Friends of West Barnes Library - Update for 2012
Target: 250 more active users
The term ‘active users’ means library members who have taken out a book, DVD or talking book, or logged in the People’s Network, in the present financial year. The Friends group aims to encourage 250 more active users of the library before the end of March this year. So please help us reach that target: if you or other family members, neighbours or local friends have library cards you haven’t used for a long time, everyone can do their bit to help save West Barnes Library. Use It, or you may Lose It.
Do you enjoy walking?
We need some helpers to assist with delivery of our Winter Newsletter to Friends members’ homes later this month. If you would be able to help out by in a few roads near where you live, please email us back as soon as possible to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Merton library users gain access to six million borrowable items
Last month, Merton become the 15th member of the London Libraries Consortium (LLC), offering the borough’s library users access to six million items across the member authorities through the shared library catalogue, a brand new website and online catalogue. The new catalogue is one of the biggest in the country and includes access to some of the largest community language collections in London. One membership card can be used to borrow items from and return them to any of the 15 boroughs in the consortium. From this month, all users will be able to renew books and make basic enquiries via a dedicated 24-hour phone line.
Merton libraries’ new web portal, Arena, offers users across the borough’s seven libraries and from any internet-enabled computer a more intuitive and interactive experience than traditional library catalogue searching. You can now read book reviews by other library users, or comment yourself on what you’ve read – similar to Amazon’s website. You can search the catalogue and log-in here.
Read on for information about upcoming library events.
EVENTS
Coming up in January at West Barnes Library (next to Motspur Park Station):
Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.30pm-3.30pm) IT Lessons For Beginners. Learn to use the internet.
Tuesdays (2pm-4pm) Tuesday Rendezvous. Weekly social drop-in for older people. Enjoy a cup of tea and a chat, plus games, quizzes, talks, outings. There is a £2 charge to cover costs. For details call 020 8543 1781 or 020 8395 9512.
Fridays (10.30am-11.00am) Toddlers’ Rhyme Time. Weekly rhymes and musical activities for 0 to 5-year-olds. No need to book.
Thursday 9 February (4pm-5pm). Police surgery.
Saturday 11 February (2pm-4pm) Children’s Craft. Fun drop-in for youngsters to be colourfully creative with paper, card, glue and glitter. For 3 to 10-year-olds.
Tuesday 21 February (10.30am-noon) Local History Talk: Housewives & Heroines. Local women have not only influenced the history of Merton but the nation as a whole. This coffee morning/talk will look at some of the amazing ladies associated with the borough’s heritage, from queens and authors, to suffragettes, performers and wartime heroines.
Tuesday 21 February (6.15pm-7pm) Book Club. All welcome. Ask staff for details.
Saturday 25 February (2pm-4pm) Children’s Art Club. To put your child’s name on the waiting list, please contact Carole or Laura at West Barnes Library (020 8274 5789).
Thursday 8 March (4pm-5pm). Police surgery.
Tuesday 20 March (10.30am-noon) Local History Talk: The Merton Historical Society Photographic Record Project. David Roe will talk about this fascinating project designed to record Merton’s heritage through the medium of photography. In addition to highlighting parts of Merton, Morden and Mitcham, David will also show a range of images from West Barnes, Motspur Park and the surrounding districts. Refreshments.
Monday 16 April (4pm-5pm). Police surgery.
Tuesday 17 April (10.30-noon) Local History Talk: Merton’s Scientific and Technological Pioneers. The engineers, scientists, doctors and inventors associated with Merton – from civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette to cardiac specialist Russell Brock and astronomer Joseph Norman Lockyer.
For more information see the West Barnes Library events section via www.merton.gov.uk/libraries or call the library on 020 8274 5789. For details on how to join and support the Friends of West Barnes Library, collect a leaflet from the library or visit www.friendsowbl.org.uk.
Friends group needs an events organiser
Are you good at organising? An events co-ordinator is urgently needed to help the Friends of West Barnes Library put on a variety of activities. If you have some time to spare, are methodical and reliable, with access to email and would be good at orchestrating the efforts of helpers, you could be just the person the group seeks. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write to the Friends c/o West Barnes Library, Station Road, KT3 6JF.
Craft group
Hat-maker (and FoWBL membership secretary) Sarah McAlister is proposing to set up an informal monthly social group for people who enjoy making – or just have an interest in – various crafts. “It would be a bit like a book club but talking about crafty things instead,” she said. “I’d be happy to run such a group, asking some clever local crafty people to show the lovely things they make.” If you would like to see such a group set up at West Barnes Library, or have other suggestions for events, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write to the group c/o the library.
Book sale to support Friends
There is a table of books for sale in aid of the Friends of West Barnes Library just inside the doorway. Adult books: 50p; children’s: 20p. (To contribute books to the sale, please talk to library staff.)
Friends of West Barnes Library, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , website: www.friendsowbl.org.uk
Library Contact details:West Barnes Library Station Road, New Malden, KT3 6JF. Telephone: 020 8274 5789, Fax: 020 8336 0554
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it