Learn a new language today

Like to learn conversational skills in a new language for your holidays? Check out Mango Languages, the free online language learning resource through your local library at www.clarelibrary.ie.

Mango Languages is an online language-learning system that teaches actual conversation skills for over 70 languages from around the world. Each chapter aligns your learning to a set of conversational and grammar goals, with highly relevant culture notes sprinkled into each lesson. Intuitive popups help you tune your pronunciation with precision. Record your speech and compare it directly to audio from a native speaker to hear exactly how to tune in your accent. You can even download the mobile app by searching Mango Languages in your app store. Check it out and learn a new language today! To use the service you will need to create an account or profile on Mango. You will also require your library card number.

Get all the facts! – go online with Encyclopedia Britannica through Clare County Library

Clare County Library provides FREE access to the online version of Encyclopaedia Britannica. It contains hundreds of thousands of objective articles, biographies, videos, and images.

Britannica has thousands of expert contributors from around the world, including Nobel laureates and world leaders such as former President Bill Clinton and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It also has a staff of more than 100 editors.

Content is updated daily - at least 1,200 new and revised articles and media per month - to keep users informed and engaged.

Britannica Library gives you three sites in one:
Children,
Young adults,
Reference material for older students and adults.

Members can choose the age-appropriate level that works best for them and will find it easy to conduct research, complete homework assignments, and work on special projects either in the library or at home. Save your research in your own personal My Britannica account. Britannica Library works on any device - PC, laptop, tablet, or smart phone.

Log on with your library card number here: http://library.eb.co.uk/storelibrarycard?id=clarelibs&target=/levels/adult

New opening hours for Corofin Library

We are delighted to announce increased opening hours for our branch library in Corofin. The new opening hours, effective from the 3rd of July, are:
Wednesday: 10.00 - 1.00 & 5.00 - 8.00
Thursday: 10.00 - 1.00 & 5.00 - 8.00
Friday: 10.00 - 1.00 & 1.30 - 5.30

See Corofin Branch Library page for location and contact details.

World Refugee Day, June 20th

To mark World Refugee Day on June 20th, the UNHCR is partnering with libraries and bookshops across the country in encouraging people to read a book or watch a movie about refugees.

The 2017 campaign will run from 19 June to 3 July with libraries all over Ireland participating.

Using UNHCR’s specially selected book lists for children and adults, readers will have a wide selection of stories from around the world to choose from in the form of fact, fiction, autobiography and photography.

Popular titles include The Kite Runner, which documents the boyhood friendship of two friends in Afghanistan and Four Feet, Two Sandals, a picture book about two girls in a refugee camp.

World Refugee Day is an opportunity to salute the strength and courage of refugees; the solidarity of those countries, including Ireland, who assist refugees; and the contribution refugees make to countries around the world.

Libraries in County Clare will have a book display highlighting books that explore refugee related issues. Killaloe Library presents a showing of the film The Good Lie at 7.30 on Friday 23rd of June. The film tells the story of a group of Sudanese refugees as they struggle to acclimatise to their new life in Kansas City. Kilrush bookclub have chosen The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna as their book for their June meeting. A novel set in Nigeria, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adicihe, has been chosen as the Clare FM Radio Bookclub read for June.

Summer Stars Reading Adventure for children

Clare County Library Service will run the Summer Stars Reading Adventure for children in all library branches during the summer from the 3rd of July to the end of August. Summer Stars is an exciting reading-based programme which is available free of charge to children across the country. We are very happy to work with teachers and families to encourage children to continue reading and also to participate in our range of storytelling and other fun activities during the summer.

Each child is invited to register for the adventure at their local library and enjoy reading many books as part of the adventure during the summer holidays. All participants will be given a Summer Stars Reading Card to record and track their own progress and a library reward stamp will be added to their reading card at the library after each book read. There will be rewards and incentives along the way. At the end of the adventure, all children who participate are invited to attend an award event at which they will be presented with their own Summer Stars certificate.

Children and families will also have access to fun reading activities on the Summer Stars website, www.summerstars.ie The site has lots of online activities as well as a range of animated ebooks. You will find a children’s books discussion board and interviews with well-known people about their favourite books. There are also helpful tips for reading and recommended titles by age group for children to read. The books can then be borrowed from your local library service, and it’s all free.

Further information is available from Clare County Library www.clarelibrary.ie or on www.librariesireland.ie

East Clare By-election 1917 – Clare County Library display

Clare County Library has produced an 8 panel illustrated display to commemorate the East Clare by-election of 1917. With easy-to-read text and contemporary illustrations, this display gives an introduction to the election and its significance locally and nationally.

In July 1917 a significant event took place that not only changed the political landscape in Clare, but in the whole of Ireland as well. Following the death in France of Major Willie Redmond, Member of Parliament for East Clare, a by-election was held which was to have seismic consequences on many levels.

Eamon de Valera, fresh from his exploits in the Easter Rising, was nominated by the fledgling Sinn Féin party to contest the by-election in Clare. His opponent was Clareman, Patrick Lynch, of the Irish Parliamentary Party. The election sparked huge interest in Clare and beyond, and de Valera’s clear-cut victory was a massive show of support for Sinn Féin and the Republican movement nationally. It also did untold damage to the Irish Parliamentary Party.

De Valera’s election victory in 1917 catapulted him onto the national stage and heralded the start of a long and significant political career representing County Clare which continued until 1959 when he went on to serve two consecutive terms as President of Ireland.

The display will travel to a number of venues in the coming months.
1st June - 14th June, DeValera Public Library, Ennis
16th June – 28th June, Kilfinaghty Public Library, Sixmilebridge
30th June – 26th July, Scariff Public Library
28th July – 9th Aug, Killaloe Public Library
11th Aug – 30th Aug, Seán Lemass Public Library, Shannon

Contact your local branch library or visit www.clarelibrary.ie

Books 24/7

Clare County Library now offers a wide range of e-books and e-audiobooks which can be borrowed for free by library members. The collection includes adult fiction, non-fiction and children’s titles.

Members can browse the collection on a computer or laptop via the website link, or on a mobile device by using the BorrowBox app. Compatible devices include an eReader, Kindle Fire, Mp3 player, Android smart phone or iPhone, as well as a PC, laptop or tablet.

Up to five e-books and five e-audiobooks can be borrowed at one time. This is in addition to normal lending from your branch. Books are returned automatically so there are never any overdues. You have 24/7 access to the collection so you can use it whenever you want. This service is free to library members. All you need is your library card number and PIN to get started.

We’re always adding new titles, so visit often and make the most of your library membership. Follow the BorrowBox link on www.clarelibrary.ie to find out more about this service.

Libraries Ireland Launch

The official launch of Libraries Ireland took place on Monday 29th May at 12 noon in Navan Library. Your local library is the place to get information and learn new skills in a relaxed and comfortable environment. It is your community and cultural hub with exciting events throughout the year.

Your library membership enables you to use all 333 public libraries, read, browse, study, borrow items such as books, DVDs, games or other formats, use Wi-Fi, PCs and printing services. You can also reserve up to 12 items at a time from the 15 million titles available in the libraries. You can do this when you visit a library or you can request online from home. Your selected titles will be delivered quickly to your local branch, generally within the week.

The Libraries Ireland service also provides access to a huge range of online resources, e-books, e-audiobooks, e-newspapers, e-magazines, e-courses and e-languages. All of these services are available free of charge provided by the local authorities through your public libraries. Libraries Ireland Makes Every Library Your Local Library. Visit www.librariesireland.ie for more information.

• Free service
• 333 libraries
• Over 15 million items
• Wide range of services and e-services
• Community and cultural hub
• Welcoming and friendly staff

Communities across Clare planning Street Feast celebrations including Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna and Ennis

Street Feast are delighted to confirm that over 1000 Street Feast parties around the country have been registered to date, including many taking place in Clare. The 8th Annual Street Feast Day, which is to be held on Sunday, 11th June 2017 is attracting greater numbers than ever before. In Clare this year, Street Feast parties are taking place throughout the county, including in Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna and Ennis. It is expected that over 1040 neighbours will take part in county-wide Clare Street Feasts, which are supported by Clare County Council.

Street Feast is an Irish local community initiative and is an all-for-fun, do-it-yourself, not-for-profit celebration. The initiative invites individuals, groups or clubs to host a lunch on their street, in a local park or in their front gardens – inviting other neighbours to come along and join them. The all-inclusive, age-friendly initiative aims to encourage active participation, bring communities together and reduce isolation. Everyone is encouraged to bring something along to share, whether it be a dish, a chair or a tune.

Patron of Street Feast, President Michael D Higgins congratulated the initiative,
“We must all by now realise the importance of community, inclusion, creativity and togetherness - all values that require support and a conscious effort of care, protection and solidarity. Initiatives such as Street Feast provide exactly that type of opportunity.”

Nicole Bukley, one of the hosts of a Street Feast in Clare, said
"Last years Street Feast was one of the greatest days in the estate. It just worked. We had one of the funniest days ever. It'll be low key again this year- the simpler you keep it, the better it is. That's what I've found. We had films and music and a couple of tables and loads of food and drink. It was a super fun day. People came out of the woodwork. There was no fighting between the kids- just outdoors in the sun!"

Speaking today, Sam Bishop, one of the founders and Co-Ordinator of Street Feast said:
“We are very excited for Street Feast 2017! We want it to help rejuvenate communities, introduce new faces, bridge the gap between generations, share culture, stories and skills, and make our streets safer places to be.
“The registrations are coming in fast and the feedback has been exceptional, with some theming their celebrations or running them to coincide with other community projects. Over 1000 Street Feast parties are confirmed to date and 13 confirmed in Clare so far. There are still three weeks to go and we encourage as many individuals, friends, neighbours, clubs, community groups, faith groups, resident associations, etc. to get involved in this special all-inclusive community initiative. It can be as simple as laying out a few picnic blankets in your nearest green area! Go for it!”

Street Feast will support these individuals and community groups to host their own celebration, which is repeated on streets, parks, carparks and gardens all across Ireland. Everyone who registers can claim a free Street Feast party pack which includes balloons, bunting, invites, posters and a DIY guide, everything you need to kick start your celebrations.

There is still time to register and include your community in the 2017 celebrations. Please visit www.streetfeast.ie.
Registration for free mailed-out packs ends – Thursday, 1st June 2017
Registrations for Street Feast 2017 (inc. downloadable packs) ends – Friday, 9th June 2017

Free e-magazines

Clare County Library's free e-magazines service offers a collection of 300 popular magazines to library members. All areas of interest from Astronomy to Wildlife are covered. Titles include Top Gear, Hello, The Economist, New Scientist, Xbox, Irish Roots, Rolling Stone, Pro Wrestling illustrated, PC World, National Geographic, The Knitter, Lonely Planet Traveller, Amateur Photographer and Men’s Health.

Children are catered for with magazines such as National Geographic Kids, Match of the Day, Minecraft World and Horrible Histories while magazines such as Teen Vogue and Seventeen will appeal to teenagers.

The full-colour magazines can be read online or downloaded to a PC, tablet, iPad, or smartphone and offers changeable print sizes and viewing options. Using the platform, readers can move seamlessly within each publication page between text, interactive graphics, animated illustrations, videos and much more.

The most popular e-magazines ‘borrowed’ by Clare County Library members so far in 2017 are Woman’s Weekly, Amateur Photographer, Time, 25 Beautiful Homes and Best.

To use this service, follow the e-magazines link on the library homepage www.clarelibrary.ie. You will need to create an account and will be asked for your library card number when creating the account. Members can check out an unlimited number of magazines and keep them in your account for as long as you wish.

More information about this service is available at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/online_resources/zinio.htm