened centres are:
Coronation Road Community Centre and Library
Westminster Avenue, Radcliffe M26 3WD
Tel: 0161 253 5443
Brandlesholme Community Centre and Library
Brandlesholme Road, Bury BL8 1HS
Tel: 0161 253 5010
Moorside Community Centre and Library
St.John’s Church Hall, Parkinson Street, Bury BL9 6NY
Tel: 0161 253 6471
Dumers Lane Community Centre and Library
245 Dumers Lane, Radcliffe
Tel: 0161 253 5503
The centres will provide a full library service with internet access and Council Information Point. In addition they have community rooms and facilities for local groups including IT and interactive whiteboards. We will be providing a range of training courses, reading groups, leisure and learning activities for all ages plus services such as hairdressing and chiropody. The centres are available for people wishing to organise an event please contact the centre/library direct for further information.
News: new to the library service - Blu-ray and E-audio books
A selection of Blu-ray discs is now available to choose from at Bury Library or alternatively, you can view and reserve available titles via our on-line library catalogue and pick them up at your nearest library. Blu-ray is a next generation optical high definition format producing a clearer, sharper picture which improves the viewing experience. A week’s loan costs only £2.50 or £1.25 for those with an Active Lifestyle Discount Card, overdue fines will also apply.
For those who like their reading on the go access to free E-audio books will be available to all library members from early May. Library members will be able to download any of the advertised best selling E-audio books 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the world. All that is required is a PC with broadband internet access and the contents can be downloaded to an iPod or other portable media player. Each title has unlimited availability so the latest best sellers can be downloaded at the same time, with new titles being added to the collection every month.
The Mission of Bury Public Library Service is...
" to help individuals and local communities to achieve their full potential by providing reading and learning opportunities, access to digital skills and services and fair and inclusive access to a range of educational, cultural and recreational materials and opportunities ".
The library service continues to offer a wide range of items for loan; books, videos, CDs and DvDs, and remains an excellent source of information on a wide range of subjects.
People's Network funding has resulted in improved access to computers and online resources at nearly all of the library service's facilities.
Our Customer Charter (128Kb, 4 pages, .pdf) details the ways in which we aim to provide the best possible service to our customers.
Details of how library stock is selected can be found in our Stock Management Policy 2008 (96kb 15 page pdf).
Online resources
To view all the online resources that Bury Council Libraries subscribe to please see the Online library services page. A selection of resources is highlighted below. Most of these are available both within the libraries and from home.
Ancestry.lib
This is a huge collection of databases including UK Census records from 1841 to 1901, the GRO Index of births, marriages and deaths from 1837 onwards and many more. Ancestry library edition is only available within Bury Council libraries.
Ancestry library edition
Britannica Online
The Encylopaedia Britannica is arguably one of the world's most famous publications. Published since 1768 it has developed into a huge source of reference information. Britannica Online offers even more than the 30 plus volumes of the renowned print version; it offers the full Encyclopaedia Britannica, dedicated Junior and Student versions plus journal and magazine articles.
Britannica Online - Junior Edition
Britannica Online - Student Edition
Britannica Online - Adult Edition
Oxford English Dictionary Online
Oxford English Dictionary web site.
The OED online is the full text Oxford English Dictionary which can be accessed both within Bury MBC Libraries and from outside the libraries with a Bury MBC Library card. If you are in a library click on the text alongside the logo above to go directly to the search screen. If not then please see our Oxford English Dictionary page.
People's Network Enquire Service
People's network enquire website.
The People's Network Enquire service is an online, real time 'chat' facility which runs 24 hours a day nearly every day of the year. If your local libraries are closed you can use this service to get the answer(s) you're looking for. Click on the text alongside the Enquire logo above to connect to a librarian and submit your question(s). For more information on the Enquire service please see the People's Network Enquire page.
Renew your books online
You can now renew your books online by logging into the My Record section of the online library catalogue and extending your loans there.
Help us to help you
Do you have a comment to make about the library service or a suggestion on how to improve our services to you? If so, please let us know by completing and submitting our online suggestion form.
Interested in an Adult Education course?
Find out which courses are available on the Adult and community education page.
