Brent Summer Fun Festival - Library Events for All Ages - from July 28th

 From Brent Libraries Service

Join us for a new programme of library events for all ages. Whether you’re looking to learn, create, or connect with others, our libraries are hosting a variety of free activities for the whole community. Find events near you Get ready for a summer of reading, creativity and adventure! Join the Summer Fun Festival and take on the challenge of borrowing and reading 6 books. Complete the challenge to receive a finisher's certificate and a free packet of seeds to help make Brent greener. Plus, enjoy a fantastic programme of free weekly creative activities, including: 28–30 July: Charlie's Chocolate Factory – create your own story map 4–6 August: X Marks the Spot – make a recycled treasure map 11–13 August: Cartoon Comic Fun – create your own hero or villain  18–20 August: There's a Monster in Your Book – design a recycled monster  25–27 August: Out-of-This-World Planets – get creative with space! Not a library member? It's free to join! Children aged 0–12 can sign up at their local Brent Library. 📅 28 July – 5 September 📍 Across Brent Libraries Visit our website to find out more Summer Fun Festival Celebration Join us for a fabulous storytelling performance with award-winning oral storyteller and rapper Alim Kamara, as we celebrate the end of the Summer Fun Festival! Book Review Competition: Submit a weekly book review at your local Brent Library for a chance to win a Book Review Prize awarded at the celebration. 📅 Saturday 5 September 📍 The Library at Willesden Green: 12–1pm, Wembley Library: 2.30–3.30pm Become a SFF Youth Volunteer! Are you aged 15+? Get involved and help make the Summer Fun Festival a success! Contact libraries@brent.gov.uk 🏛️Heritage Exhibitions & Workshops Iraqi Scribes   Join us in celebrating the creativity, heritage, and identity of Iraqi artists through a unique display showcasing a selection of works by local Iraqi artists. This display highlights the richness and diversity of Iraqi artistic expression, bringing together stories of memory, tradition, and the voices of the Iraqi diaspora.  📅 6 July - 31 August  📍 The Library at Willesden Green No booking required  🌿 Community Events Carnival Vibes: Carnival bandana workshop for adults  Come and join local Brent resident Natasha for this adult workshop where you can design your own carnival bandana. Keep it bold and eye-catching!  Places are limited so book your free space on Eventbrite.  If you would like to, please bring along your own bandana to decorate in this workshop.  📅 Tuesday 25 August, 2.30 - 3.30pm 📍Harlesden Library  Book your free ticket Carnival Vibes: Decorate your carnival mask Join us for this arts and craft workshop for children and families. Get ready for the carnival and design a colourful, feathery mask.  Drop in for this free event.  Suitable for ages 5+  📅 Tuesday 25 August, 3.30 - 4.30pm 📍Harlesden Library Relaxed Early Opening at Wembley Library Families with children aged 3–15 are invited to a special Autism-Friendly morning at Wembley Library. Enjoy a quieter, welcoming space to read, explore, borrow books and get creative with a craft activity. A visual story will be sent to visitors in advance to help you prepare for your visit. Please note: You must be a Brent Libraries member to attend. Join the library: https://www.brent.gov.uk/libraries-arts-and-heritage/libraries/join-the-library Questions? Contact Jana Cameron: 020 8937 3603 | jana.cameron@brent.gov.uk 📅 Thursday 20 August, 9.30–10.30am  📍Wembley Library  Book your free ticket 💛 Health and Wellness Summer Magic: Stories, Rhythm & Health   Come and party! Enjoy magical storytelling and crafts with Brazilian author Thais Braga, capoeira workshop, facepainting,  toy swap - a community where kids can swap, give or get as many toys as they want. Plus health checks, information and advice provided by Brent Health Matters. 📅Thursday 6 August, 11am – 4pm 📍Kilburn Library Browse your library’s books Don't have time to head down to the library? Download the Libby App on IOS or Google Play to access ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. You can borrow them for free, instantly with a library card and Libby: the award-winning, much-loved app for libraries. Download the Libby app on Google Play Follow us on Instagram Keep up with all the latest news and events from Brent Museum and Archives. Follow Brent Museum and Archives

Brent SOS Libraries urge Cabinet to keep their pre-election promise on Preston Library

This letter has been sent to Brent Cabinet members prior to tonight's meeting.

 

Re: Preston Community Library

Report for consideration at Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 13^th September 2016

I write as chair of Brent SOS Libraries, an umbrella group supporting library campaigns and community libraries across Brent. The contents of this email have been approved by the four community library groups at Kensal Rise, Cricklewood, Barham and Preston. I have been made aware of the report relating to redevelopment of the Preston Library site, which I understand you are due to consider at the cabinet meeting tomorrow, Tuesday 13^th September 2016.

It is well known that a clear pre-election promise was made at a public meeting on 7^th May 2014, when the Brent Labour Party promised to “offer the building at a peppercorn rent to any local community group who can provide a sustainable community library... that is our pledge. We will not open to competitive tender in order to give preference to local groups.” You were present at that meeting and supported that pledge.

Since then, volunteers in Preston have worked extremely hard to set up and sustain a community library in the building. Despite the constraints placed on them by sharing the library building with local schools using it for overflow classrooms, library volunteers in Preston have developed an amazing local resource, which is providing valuable services to the community. As you probably know, Preston Community Library is a registered charity. In addition to providing books, study space, and computers with internet access (vital for people who have no or limited computer or internet access at home), they also run, among other things, ESOL classes, a film club, and writing projects for children and young people.

Representatives from Preston Community Library meet regularly with those from the other community libraries setting up across Brent (Barham, Kensal Rise and Cricklewood), as part of the umbrella group Brent SOS Libraries. In recognition of the importance of our work, we have recently received a grant of £45,000 over two years from the Council’s Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund for support and development of services across the four libraries. We were one of eleven bids from a total of 43 applications to be successful.

The four community libraries have also started to work with the Brent Library Service and we have met with them on several occasions this year. In July we were very pleased to participate in the Culture Open Day at Willesden Green Library, an event which we planned jointly with the Library Service. We look forward to working more closely with the Library Service in the future.

In the circumstances, I was most surprised to read the report prepared for the Cabinet, which makes no reference to the pre-election promise. The proposals contained in the report breach that promise by proposing open market tender and a significant annual rent for community space. A community library is not going to be able to pay the sorts of sums proposed. Libraries are not designed to be profit making, they are providing a free service to the community. This is understood at Kensal Rise and Cricklewood, where the libraries will only pay a peppercorn rent. The hard work and goodwill of the many volunteers supporting Preston Community Library, and the benefit that it provides, should not be disregarded in this way.

Any proposal for future use of the Preston Library site should honour your pre-election promise and should recognise the value, including the social value, of the work done by Preston Community Library. PCL should not be subjected to an open market tender process and should not be required to pay more than a peppercorn rent. If the site is to be redeveloped in some form, PCL should be provided with space in the new development on the same basis, and you should provide them with alternative accommodation whilst the site is being redeveloped.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Collignon 

Chair, Brent SOS Libraries

Chair of Operations Group, Friends of Kensal Rise Library