Great Shelford December library update
The library will be hosting two new drop- in groups during December. No need to book just turn up
Craft & Chat – Every Friday morning 10.30am -12pm. Pop in on a Friday morning to craft and chat with others. £2.00 to include tea or coffee.
Tea & Games – Every Friday afternoon 2pm – 3.30pm. A relaxed games afternoon. We will provide games, but please feel free to bring your own if you would prefer. £2.00 to include tea or coffee
Great Shelford will be hosting the following regular activities during December.
Story and Rhyme Time – Tuesday 5th and Tuesday 19th December at 10.30 am
For children aged 0-4 years. Come and enjoy stories and rhymes led by our wonderful volunteers. This is a free drop-in event. Parents/carers please stay with your children.
LEGO and DUPLO CLUB – Monday 18th December 4.30-5.30pm. Come along and have some fun making Lego models. All materials provided. Suggested donation £1.00.
Suitable for ages 2-10, Children must be accompanied by an adult during events.
Christmas and New Year Opening Hours: Great Shelford Library will close at 1pm Saturday 23rd December and reopen at 10am Tuesday 2nd January.
Posted Nov 14 2023
Great Shelford library November update
As the nights draw in and the weather cools, find a warm welcome at your library! Come to browse the shelves, join in with activities or just have a chat throughout the winter months.
Great Shelford will be hosting the following events and regular activities during November.
Story and Rhyme Time - Tuesday 7th November and Tuesday 21st November at 10.30 am
For children aged 0-4 years. Come and enjoy stories and rhymes led by our wonderful volunteers. This is a free drop-in event. Parents/carers please stay with your children.
LEGO and DUPLO CLUB – Monday 20th November 4.30-5.30pm. Come along and have some fun making Lego models. All materials provided. Suggested donation £1.00.
Suitable for ages 2-10, Children must be accompanied by an adult during events.
Engage Talk - “Scams Awareness” with Nigel Sutton from Cambridgeshire Police - Wednesday 29th November 2.00pm-3.30pm. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Posted Oct 18 2023
Great Shelford library October update and news
October is Black History month
We are supporting The Reading Agency’s “Mark my Words” campaign with a collection of new books to celebrate Black authors.
Friends of Great Shelford Library will be holding their Annual Book Sale from Monday 2nd October to Sunday 8th October, to celebrate Libraries Week. The theme this year is Sustainability and Climate Change. What better way to support our environment by buying used books and supporting your library in the process. We will be having a Special Green Display during Libraries Week. Offering customers the opportunity to comment on books they would recommend on subjects relating to Green Issues.
We will be hosting the following events and regular activities during October: -
Story and Rhyme Time - Tuesday 3rd October and Tuesday 17th October at 10.30 am
For children aged 0-4 years. Come and enjoy stories and Rhymes led by our wonderful volunteers. This is a free drop-in event. Parents/carers please stay with your children.
Author Talk– Wednesday 4th October 2.00pm-3.00pm
Local author Rachael Mellor talks about her new book, The Box with the Sunflower Clasp., a story of family secrets and a young Jewish woman’s escape from 1930’s Vienna to Shanghai. Tickets £3. Please book in advance in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Engage Talk: Tony Kirby. Why does Cambridge look like it does? - Wednesday 18th October 2.00pm-3.30pm. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
LEGO and DUPLO EVENT – Wednesday 25th October 2-3.30pm, £2 per child
Build your own Lego and Duplo creations. Suitable for ages 2-10
Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Children must be accompanied by an adult during events.
Posted Oct 2 2023
Great Shelford library September update and news
Congratulations to all the children who completed this year’s Summer Reading Challenge! We hope you enjoyed reading and coming along to events. If you haven’t finished yet, don’t worry there’s still time before the awards ceremony at the Great Shelford library on 25th September at 4.30pm.
Remember to keep visiting the library during the school term, too. We have lots of brilliant books to support your topics and projects, plus your library card gives you free access to Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
Heading into autumn our regular activities resumes, including:
Story and Rhyme Time - Tuesday 5th September and Tuesday 19th September at 10.30 am
For children aged 0-4 years. Come and enjoy stories and Rhymes led by our wonderful volunteers. This is a free drop-in event. Parents/carers please stay with your children.
Lego Club – Monday 18th September 4.30pm-5.30pm
Come along and have some fun making LEGO models. All materials provided. Suggested donation £1.00. Parents and carers please stay with your children.
Engage Talk: Visiting Antarctic - Wednesday 27th September 2.00pm-3.30pm.
“A Dream Fulfilled”, a talk by Rosie Feulll. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Stop by to find out what’s new, browse the shelves for some seasonal reads or use our free Wifi. You are always welcome at the library.
Posted Aug 16 2023
Great Shelford library August update
The popular Summer Reading Challenge continues to run through August. Please remember to keep coming into the library to tell us about the books you have read and to collect your stickers. The library will be hosting events to keep children entertained through the long summer holidays.
DINOSAUR EVENT - Wednesday 2nd August, 2-3.30pm, £2 per child.
Dino puzzles, games and stories, plus meet a T-Rex.
All ages but most suitable for 4+
BUZZY BEE EVENT – Wednesday 9th August, 2-3pm, £2 per child
An informative and entertaining demonstration of bee-keeping plus bee themed crafts.
Suitable for ages 5+
READY STEADY MAGIC – Wednesday 16th August, 2-3.15pm, £5 per child
Come and be amazed by our magician
Suitable for ages 3-10
CRAFT EVENT – Wednesday 24th August, 2-3.30pm, £2 per child
Create amazing junk modelling. Take your creations home.
Suitable for ages 3-10
LEGO and DUPLO EVENT – Wednesday 30th August, 2-3.30pm, £2 per child
Build your own Lego and Duplo creations.
Suitable for ages 2-10
For all children’s events please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Children must be accompanied by an adult during events.
Our regular library activities will resume in September
Finally - Don’t forget, if you are travelling on holiday you can pack a mobile device with
library eBooks, eAudiobooks and eComics to keep your luggage light.
Posted July 26 2023
Great Shelford library news July 2023
The popular Summer Reading Challenge starts in July! The challenge is designed to keep children reading all summer, with rewards along the way and a medal and certificate for everyone who finishes. Sign up from Saturday 8th July. The children can read whichever library books they like and there are 6 special stickers to collect, one for each week of the Summer Holidays. It’s a fun and relaxing and a great way for children to keep up their reading skills during the long school break. Great Shelford Library will be hosting various events at the library to add to the
Summer Reading Challenge fun.
Lego/Duplo Event for Children - Thursday 27th July, 2-3.30pm. £2 per child. Ages 2+
Dinosaur Event - Wednesday 2nd August. £2 per child. Ages 2+
Watch this space for more details of fun activities during August.
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
Engage Talk – Wednesday 26th July 2-3.30pm. Mary Burgess will be giving a talk on The History of Cycling in Cambridge. A donation of £2 is appreciated, please stay for a drink and chat after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Story and Rhyme Time. Tuesdays 10.30am 4th and 18th July. Drop in event
Lego Club. Monday 17th July 4.30-5.30pm. Drop in event
Finally - Don’t forget, if you are travelling on holiday you can pack a mobile device with
library eBooks, eAudiobooks and eComics to keep your luggage light.
Posted June 2023
Great Shelford library news June 2023
Friends of Great Shelford Library will celebrate Great Big Green Week (10-18 June) with an eco-event for children, Saturday 10th June, 2-4pm. Find out about insects, do some citizen science and make a bug hotel! Please book in advance at the library.
On Wednesday 14th June, 10am-1pm, the Friends are holding a drop-in event inviting you to write a Letter to Tomorrow. Express your thoughts and concerns about climate change in a letter to a future person – it could even be your future self. Letters will be added to a campaign to encourage decision-makers to act now on climate change.
https://greatbiggreenweek.com/
https://www.letterstotomorrow.com/
Crime books are always among the top ten most borrowed titles in libraries. Make the most of National Crime Reading Month in June by borrowing a book from the wide range on offer at Great Shelford Library. We have everything from classic and cosy to grim and gripping.
Don’t let a visual or print impairment stop you from enjoying books. The library can help you find many ways to read. On our shelves we have Large Print and audiobooks, and dyslexia-friendly books for children. We also offer eBooks and eAudiobooks. On our website, cambridgeshire.gov.uk/library, we have lots more resources and information, or please ask staff.
If you have caring responsibilities come to the library this month to find out about support and other useful information – look for our display.
We will also be running our usual activities - Story and Rhyme Time-Tuesday 6th and 20th June at 10.30 am
For children aged 0-4 years. Come and enjoy stories and Rhymes led by our wonderful volunteers. This is a free drop-in event. Parents/carers please stay with your children.
Lego Club – Monday 19th June 4.30pm-5.30pm
Come along and have some fun making LEGO models. All materials provided. Suggested donation £1.00. Parents and carers please stay with your children.
Engage Talk- The Joys of Nordic Walking -Wednesday 28th May 2.00pm-3.30pm. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Posted May 16 2023
Great Shelford Library News May 2023
For Children
Story and Rhyme Time - Tuesday 2nd May and Tuesday 16th May at 10.30 am
For children aged 0-4 years. Come and enjoy stories and Rhymes led by our wonderful volunteers. This is a free drop-in event. Parents/carers please stay with your children.
Lego Club – Monday 15th May 4.30pm-5.30pm
Come along and have some fun making LEGO models. All materials provided. Suggested donation £1.00. Parents and carers please stay with your children.
Lego/Duplo, Wednesday 31st May, 2.30-3.30pm. £2 per child. Ages 2+. Please book in library or email Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
For Adults
Author Talk by Matthew Green – Wednesday 3rd May 2.00-3.30pm
Drowned. Buried by sand. Decimated by plague. Explore the forgotten history of Britain’s lost cities. Matthew will be talking about his book Shadowlands: a journey through lost Britain. Tickets £5.00. Please book in library or email Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Engage Talk: The Western Front Alliance -Wednesday 24th May 2.00pm-3.30pm.
Emrys Jones will explain how he became a battlefield guide, leading tours of the Western Front. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Did you know that Cambridgeshire Libraries offers a Library at Home service for readers who find it difficult to get to the library? A local volunteer can visit monthly at a mutually convenient time, bringing library books, and have a chat if you’d like. It’s a free service. For more information about becoming a Library at Home customer or volunteer, please ask at your local library, email volunteers@cambridgeshire.gov
Mel Abbiss
Posted April 20 2023
Great Shelford library April update
Now the nights are longer and the clocks have gone back, why not come into the library to find resources to help you plan your spring/ summer projects. We have lots of books on travel, gardening, crafts and books for your holiday reading.
We’re looking forward to holding three children’s events during April at Great Shelford Library during the Easter holidays. Pre-booking and payment is required Please call in to the library to book a place.
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Spring Craft Event for Children: Thursday 6th April, 2-3.30pm. £2 per child. Ages 3+.
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Lego/Duplo Event for Children, Wednesday 5th April, 2-3.30pm. £2 per child. Ages 2+
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Lego/Duplo Event for Children, Wednesday 12th April, 2-3.30pm. £2 per child. Ages 2+
We will also be hosting our Engage talk and Reading Group for adults.
Reading Group – Wednesday 12th April 10.30am-11.30am – Please come into library to book your place. Alternatively get in contact via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Engage Talk: Wednesday 26th April 2.00pm-3.30pm. An inspiring talk by Cambridgeshire Air Ambulance. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
We are also hoping to start a “Knit and Natter” group in the library. Please come in to let us know if you would be interested.
Also keep an eye on out notice boards and Facebook pages – Cambridgeshire Libraries or Cambridgeshire Libraries Families, for other exciting events.
Mel Abbiss
Posted March 9 2023
Great Shelford Library News March 2023
Spring into some new reading at Great Shelford Library. Drop in to see what’s new in our displays, ask staff for recommendations - or suggest your own favourite titles for us to share with other readers.
March is Women’s History Month, which includes International Women’s Day, so we’ll be highlighting some of our best titles by and about women around the world.
Looking for some good company or things to do? The library is a great place to meet up with people and try something new. Here’s what’s happening in the library this month:
Reading Group – Wednesday 8th March 10.30am-11.30am – Please come into library to book your place. Alternatively get in contact via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Lego Club – Monday 20th March 4.30pm-5.30pm – Free event, donations of £1.00 appreciated. No need to book just come along. Parents and carers must stay with their children who remain their responsibility.
Engage Talk: Wednesday 22nd March 2pm-3.30pm. Dip into Great Shelford’s history. A talk by Helen Harwood on Great Shelford’s history. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Festival of Stories: Bee Storytime: Thursday 2nd March 10-11am. For families of children aged 0-5. Please book via the Festival’s Eventbrite page. For details please visit www.bit.ly/FestivalOf Stories
Are you a new arrival to the UK and Cambridgeshire, or do you know someone who is? Cambridgeshire Libraries website has a page with lots of useful information and support. Search for “Libraries of Sanctuary – Cambridgeshire County Council” to find out about housing, internet access, learning English and more.
We now have the Cambridgeshire Guide to Independent Living 2023 in the library, so come and pick up a copy if this sounds useful for you. The library is a great place for anyone looking for information on all kinds of local services, events and activities – we’ll be pleased to help you.
Mel Abbiss
Great Shelford library update February 2023
We look forward to seeing you in Great Shelford Library this February. Our warm welcome for the winter months continues - feel free to stay as long as you like during our regular open hours. Read a book, use our free WiFi and computers, or join in one of our social activities. This month we are hosting…..
Reading Group – Wednesday 8th February 10.30am-11.30am – Please come into library to book your place. Alternatively get in contact via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Half Term Lego Event – Wednesday 15th February 2.00pm-3.30pm – Parents and carers must stay with their children who remain their responsibility. Free event, donations of £2.00 appreciated. Limited places, please pre-book in library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Engage Talk: Wednesday 22nd February 2pm-3.30pm. Shackleton’s Epic Journey. A donation of £2 is appreciated. Please stay for a drink after the talk. Please pre-book in the library or via Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
February is LGBT+ History Month. Discover a rainbow of reading in our display of books by LGBT+ authors.
6-12 February is Children’s Mental Health Week. Reading all sorts of books for pleasure can give children a great sense of wellbeing, and we have lots they can choose from. We also have a special collection of books that support children with specific mental health problems, such as anxiety.
February is Valentine’s Day month, why not take a chance on a blind date with a book? Check out a mystery wrapped book from our display. Who knows, you might fall in love with it!
Finally, we would love to know about the books you have enjoyed so we can share with others.
Please bring the book to the counter so we can put on our readers recommendation stand.
Posted Jan 16 2023
Great Shelford library updates
Mel Abbiiss is Great Shelford's new librarian. She ill be working the same hours as Rosemary Humby, who retired in September.
Free charity workshop at Great Shelford Library with Sew Positive.
(Limited places, booking essential online: https://linktr.ee/SewPositive)
Escape the bustle and rush with a free festive mindful embroidery workshop at Great Shelford Library on Wednesday 7 December 2-4pm.
Volunteers from local mental health charity, Sew Positive, will teach you to make a small craft item for yourself or as a gift, using embroidery and slow stitching - which is also excellent for calming the mind.
Haslingfield resident Melissa Santiago-Val launched the charity in December 2020 after she set up a community project making fabric masks, garnering over 50 volunteers, which raised £40,000 for NHS Charities Together. The charity aims to bring people together who face social isolation through their services across Cambridge, using sewing, mending, upcycling and sharing skills in a safe social setting. This event is open to all and you don't need any sewing skills, but if you know how to embroider, come along and share your skills!
We will provide materials, but do bring any embroidery supplies if you have them. Limited places, booking essential online: https://linktr.ee/SewPositive.
This is a free community event, with thanks to support from South Cambs District Council, the Cole Trust and Cambridgeshire Libraries. Children of any age are welcome with an adult also doing the workshop.
If you are interested in volunteering or donating to our work, please email melissa@sewpositive.org and further information on our services is available on the link above.
We are also developing a Social Prescribing Pilot using Mindful sewing and mending, that will be operating hopefully in your area, so keep an eye on our channels and website for further information.
Posted Nov 29 2022
Shelford librarian retires
On Saturday 10 September, Rosemary Humby, Great Shelford Village Librarian, retired after 13 years of exemplary service to the community.
She is shown in the photograph with Francess Richardson (left), renowned village artist, with a painting of the library, commissioned by the Friend’s Group as a farewell present for Rosemary. A small group of well-wishers gathered in Great Shelford Library for Rosemary’s last session. Helen Harwood, Chairman of the Friends group, said farewell to Rosemary on behalf of all library users, volunteers and Friends and presented her with cards, gifts and the painting.
Rosemary has seen the local library through funding crises and Covid closures, remaining always patient, ever helpful and committed to the library and those who use and enjoy it. She will be much missed.
Sarah Coppendale
Posted Sept 12 2022
Shelford library October update
During week commencing 3rd October the Friends of Great Shelford Library will be holding their Annual Book Sale at the library to celebrate Libraries Week, with proceeds being used to help the library. Their lovely blue tote bags will also be on sale so do come and fill them up!
During Libraries Week, there will also be a Sensory Storytime held at Great Shelford Library on Thursday 6th October at 2pm. Please contact us to book a place as numbers will be limited.
Our October Engage talk will feature Tony Kirby on the History of the British Seaside. It will be at 2pm on October 26. Please contact the library to book a place. There’s no charge for the talk but if you stay for refreshments a donation of £2 would be appreciated.
With the rising cost of living at the forefront of people’s minds, please remember that membership of Cambridgeshire Libraries is free and you can choose from books and online magazines/daily papers, e-audiobooks and e-books. Use of the public computers is free, as is our public Wi-Fi. We also offer photocopying and printing for a small charge and free scanning. There is a free bus pass application/renewal service and we also offer short computer lessons with our volunteer Digital Buddy (these need to be pre-booked).
Families with children can come to our free Storytime sessions for children aged 0-4 years (10.30am on the first and third Tuesday each month during term time). Colouring pictures, stickers and certificates are also available for children in the library and there’s an accessible customer toilet with baby change facilities.
If you’re looking to learn, joining the library gives you free access to online dictionaries, family histories, biographies, newspaper cuttings, maps, plans and much more.
Would-be entrepreneurs can get a helping hand with advice on starting businesses through the Business and IP Centre. The resources will allow you to research your market, identify opportunities and make well-informed decisions when developing your business plans.
Here are three events which are coming up at the library during October:
For more information about what’s on offer at libraries in Cambridgeshire visit: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-culture/libraries
Contact details:
Telephone: 0345 045 5225. Email: Cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Posted Sept 13 2022
Great Shelford library
September library update
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: thank you to everyone who has taken part in the Summer Reading Challenge this summer – we hope you had fun! The official finishing date is 3rd September, but you can keep going until Saturday 10th September. Please make sure staff know that you have finished. The awards ceremony is at 4pm on Friday 23rd September.
STORYTIME IS BACK! Great Shelford Library’s Storytime for ages 0-4 years will be back from September onwards and there’s no need to pre-book. Sessions will run from 10.30-11am on the first and third Tuesday each month (term time only).
BIG BOOK SALE: the Friends of Great Shelford Library would be pleased to receive donations of books in excellent condition for their sale in the library during Libraries Week in October.
DO YOU NEED HELP WITH BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS? Please speak to staff at the library, as we can arrange for you to have a short one-to-one session with our Digital Buddy volunteer. We can also help with bus pass applications and renewals. Sessions are on Tuesdays and by appointment only.
POP IN AND CHAT: there will be another supportive get-together for parents and carers of children with additional needs on Wednesday 14th September from 1.30-2.30pm. Children are very welcome too. Please pre-book a place: phone 01954 284 672 or email: childandfamilysouth@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.childandfamilysouth@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
ENGAGE TALK: Wednesday September 21st from 2-3.30pm. A talk by Kate Armstrong: An Unexpected Journey. The life of an Officer’s Wife in the Dying Days of the Empire. Please pre-book in the library or via cambourne.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Donation of £2 appreciated.
Posted Aug 30 2022
Great Shelford library opening times
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Monday:3pm – 7pm
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Tuesday:10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
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Wednesday:10am – 1pm
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Thursday: Closed
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Friday:10am – 1pm and 2pm – 6pm
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Saturday:10am – 1pm
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Sunday: Closed.
Facilities and Equipment
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Street parking is usually available on Woollards Lane CB22 5LZ outside of the library. The nearest public car park is across the street by the Memorial Hall.
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There are bike racks outside the library.
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Bus service Citi 7 stops in nearby Tunwells Lane. Shelford railway station is 5 minutes walk away.
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Toilet
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PhotocopierA4, black and white and colour
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Printer - A4 black and white, and colour
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Scanner
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Computers - eight for adults and two for children.
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You don't need to have a library card to use the library facilities.
What's on at Great Shelford library