National Grief Awareness week is approaching on 1st to 8th December and with the festive season upon us this a very hard time for those who have lost loved ones.
There is a great article this month in Psychologies (available free via your library’s PressReader service) which addresses this issue, follow the link to read it in full. https://pressreader.com/article/281621016608439
Enjoy even better reward-driven reading and learning on the LOTE4Kids App – available from your local library.
Your youngsters can build reading and learning streaks across four areas: the number of days they use the app, books read, activities completed and languages explored. As streaks grow, so do the rewards – children earn feathers for their Lekti avatar and collect special books that celebrate their progress.
Even better, every child gets a personal bookshelf in the app. It’s their home base to see streak progress, view rewards, and proudly showcase what they’ve been reading and learning! Perfect for sparking motivation and keeping the habit going.
Speak to your local library to find out more about Lote4Kids. This great service enables your children to enjoy over 7000 digital books in over 95 languages together with English translations, from the comfort of home.
Broaden young learners’ horizons with KidSpeak. They’ll work their way through fun and engaging activities with their cartoon “friend” and his or her playful pet.
Take part in World Nursery Rhyme Week – 10th to 14th November – with ComicsPlus. A free service from your local library.
From the artist of the best-selling Grandma Loves You picture book comes the classic nursery rhyme in board book form. Toddlers will enjoy following along as Grandma lends a helping hand when the spider needs it most. Includes count-the-insects activity page.
ComicsPlus offers thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from a variety of library-friendly publishers. The collection includes popular and award-winning titles for every age range and interest – including nursery rhymes!
It is Talk About Money week between 3rd and 7th November, and there has never been a better time to explore the free PressReader service at your local library to find all the great publications on this subject.
For example the weekly magazine Money Week, which is packed full of useful articles covering everything from their top Shares picks, to whether a pension or an ISA is better for you.
Sections include cars, property, travel, plus opinion from financial experts. This is a really useful magazine to help you broaden your financial understanding.
Looking after your mental health is just as vital as looking after your physical health. Often, good self-care can be as simple as picking up a magazine and escaping into a story. Reading isn’t just a hobby; it can form an invaluable part of your self-care routine.
Immersing yourself in a magazine is excellent for stress relief. Research indicates that reading for as little as six minutes daily can lower stress levels by 60%. This activity physically helps reduce your heart rate, ease muscle tension, and guide you into a relaxed state of mind.
Reading is a high level, active cognitive-stimulating activity. This helps build your ‘cognitive reserve,’ which not only increases your analytical and critical thinking abilities in everyday life but can also protect against memory loss and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia as you age.
By using PressReader, available free from your local library, you have over 7000 publications at your fingertips. So why not improve your wellbeing today and sign up for the PressReader service.
We’re shining a spotlight on German! With over 100 million native speakers, German is the most widely spoken language in the European Union. It’s known for its long compound words, rich literary tradition, and precise expressions. German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland – and you’ll find vibrant German-speaking communities across the globe.
Celebrated on the second Saturday of September, German Language Day is about honouring the rich history, culture, and creativity of the German language. From the magical worlds of the Brothers Grimm to everyday words like Kindergarten and Wanderlust that have travelled across languages, German is full of surprises. Say “Hallo!” with a story in German this month and let the adventure begin!
Fun Fact: Did you know that German once held the record for the longest word used in official documents? The 63-letter word Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz referred to a law about beef labelling. While it’s no longer in use, it’s a great example of how German builds words like Lego blocks!
Start your journey today! Free with your library card.
That language you’ve always wanted to learn? 3 months from now you’ll wish you had started learning it today. Sign up for Transparent Language Online free with your library card to start learning any of 140+ languages!
The most enticing part of the newspaper isn’t always the headlines on the front. For many, it’s the puzzles in the back.
The benefits of puzzles are numerous. They combine the fun of an engaging game, the thrill of a formidable challenge and the relaxation of a mindful daily ritual. Puzzles such as crosswords and sudoku have stood the test of time and can deliver real benefits. A large-scale and widely-reported study conducted by the University of Exeter and King’s College London tested the attention, memory and reasoning skills of more than 19,000 participants aged 50 and over. On average, those who regularly did these classic puzzles had the brain function of someone ten years younger and the short-term memory of someone eight years younger.
For some, puzzles represent a peaceful, solitary endeavor — a daily ritual with a morning coffee, a way to relax while maintaining focus during a study break or a stimulating way to pass the time while travelling.
For others, puzzles are an opportunity for social engagement. Friends or colleagues may challenge each other for fun, competing to see who can solve the day’s puzzle the fastest or make the fewest mistakes.
From crosswords to codewords and wordsearches to sudoku, PressReader offers a daily selection of classic newspaper puzzles. So, PressReader users can now get their favorite newspapers, magazines, books and puzzles all in one platform.
Whether you simply want to feel more confident using your computer for personal use, or whether you want to refresh ready for a new job opportunity – Universal Class can help.
With over 35 courses covering a wide range of computer skills available to you free of charge through your library membership, you are sure to find the perfect course for you.
Simple to use, you select the training course you would like to study and off you go. The summary tells you how long each course will be and gives you an overview of the course and lessons. It could not be easier!
So contact your local library today and ask about Universal Class and you could unlock your inner computer genius.
Digital Library 