This May plays host to Mental Health Awareness Week, a week which is very important to us at Cheshire East Library Service and there’s ways in which using the library can help with your mental health and general well-being. Studies have been carried out which show reading for pleasure has a positive impact on your mental health, reading has been proven to reduce stress, increase empathy and improve general well-being (reports found on The Reading Agency and The National Literacy Trust).
So, why not make the time to read? The Reading Agency produces book lists which contain excellent recommendations; Mood Boosting Books, Books on Prescription and Shelf Help, all of which are available from the library service.
If you find it hard to switch off at home Silent Book Clubs are becoming evermore popular; maybe create a club in Your local Library?
Your Library is also a place of many great things, take a peak at some of this month’s offerings:
- Alderley Edge will be hosting a Local History talk on The Festival Hall by John Wallace
- Discover what the South Cheshire Ramblers have to offer at Alsager
- As part of the Literary Festival, Bollington are hosting a talk; “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Reading Groups but Were Afraid to Ask”
- Find out about the History of the Lion Salt Works at Congleton
- Pathways will be holding an advice desk at Crewe every Tuesday in May at 12.30
- Review Italian cooking and recipes at Disley
- Make a Spring Wreath at Handforth
- Holmes Chapel are welcoming Ken and a Hearing Dog puppy in training to highlight Deaf Awareness Week
- The Wilmslow Green Room will be performing original work; Elizabeth Gaskell in Many Voices at Knutsford
- Macclesfield will be celebrating Star Wars Day with crafts
- Middlewich will be discussing The Fing by David Walliams as part of their Check It Out group
- Celebrate 30 years of Percy the Park Keeper by Nick Butterworth at Nantwich
- One You will have a pop-up health desk at Poynton
- Join this month’s Book Lovers Group at Sandbach for a very special theme including librarians, libraries and bookshops
- Become a mini-maker at Wilmslow and enjoy STEM related activities
- Many libraries will be celebrating Elmer Day and the 30th anniversary of Michael Rosen’s We’re Going on A Bear Hunt
Please check websites for times and charges for all events.
You Libraries will be bursting with events for the May half-term holiday. Check Your Libraries webpage and Facebook pages for details.
We have exciting volunteer opportunities as part of the Summer Reading Challenge available; please visit here for more details.
We also have regular book groups, IT sessions, LEGO clubs, rhyme and story times, coffee mornings and advice desks. Information can be found on individual Facebook pages, the website and Twitter.
Regards,
Joanne Shannon
Library Services Manager
Cheshire East Libraries