Libraries Inspire Stories
Below are a collection of Libraries Inspire stories from libraries across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Volunteering in Kent Libraries Leads to Job in London
Posted on 6 July 2011
Byron had been a Computer Buddy at County Central Library in Maidstone since January 2007. A recent graduate, Byron was job searching when he applied to volunteer. “My volunteering jobs can range from showing people how to use the Internet and email, to providing ...
Read full storySeeing the Detail in the Library
Posted on 6 July 2011
At a Penwortham Library family history session a sight-impaired woman was given help using the computer and the magnifying software, Supernova. The IT volunteer, Ann, joined the session and, being a keen ornithologist, she showed the woman some webcam images from the RSPB website. ...
Read full storyComputers Don't Bite
Posted on 6 July 2011
Dave found himself being made redundant from his long-term job with BP, simultaneously, possibly due to the stress of the redundancy, he suffered a heart attack. Poor health, no prospect of employment, depression took a hold. Living in a small town ...
Read full storyFormer Prisoner Finds Help and Support in Accrington Library
Posted on 22 June 2011
Royd is 35 years old. He learned basic computer skills in prison, but when he got out after eight years, he realised that everything was being done online. He wanted to be more comfortable with society, yet it felt like he had returned to ...
Read full storyBeating Depressing in the Library: From Transport to Computers in Dudley Libraries
Posted on 2 June 2011
Alan is a 60 year old haulage contractor who until recently had his own business which he owned for more than 30 years. Because of rising fuel costs and ill health, he decided to sell his business. But after the first few weeks of not ...
Read full storyYork Library Lends Smart Meters
Posted on 9 February 2010
Around Christmas 2008, York Libraries purchased a collection of recession-beating “Smart Meters”, to help customers calculate how much energy their appliances were using. The response from the public was overwhelming, with people coming into the library to join up especially to use the Smart Meters. One of these customers was ...
Read full storyLibrary Vehicles Deliver Health Roadshows
Posted on 16 December 2009
Partnership proved to be the key to delivering a successful outreach project in the Holme Valley area of Kirklees. A series of well being road shows were delivered directly to the community by utilising the mobile library vehicles. As well as offering ...
Read full storyCrowds Fill Public Library on Health Day
Posted on 16 December 2009
By 11 AM the library was buzzing. Queues stretched along the non-fiction floor as people waited for free blood and diabetes tests. Downstairs in a lecture room grandparents played a game of tennis doubles with their grandchildren. On the Ground floor ...
Read full storyLibraries Help Make Business Dreams a Reality
Posted on 17 November 2009
Caroline Payne was pregnant with her second child when she decided that she wanted to be self-employed. She didn’t want to return to a full time job and miss out on her children growing up. Her previous work experience gave her the inspiration she ...
Read full storyMother of Invention
Posted on 17 November 2009
Rowena Mead found that getting her young daughter Saskia to let her brush her teeth was a daily struggle; Saskia would hap-pily chew on a toothbrush by herself but as soon as Rowena took the brush and tried to brush Saskia’s milk teeth, the ...
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