New chapter for county libraries

May 9 2008 Chester Chronicle

FORTY libraries throughout Cheshire welcomed new members on National Year of Reading Join a Library Day.

For the first time, a simple form was devised which could be used to join any library in England.

All people had to do was fill in the form, printed in national and local papers, and bring along one form of identification to become a library member.

The first 30 children, young people and families joining each of Cheshire’s libraries received a copy of the National Year of Reading’s The Ultimate Book Guide, a welcome pack and a Cheshire Bag for Life.

“The aim of the special day was to show the wide variety of items on offer in libraries which include books, CD-roms, CDs, DVDs and computers which can be used free for an hour,” said Guy Kilminister, Cheshire County Council’s cultural services manager.

Chester Library was offered the chance to promote books and reading in the foyer of the HSBC bank in Eastgate Street and Cheshire Poet Laureate W Terry Fox was commissioned to write a poem celebrating the National Year of Reading.