Writer in Residence Opportunity

Monaghan County Council invites applications for a Writer in Residence, under the Creative Ireland Monaghan programme.  The residency runs for the period September – November 2021 and will be managed by Monaghan County Council Library Service.

The residency is open to experienced Writers in any genre who have significant experience in delivering high quality creative experiences for people of all ages.

Further information available from kmccague@monaghancoco.ie

Empathy Day @ Monaghan County Libraries

Empathy is our ability to understand and share someone else’s feelings. It builds stronger, kinder communities. It’s a crucial life skill that we need to learn, thrive and contribute. We’re not born with a fixed quantity of empathy – it’s a skill we can all learn. As we begin to re-open society again, developing Empathy for each other and the varying experiences we have had over the past year will held us build stronger communities. To mark Empathy Day we have teamed up with Mental Health Ireland to learn more about how empathy supports our wellbeing. This will also include a guided meditation.

This event is Free to attend but booking is required to obtain the link. Reserve your place now at http://bit.ly/empathylibrary

We are also encouraging Child to read for Empathy.  Excitingly, research shows that books are a powerful tool to develop it. When children identify with book characters, they learn to see things from others’ points of view. As they read, they are building their empathy skills. There are lots of beautiful books on this years Empathy Day Reading List. You’ll find them all at your local library.

Cruinniú na nÓg Programme of Events 2021

Monaghan County Library staff have been busy collaborating with colleagues from across a variety of organizations to put together a fantastic programme of events for Young People in the run up to and including Cruinniu na nÓg day 2021 which is taking place on the 12th June.

There is everything from Sensory Storytellilng to Rap workshops, Samba Drumming to Drama, Composing, Film Making & much much more.

You can peruse through the full  programme below.  (Click on the Square icon to make the flipbook Full page).

 

Browse & Borrow again

Browse & Borrow is back today

We are absolutely delighted to let you know that Carrickmacross, Clones & Monaghan branch Libraries are re-opening today for browsing & borrowing. (Unfortunately we are not yet able to offer access to study spaces or public PCs. Visits are also limited to a max of 30 mins).

Our smaller libraries in Castleblayney and Ballybay will resume their ‘Contact & Collect’.

Carrickmacross, Clones & Monaghan branches will be open as follows:

Monday: 11am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm & 6pm – 8pm

Tuesday: 11am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm

Wednesday: 11am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm

Thursday: 11am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm

Friday: 11am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm

Please Note: Lunchtime closing required to complete additional cleaning.

Castleblayney Library phonelines will be open to arrange Contact & Collect on Tuesday, Wednesdays & Fridays from 10am – 1pm. Contact (042) 9740281

Ballybay Library phonelines will be open to arrange Contact & Collect on Wednesday & Thursdays from 10am – 1pm. Contact (042) 974 1256

In line with Government guidelines, masks must be worn inside our library buildings. We have also limited the capacity in our branches so please follow queue markers during busy periods. We really appreciate your co-operation as we continue to strive to keep both staff & customers as safe as possible.

We are aware that not everybody will be comfortable visiting our libraries so we are happy to continue to provide our Home Delivery if needed. Just contact your local library to discuss your reading preferences and we’ll arrange a delivery.

Eye Spy on Sliabh Beagh

Eye Spy wildlife on Sliabh Beagh, published today, results from a great collaboration between book lovers and nature lovers.

The Library service of Monaghan County Council reached out to the CANN project, which works to protect the environment of Sliabh Beagh, to see if there was a way of helping enrich the lives of local citizens by making the limited lockdown walks more meaningful. The CANN project (Collaborative Action across the Natura Network), funded by the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, through the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), wants to encourage more citizen science on the mountain and took the opportunity of the Library’s Keep Well COVID funding to create this booklet.

The Keep Well campaign aims to show people of all ages how they can mind their mental health and physical wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to their daily and weekly routines. The CANN project believes that recording wildlife on a regular walk adds richness and encourages people to go out more often. The citizen science of data gathered in this way is essential to the long-term health of the mountain and the long-term health of the people encouraged to walk. Unless the CANN team knows what species live where, it is difficult to conserve them, and walkers can provide the eyes and ears to record this information.

The booklet features twenty species of birds, terrestrial animals, insects, and plants found on Sliabh Beagh. Spotter points are collected depending on how rare or common the species is. People are encouraged to use their mobile phones to scan a QR code to record what they see with the National Biodiversity Data Centre. QR technology is also used to link users to the bird song that might help them identify what they are looking at.

The booklet is available for free from libraries throughout County Monaghan and as an electronic pdf download.

 

Join our Stop Motion Parade for St. Patrick’s Day

Fancy joining our Stop Motion Parade for St. Patrick’s day?
It’s simple, just download the Stop Motion Studio Free app, line up your toys and start shooting your short film.
You’ll find full instructions at bit.ly/stopmotion173
Once completed, email your parade to monaghanlibraries@gmail.com or if you prefer, contact us for a Whats App number to which you can send your video.
Check out our very short sample parade below:
Let’s get Creative!