Ballyhackamore Library

Our current art exhibition from members of the Island Day Centre runs until the end of February.

We have had a lovely morning enjoying the launch of our new art exhibition from members of the Island Day Centre. Exhibition will run until the end of February so make sure you come down and don't miss out. In attendance were Billy, Dessie, Laurence, Linda, Eileen and Gareth.

Ballyhack Book Pack (one of our 2 adult reading groups) are currently reading Deaths head Chess Club by John Donoghue. This group meets on the 1st Monday of every month at 7pm. Come along on Monday 4th February to discuss and hear what others thought. There are still copies available if you haven't picked yours up yet. Have you read this book? Please comment with your thoughts below...

How are your New Years Resolutions going? How about joining the library? It's free to join and we tick a number of resolution boxes! Save money by reading books for free and many free events, environmentally friendly by reusing books and so much choice that you end up reading more! All we need is something with your name and current address to become a member. What are you waiting for?!

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Introducing our 2019 Reading Challenge! If you're looking for ideas on what to read this year then collect one of these bookmarks in branch and tick them off throughout the year. We look forward to hearing how you get on.

Our childrens reading group, The Page Turners, are currently reading The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo. This group meets on the 3rd Monday of every month at 3.30pm. If your child would be interested in joining this group then simply pop in and complete a form. There are still copies available if you haven't picked yours up yet. Have you read this book? Please comment with your thoughts below...

Mystery Mondays (one of our 2 adult reading groups) are currently reading Broken Harbour by Tana French. This group meets on the 2nd Monday of every month at 7pm. Come along on Monday 14th January to discuss and hear what others thought. There are still copies available if you haven't picked yours up yet. Have you read this book? Please comment with your thoughts below...

Ellie would like to remind you that there are only 3 more days to get your books here at Ballyhackamore before we close for Christmas. Make sure you come in and stock up on your holiday reading!

Ballyhack Book Pack (one of our 2 adult reading groups) are currently reading Midnights Children by Salman Rushdie. This group meets on the 1st Monday of every month at 7pm. Come along on Monday 7th January to discuss and hear what others thought. There are still copies available if you haven't picked yours up yet. Have you read this book? Please comment with your thoughts below...

What a great turnout we had at our Christmas Craft and Storytime. We made a melting snowman and heard about a Dinosaur who pooped Christmas! Thank you to everyone who came. See you all next year!

We caught Ellie the elf trying to sail off in a boat today on a quest for knowledge! Silly Ellie forgot that all she had to do was read the books around her. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”- Dr Seuss.

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Ellie the Elf was very busy last night wrapping you all Secret Santa gifts (she’s not all bad). She even left a wee clue on each one so you wouldn’t get one you really don’t like. Come and get one while you can!

Ellie the elf has been enjoying the benefits of our SAD lamp today. It helps her to beat the winter blues when it’s been so dark lately! You can enjoy it too, it’s as simple as the flick of a switch. Ask us the next time you’re in.

Ballyhackamore Library’s tree is looking particularly cute this year.

Our naughty elf, Ellie, has been swinging from our lovely paper chain! Remember, you can help us make the library’s longest chain the next time you’re in. Just ask at the counter.

Come and see our new exhibition by Lorna Knox. Lorna is Resident Artist at the Island Day Centre, off the lower Newtownards Road. This is a trust facility for adults with physical disabilities. Lorna mainly works in acrylics and particularly enjoys painting portraits.

Library users have been making suggestions in branch and online to name our elf. Today we placed all names into a hat and the Ballyhackamore Library elf is called ELLIE! Thank you all for your original suggestions, a special mention goes to Fluffycookies, Elvis and King Bob the Great!

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Congratulations to the Jack and the Beanstalk competition winners - Abigail (4) from Lurgan and Danny (10) from Magherafelt!
They have both won a VIP Package (including Meet and Greet!) from The Grand Opera House, Belfast 😍

IT’S HERE! Our SAD lamp couldn’t have arrived on a more fitting morning. It’s dark and wet outside so why not come in and combat seasonal affective disorder and the Winter blues at Ballyhackamore library.

BBC Radio Ulster - Classical Connections with John Toal, 'A Box of Delights' concert for Book Week 2018 featuring the Ulster Orchestra

culminated yesterday with a concert for Radio Ulster featuring readings from Mark Carruthers and Catherine Morrison accompanied by music from the Ulster Orchestra. Beautiful renditions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Paddington theme tune from the Orchestra as well as moving and funny readings from old favourites. Catch it now on BBC IPlayer.

bbc.co.uk 'A Box of Delights' concert for Book Week 2018 featuring the Ulster Orchestra.

Michaels for is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. “One of the great American novels that is incredibly, and perhaps sadly, as relevant and important today as it was 130 years ago”.

Our childrens reading group, The Page Turners, are currently reading The Polar Bear Explorers Club by Alex Bell. This group meets on the 3rd Monday of every month at 3.30pm. If your child would be interested in joining this group then simply pop in and complete a form. There are still copies available if you haven't picked yours up yet. Have you read this book? Please comment with your thoughts below...

Ballyhackamore staff member, Sian, during is reading Multitudes by East Belfast author Lucy Caldwell. “It’s enjoyable to be able to visualise the space the writer talks about and recognise the place names”.

Ballyhackamore staff member, Rosalind, for is currently reading Milkman by Anna Burns as her . She says the book “captures the feel of a city and its inhabitants living through dark times”.

Mystery Mondays Crime Book Group (one of our 2 adult reading groups) are currently reading The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. This group meets on the 2nd Monday of every month at 7pm. Come along on Monday 10th December to discuss and hear what others thought. There are still copies available if you haven't picked yours up yet. Have you read this book? Please comment with your thoughts below...

East Belfast singer songwriter, Anthony Toner, has sent us his for . Anthony is currently reading Charming Billy by Alice McDermott. He says "This started beautifully but is not QUITE holding my attention now I'm out in the middle. That might be my sin though- every book is a little relationship, and if a reader doesn't make the effort and that that relationship fails, it's often not the book that's at fault."

An elf is coming all the way from the North Pole to stay with us in December. Do you have any suggestions for what we shall call him/her during their stay? Comment your ideas below and we will draw the name from a hat and announce it on Friday 30th November.

Have you requested a book and not heard anything from us? Please make sure that we have the most up to date details for your notifications. If you have changed your email, mobile number or postal address then let us know the next time you are in.

If the recent loss of legendary comic creator Stan Lee has sparked an interest in comics and graphic novels then we have something for you. Zoom on down and have a look.

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Don’t forget to call into your local library this weekend and pick up a colouring sheet for your chance to WIN a Giant VIP prize for this year’s Grand Opera House Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk! Entries close this Wednesday 21 November at 5pm 🎨✏️

Sian Recommends: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton. A quick read that is comprised of a series of short essays discussing modern dating, female friendship, navigating awkward social situations and of course love. Uplifting and thought provoking. Copies are available to request from Ballyhackamore library.

Good Luck to anyone doing their AQE today from all the staff at Ballyhackamore Library!

We have a great selection of The Chronicles of Narnia in branch at the moment which perfectly coincides with CS Festival currently happening here in East Belfast. Why not come in and introduce your wee ones to this magical series or revisit an old classic yourself?