After several years of planning and extensive renovation work, the new cultural hub in Tunbridge Wells, which includes KCC’s library and Adult Education Centre, has been officially opened. The Amelia Scott centre is named after the social reformer and campaigner for women’s suffrage who lived and worked in the town. The opening ceremony was performed…
Breaking the News, a free exhibition which looks at how the news has shaped the world we live in for centuries and how it plays a vital role in all our lives today, begins a tour of Kent libraries next Thursday, 24 February. The exhibition runs at the Kent History and Library Centre, in Maidstone,…
KCC is celebrating national Libraries Week (4-10 October) by focusing on the innovative and surprising activities that libraries are undertaking to support the county’s communities. Libraries Week is an annual showcase and celebration of the best that libraries have to offer and this year’s theme is “Taking action, changing lives”. This celebrates the central role…
More than 12,000 children signed up to take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge through Kent’s libraries. This year, for the first time, children were able to participate either physically, by visiting a Kent Library, or virtually, by visiting the Summer Reading Challenge website. The topic changes each year, this year’s being Wild World…
Hythe Library has reopened following extensive work to replace its heating system and now boasts an additional 130 books donated by three residents. Aimée Margott, Lianne Sandford and Laura Taylor felt moved to do something practical to address issues of inequality and discrimination. They decided the power of books was one way to help and…
Plans are in place for Kent’s Libraries, Registration and Archives services to return to normal service following the government’s decision to ease Covid restrictions across the country from yesterday (19 July). KCC says it will be taking a “phased approach” to changes, beginning with 18 libraries reopening from the week beginning 26 July. The plan…
Youngsters across the county are invited to become acquainted with Wild World Heroes as the annual Summer Reading Challenge gets under way in Kent libraries. This year’s theme is a celebration of nature and action for the environment and is bring run in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. The challenge runs from Saturday (10…
An “Elmer the Elephant” sculpture has been unveiled at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone, as part of ‘Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade’ in support of Heart of Kent Hospice, based on the popular books by David McKee. For the next nine weeks, Elmer and his friends will be marching on to…
Kent libraries is encouraging people to volunteer at one of the county’s 99 libraries. At a committee meeting last week, members heard that last year 1,119 volunteers gave over 45,000 hours of their time adding value to the Kent libraries and archives. Head of Service Libraries, Registration & Archives James Pearson, said: “We are extremely…
Kent residents have their chance to comment on a draft three-year strategy for the county’s Libraries, Registration and Archives service during a 10-week public consultation which opened on Wednesday (21 November). All of Kent’s libraries will continue to be maintained, although many could have their opening hours changed according to plans announced by the council.…
Kent’s libraries are calling for children to sign up to read six books this summer as part of The Big Friendly Read, Summer Reading Challenge 2016. The Summer Reading Challenge asks 4-11 year olds to borrow and read any six library books over the summer. It has a new theme each year and in 2016…
Visitors to any of Kent’s 99 libraries can now get online with free Wi-Fi. It has been made possible after Kent County Council secured full funding from Arts Council England to complete the roll-out of free Wi-Fi across all library buildings in the county. Of the 99 libraries in Kent, 33 already provide free Wi-Fi.…