Snap up Stone Lands ebook for just 99p now and catch Fiona at a #WordsAliveinLibraries event soon: literatureworks.org.uk/projects/wor...

South Western Regional Library Services CIO (@swrls.bsky.social) is looking to appoint a part-time Coordinator on a freelance or consultancy basis. Details here: www.swrls.org.uk/post/opportu... Apply by 20th April.

📚 WORDS ALIVE IN LIBRARIES 🌿 The creative workshop is now sold out, but there are still spaces available for the author talk with A Flat Place author @noreenmasud.bsky.social! 📅 26 March 2026 📍 University of Exeter (Streatham) ⬇️ Find out more! @swrls.bsky.social @literatureworks.bsky.social

📚 WORDS ALIVE IN LIBRARIES 🌿 It's only two weeks to go until the creative workshop and author talk with A Flat Place author @noreenmasud.bsky.social - we can't wait! 📅 26 March 2026 📍 University of Exeter (Streatham) ⬇️ Find out more! @swrls.bsky.social @literatureworks.bsky.social

📚 WORDS ALIVE IN LIBRARIES 🌿 Looking for a moment of calm, reflection, and creative inspiration? Explore life writing, nature, and wellbeing with A Flat Place author @noreenmasud.bsky.social. 📅 26 March 2026 📍 University of Exeter (Streatham) @swrls.bsky.social @literatureworks.bsky.social

Tickets are now available for our first public event for the Words Alive in Libraries author tour, with Fiona Williams, author of The House of Broken Bricks, on Thursday 29th January, at Arts University Plymouth. www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/ply...

We’re pleased to announce a major new project for 2026, Words Alive in Libraries, a fourth partnership with the wonderful @swrls.bsky.social (the South Western Regional Library Service), building on the success of our previous writer tours of libraries around the south west.

Thank you for coming, and sorry for delay here! Was lovely to have you along and to hear all about the brilliant MBA library.

Next SWRLS event coming up in Exeter on Thursday 13 November - join us for lively library conversations & archive visits... Free to staff at SWRLS member libraries - sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swrls-agm-...

In Bath on Friday evening - to explore how people of colour can take up their rightful and permanent space within heritage institutions at a time when much history continues to be hidden.

We're excited to be working with @literatureworks.bsky.social on this new author tour in SW libraries, to kick off in Jan 2026, to include writing & reading workshops... thank you to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social National Lottery Projects funding #NationalYearOfReading

New job: Stock Librarian, Bristol Central Library, 18.5 hours per week, permanent - more information via jobs page www.swrls.org.uk/jobs

Our new area on Basecamp contains resources for libraries on advocacy, AI, & bid support, plus a full training course primarily for frontline workers to help manage difficult customer situations. Free to SWRLS member library staff. More info. on today's blog post #librarytraining

In case you missed the news last week...we are looking for a new Programme Officer, who will support us in making exciting literature activities and events happen all across the South West. 📅 Apply by Monday 25th August

Three new job posts in SW libraries - from Plymouth and Torbay to North Somerset, in NHS & public libraries www.swrls.org.uk/jobs

a write-up of SWRLS's Members' Day last week, including insights & advice on #libraryadvocacy

Our camera-shy library team opted out of a selfie but had an inspiring time at the @swrls.bsky.social Members' day yesterday. We're already planning how we can bring some of the ideas that were shared to our users in the @thembauk.bsky.social library

Our life writing course led by @susannacrossman.bsky.social begins very soon, and now's your last chance to book if you want to take part in the three online sessions that start this Thursday. Don't delay, booking closes soon: quaywords.org.uk/take-part/qu...

getting excited about our next Members' Day in just over 3 weeks! Free to SWRLS member library staff - sign up below.

This talk is part of a mini-series of lectures on topics related to gardening, alongside our current exhibition UNEARTHED: The Power of Gardening 🌻🌍 bristol.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=211... #LivingKnowledgeNetwork #Unearthed #Gardening #Bristol #BristolLibraries #BritishLibrary

With this funding we aim to make a real difference in Devon - watch this space! www.librariesunlimited.org.uk/libraries-un...

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek this year focuses on the power of community. Public #Libraries help fight loneliness and encourage connections by bringing people of all different ages and backgrounds together in a free, non-judgmental space. www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/pub...

Culture Nature England, our partnership with @naturalengland.bsky.social that helps #Libraries deliver work to build connections with nature, has ended. Public libraries used their grants for truly innovative projects, which you can explore here. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/projects/cul...

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 💚 📚 Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing ✅ Reading Well books are all recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered, and their relatives and carers 👩‍⚕️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

5 roles currently advertised in SW libraries, from team leader to customer service to climate action...

📢 Speaker Announcement! Lisa McLaren, Deputy Director at SCONUL, joins #CILIPConf25 for the AI’s Carbon Footprint panel discussion! With expertise across universities, the NHS and public libraries, Lisa brings valuable insights into AI’s climate impact. cilipconference.org.uk

Our next talk is on Wed 14th May at 2pm - "Making a Grand Exit: The Elaborate Funeral of Maud Courtenay (d.1467)" by Dr Lynda Pidgeon. £4 for members. £8 for non-members. To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

What a fantastic end to April - we couldn't resist taking a snap of the view across #PlymouthSound from the library's reading room @thembauk.bsky.social. Have a great day everyone 🌞

🌷 Our spring events keep growing! Special mention: Exeter MP Steve Race will be dropping by for an IT drop-in session on Fri 16 May, 11.30-12.30. He’s keen to hear how library digital services—eg free PC use, Tech Buddies, WiFi—have helped you, & what more we could offer. Come share your thoughts!

Have you attended a creative writing group, workshop or programme in the community or online? If so, make sure to complete this quick survey before the end of June for the chance to win prizes, including a @writerscentre.bsky.social self-paced course worth £75. 👉🏻 bit.ly/4gdiXdu

This is one of many projects we're pleased to support via Seed Bed, a fund for grassroots initiatives which explore the environment and ecology crises through creative words and stories. Find out more about Seed Bed on our website here: literatureworks.org.uk/seed-bed/

A very excellent AGM & Professional Development day on Tuesday - thank you CILIP South West and all!

new job post: Climate Action Development Manager @ Exeter Library - in recognition of how "libraries play an important role in empowering communities to take steps in climate action" 👍

Hello from Bristol Libraries! 👋 We've jumped ship from that other platform and here we are on Bluesky. 👉 If you want to find us elsewhere too, we're on Facebook and Instagram @BristolLibraries ✉️ Sign up for our library newsletter! Sign up for our library eNewsletter

setting up a supportive HE libraries REF group - please email if interested in joining ([email protected])

Next up! 2-hour online training on 10 April: overview of AI search tools and the way search is changing, how you can use ChatGPT and SearchGPT, and of tools to support information professional activities, led by @philbradley.bsky.social More info. & sign up👇

Our next Members' Day is looking good! Free to staff at all member orgs, where we'll talk about library advocacy, bibliotherapy & more. Guest speakers include Luke Burton (@biblioluke.bsky.social), Rebecca Bolton (Chair of Libraries Connected SW), & Tabitha Witherick (@tabisw.bsky.social) (1/2)

In collab with CILIP SW we've developed our Careers Forum: new mini-film Q&As with Darren Bevin (Lib Manager @theppl.bsky.social) & Brett Moodie (Librarian & Resources Coordinator @ Cornwall College) -total of 8 now from staff in diverse roles across various libraries abt their library experience...

@nlisn.bsky.social We have a vacancy on our NLISN committee for someone to manage our Social Media and Forum. We currently use BlueSky and LinkedIn regularly, and have a forum on the platform Flarum which would benefit from some development.

This is a fab list - but remember the best library is your local one! Get in there and see what they’re offering - it will be more than you expect!

Happy to welcome SWRLS's two newest members: MBA Library & Morrab Library

#Libraries & Well-Being: A Case Study from The New York Public Library

How can your #Library be a space that encourages communities to come together to meet, share and learn about #ClimateAction? Join us on 27 February for a #Webinar exploring the possibilities for libraries as community climate hubs. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/events/webin...

Very pleased that Luke will be talking at our next Members' Day on 25 June - more info. to go out in newsletter soon!

Opportunity for #libraries to collaborate & connect. Pitch a scalable idea & build a global community around it! ❤️ #NextLibrary Pilot Projects is a funded opportunity for library changemakers - related to sustainability, democracy & play #NextLibrary2025 www.nextlibrary.net/next-library...

Lively SWRLS board meeting yesterday - welcomed new Trustees Jane Choules @jchoulesie.bsky.social & Kerry Kellaway, & discussed many things incl. ideas from recent AGM, training & communication plans, bids underway, Members Day, & shifting to LinkedIn & Bluesky - here we are!

Training in fundraising specifically relevant to library staff - starting 12 March 2025. This short course will enable participants to identify funding opportunities and write compelling bids, as well as providing individual feedback and more: