Free sessions at the new Riverside Library

Council House

Thu 14 Jun 2018

The new Riverside Library opens in the Council House this July and will be giving visitors the chance to explore its services with a host of free taster sessions and author talks.

When the library opens Monday 2 July visitors can expect a bright and open space, including a children’s area for families, access to computers and space to sit and read.  

The following activities will be taking place as part of the opening and booking is not necessary:

  • Shake Rattle and Rhymetime for babies and toddlers aged up to three years old – Monday 2 July, 10.30am to 11am
  • Introduction to eBooks and eAudiobooks for anyone to drop in with their device on Monday 2 July,  between 10am and 4pm
  • Free wellbeing MOT, includes taking blood pressure, BMI and lung age – Wednesday 4 July, drop in any time
  • Meet Andy Cope, author of Spy Dog and The Art of Being Brilliant – Saturday 7 July, 11am to 12pm
  • Poetry night with Trevor Wright and other local poets – Thursday 12 July, 6pm to 7.30pm
  • Mischief Makers Summer Reading Challenge launch: Chris White’s interactive poetry and cartoon roadshow, Saturday 14 July, 11am to 12pm
  • Code Club Taster Session, for children looking to learn about computer coding, Saturday 7 July, 10am to 11am and 11.30am to 12.30pm

As well as receiving a service they are used to, such as borrowing books, customers can expect more events and activities from their city centre library.

Councillor Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council, said: 

“We are going beyond loaning books and more towards providing a hub for the local community.

The Council wants to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to learn and maybe even discover talents they never realised they had. Sessions will give customers the chance to meet new people and talk to others with similar interests.

We’re also pleased Riverside Library is opening in time for starting this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which we know so many children in Derby love to get involved in. We hope to see lots of them on 14 July as part of Chris White’s interactive poetry and cartoon roadshow.”

Riverside Library will specialise in providing resources on culture, literature and art as part of a decision for every Council run library in Derby to have a specialist theme. Customers can find out more about this by talking to library staff at their local library.

Customers who borrowed books from Central Library before it closed Saturday 9 June do not have to return them until Riverside Library opens Monday 2 July. Until then Council libraries across the city will continue to operate as normal, if anyone would like to return them during this time.

For more information, including details of the sessions, please visit the Riverside Library page.