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Announcements

International Year of Bio-diversity 2010

Look here for the details of events to take place or visit our biodiversity blog.

Aged 8 - 18 years? Find out more about our poster competition. Great Prizes!

Oyster Cards

Oyster Cards and top ups are now available for purchase at Kingston Library and the Hook Centre. For further information telephone Kingston Library on 020 8547 6400 or the Hook Centre on 020 8547 6254. See 'Opening Hours' page for branch details.

Author Event at Old Malden Library

Local author Pamela Pickton will be coming to talk about her life and work, including her latest novel, "If we win the pools, we can go to the Coronation". Thursday 9 September 2.30 - 3.30pm (refreshments available from 2pm). Tickets £2 to include refreshments. Available from Old Malden and New Malden Libraries. For more information contact Adam Moore, Library Manager, on 020 8547 6490/6467 or Alison Townsend, Reading Resources Manager on 020 8547 6494.

Big Summer Promotion 19 July - 18 September

Borrow 1 and get 1 FREE on DVDs, CDs, Language and Spoken Word. The cheaper item will be free. DVDs and CDs can be borrowed for one week, Spoken Word and Language for three weeks. If the items go overdue you are liable for fines on both items. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer e.g. Loyalty cards.

This Little Baby - board book in Bookstart Baby packs. Pub Campbell Books:

Potential choking hazard

The book ‘This Little Baby’ currently in Bookstart Baby packs has a pretend ‘mirror’. The ‘mirror’ has a protective plastic film which should have been removed by the printer/manufacturer. The film has not been removed and therefore this film may present a potential choking hazard.  Please note that once the plastic film is removed the book is perfectly safe to be gifted.

Books gifted up to three months before 19/07/2010 may have been gifted with the protective plastic film still on the mirror on the last page of the book, we advise all parents and carers who a received a Bookstart baby pack white canvas bag during this period to check the book and remove the plastic film if found.

All Bookstart partners in Kingston upon Thames have been informed of the situation and packs received after 19/07/2010 should not have a plastic film coating on them, however we would always advise parents and carers to check the book before sharing it with a child.

Please note – this precautionary action is in response to our being alerted to a potential hazard – no child has been harmed by the book.  

If you  have any queries regarding this matter please contact emma.burnside@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Take off this summer with "Space Hop" Kingston Libraries Summer Reading Challenge

Read or listen to 6 books and collect Space Mungler trump cardsand other goodies. If you complete the challenge you will also be entered into a prize draw. Space Hop is open to children and young people from aged 0 and upwards. Space Hop starts Saturday 3 July and leaves earth Saturday 18 September. For more information contact Mike Treacy, Reading and Literacy Manager on 020 8547 6431 or email micheal.treacy@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Unique opportunity to buy the new Olympic pin badges

Badges are available for purchase from now up until the games begin. These badges are a limited edition with each London Borough incorporating its own design. The telephone boxes are the emblem for the Royal Borough of Kingston. Badges are available to buy in your local library and cost £6.

The well-travelled bear

7 June – 17 September 2010
Please look after our Bookstart Bear this summer. The Bookstart Bear has packed his suitcase and would love a  holiday. Will you take him with you? If you would like to take our small Bookstart Bear with you on your summer holiday please sign up at your local branch library. All we ask is that you take a picture of yourself on holiday with the Bookstart Bear and send it to us at emma.burnside@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Follow the link to find out more about our libraries and see where the Bookstart Bear has been on his holidays this year

Foster carer ticket

Did you know that if you are a Foster Carer living in Kingston upon Thames you are entitled to a Foster Carers ticket? With the Foster Carers ticket you can borrow up to 20 items, borrow books and spoken word CD’s for up to 6 weeks and will not be charged fines for overdue books. However you will still have to pay the normal rental charge for loans of DVD’s and CD’s, can borrow DVD’s and CD’s for one week, the same as usual and will have to pay for any overdue letters you are sent.
For more information on Foster Carers Tickets contact: Mike Treacy on 020 8547 6431 or E-Mail:michael.treacy@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Photobooth Available at the Hook Centre

Come and get your photos here for your Freedom Pass, Passport, Driving Licence etc.

Kingston Library Service Welcomes Hostel Residents

Kingston Library Service has made it easier for homeless people living in hostels in the borough to join and use local libraries.

Homeless people can now enjoy the full range of library facilities, including Internet access and a wide range of books, newspapers, magazines, CDs and DVDs, by providing a letter or stamped/signed headed piece of note paper from the hostel in which they are staying as proof of ID.  

Online Reference Room News

The Guardian and The Observer Archive 1791-2003 is now available in the online library collection. This archive is currently only available in library branches, but we hope to make it available at home as well.

Ancestry UK is now available on all public access computers in all Kingston Library branches, and also at the Local History Room, North Kingston Centre. This essential resource can only be accessed from public access computers. It cannot be accessed from home computers using "My Account" due to licensing restrictions.

The BFI Screen Online Archive is now accessible from within all library branches. This archive is not accessible from home.

NewsUK now includes online access to a wide range of magazines. All newspapers and magazines are regularly updated. See the content list in NewsUK for details of titles.

Libraries for Learning

Through Kingston Libraries you can access a wide range of learning opportunities. Ask at any branch library for advice and guidance to help you find the course or way of learning that is right for you.
Providing British Computer Society accredited IT courses since 1999, Kingston Libraries have developed a strong commitment to high quality ICT training. If you want to learn how to use the internet, e-mail friends and family around the world, apply for jobs online, improve your CV or get to grips with Office IT skills why not attend a course at one of Kingston Libraries learning centres?

For more information see the Learning and Training in Libraries page or contact one of Kingston Libraries Training Officers on: 020 8547 6489 /6470 /6485.

Help for Business

Whether you want to grow your business and enter new markets or secure your current position – the LDA and its partners have a range of services that can help. Details of the help is available on the leaflet at the bottom of the page or call into any branch library for a copy.

Recycle your books, DVDs, CDs and pre-recorded videos at one of our book banks and support the British Heart Foundation

Surbiton, Kingston and Old Malden branches have book banks outside their buildings where you can deposit your unwanted books, DVDs, CDs or videos in whatever condition. At Surbiton Library and Kingston Library the book bank is located in the car park at the rear of the library. The British Heart Foundation collect from the banks once a week and will transform your donation into much needed funds for their charity.