Sheffield Libraries celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month

LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated in the UK in February each year, to celebrate the lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people. This year, the theme is #BehindtheLens, showcasing the contributions made by LGBTQ+ people to cinema and film. Once again we have a range of exciting events for you, from film screenings to author talks to our regular Queer Books for Kids bookchat! Read on to find out more.

Film screening: None of the Above

Wednesday 15 February, 6.30pm, free
Carpenter Room, Central Library
Book through Eventbrite

Award-winning trans author Travis Alabanza is in conversation with Reni Eddo-Lodge, in this screening of an event originally held at the British Library in July 2022. Travis will discuss their recently-published memoir, None of the Above, which explores what it means to live outside the gender boundaries imposed on us by society.

In partnership with the British Library and the Living Knowledge Network. Refreshments provided.

A Short History of Queer Women, with author Kirsty Loehr

Monday 20 February, 7pm, free
Carpenter Room, Central Library
Book through Eventbrite

No, they weren't 'just friends'! Queer women have been written out of history since, well, forever. From Anne Bonny and Mary Read who sailed the seas together as pirates, to US football captain Megan Rapinoe declaring 'You can't win a championship without gays on your team', A Short History of Queer Women sets the record straight on women who have loved other women through the ages.

Author Kirsty Loehr will be in conversation with our librarians. Copies of Kirsty's book will be available to buy and have signed, courtesy of Juno Books.

Refreshments provided.

Online bookchat: LGBTQ+ Books for Kids and Teens

Wednesday 22^nd February, 6pm, free
Online via Facebook

Looking for the best in new queer books for kids and teens? Liz and Zoey are back with their top recommendations for all ages, from picture books to Young Adult novels. In partnership with Lambeth Libraries.

The video will premiere on Facebook on Wednesday 22 February at 6pm, and will remain available for you to watch on catch-up at your leisure.

Film screening: No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics

Thursday 23 February, 6.30pm, free
Carpenter Room, Central Library
Book through Eventbrite

The story of the queer comic begins in a period of censorship in the USA, and marginalization even among underground cartoonists. No Straight Lines profiles five pioneers of this fascinating art scene – Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Jennifer Camper, Rupert Kinnard, and Mary Wings – producing commentary on everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love and a good haircut. 

Refreshments provided.

In partnership with Sheffield DocFest.

Sophie Labelle, author and cartoonist

Monday 27 February, 7pm, free

Carpenter Room, Central Library
Book through Eventbrite

Sophie Labelle is a neurodivergent trans cartoonist and novelist from Montréal, in French Canada. She is the author of the webcomic Assigned Male, which has been running since 2014.''The Best of Assigned Male'' was recently published by Hachette UK.

During her talk, she will speak about her art and activism, her artistic process, cyberbullying, community building through art, and growing up trans. This event is suitable for adults, teens and families.

Copies of Sophie's books will be available to buy and have signed. Please be aware that the library cannot take card payments.

Refreshments provided.

Lord Mayor's Big Read: Christmas Book Gifting

This Christmas, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, is inviting you to share the joy of reading with children from families that are struggling financially across the city.

Simply purchase a book by 12 December from our online shopfront, hosted by our bookselling partner La Biblioteka. You can choose from board books for babies, picture books, middle-grade (junior school) books, and young adult novels - our curated selection has something for every child!

Your book will be gifted to a family in need via our distribution partners S6 Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust. S6 Foodbank run a network of foodbanks across the city, from Parson Cross to Woodhouse, and provided 28,258 food bank parcels to people in crisis over the last six months.

We will match your book to a child or young person on your behalf.

How it works

• Visit our online shopfront and select your book(s)
• Check that the 'BIG READ CAMPAIGN FREE FOODBANK DELIVERY' option is selected - you will not be charged for delivery!
• On the payment page, untick the 'Deliver to different address' option. You do not need to put in an address for the library or the foodbank - our lovely booksellers will recognise it as a Big Read book gifting order and will do everything necessary.
• That's it!

To find out more about the Lord Mayor's Big Read, click here.

Thank you and a very merry Christmas, from Sheffield Libraries, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, S6 Foodbank and La Biblioteka.

Black History Month 2022: Black Books for Kids and Teens

Did you miss our Black History Month bookchat? Or do you just want a reminder of all the books we recommended? No problem! You can now watch our bookchat video again over on our YouTube channel (now with subtitles) or you can access all our recommendations, PLUS some bonus titles, in this handy pdf.

We have something for everyone, from picture books to Young Adult and from non-fiction to graphic novels. Check out these fantastic books from some of the best Black authors and illustrators working today, recommended by your friendly local librarians Liz and Zoey.

All the books are available to borrow (or very soon will be) from your local library. Be first in the queue and reserve your copy now via the Sheffield Libraries catalogue or Lambeth Libraries catalogue.

If you've enjoyed one of our recommendations, or have a favourite read that you'd like to share with us, please leave us a comment, or follow @SheffLibraries and @lamlibs and join the conversation on Twitter!

Celebrating Black History Month 2022

October is Black History Month in the UK, when people and organisations across the country shine a spotlight on Black history, and celebrate the ongoing achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK and beyond.

We at Sheffield Libraries have brought together a fascinating programme of events for children, young people and adults this month. Read on to find out more!

Black Books for Kids

Saturday 8 October, 11am, free
Delivered online through Facebook Live

Zoey Dixon from Lambeth Libraries and our own Liz Chapman are back with a fantastic selection of new books for children and young people by Black authors and illustrators. We have something for everyone, from board books to Young Adult and non-fiction to graphic novels. Join us online, and why not share some of your own favourites in the chat too?

The recording will also be available to watch afterwards via our Youtube channel.

The Extraordinary Life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, with Paterson Joseph

Friday 14 October, 7pm, from £5.00
Delivered online via the Living Knowledge Network
Book on the British Library website

Acclaimed British actor Paterson Joseph draws from his highly-anticipated debut novel to tell the extraordinary story of 18th-century writer, abolitionist and composer Charles Ignatius Sancho. Charles’s story began with his birth on board a slave ship in c.1729, before being orphaned and sold into slavery.

The Living Knowledge Network is a UK-wide partnership between national and public libraries, of which Sheffield Libraries is a member. The event will be live streamed online, and will be available to watch within 48 hours on catch-up.

An Ocean Apart - Meet the author, Sarah Lee

Wednesday 19 October, 6.30pm, free
Carpenter Room, Sheffield Central Library
Book via Eventbrite

It's 1954 and, in Barbados, Ruby Haynes spots an advertisement for young women to train as nurses for the new National Health Service in Great Britain. Her sister, Connie, takes some persuading, but soon the sisters are on their way to a new country - and a whole new world of experiences.

Inspired by real life stories of the Windrush Generation and her mother's own experiences as a nurse coming to Britain from the Caribbean, Sarah Lee's debut novel An Ocean Apart is a must for fans of Call the Midwife.

Lord Mayor's Big Read podcast, with Otis Mensah

Released on Monday 24 October, free

Listen via Anchor or your preferred podcast platform

In our Lord Mayor's Big Read podcast series, we are chatting to well-known Sheffielders about their favourite reads. Tune in to this special Black History Month edition to hear from writer, performance artist and former Sheffield poet laureate Otis Mensah about the books and poems that have inspired him along the way.

Historical Fiction Writing: a workshop for people aged 18-25, with Yvonne Battle-Felton

Saturday 29 October, 1.30-3.30pm, free
Sheffield Central Library
Book via Eventbrite

Calling young writers aged 18-25! Join acclaimed author Yvonne Battle-Felton for a special Black History Month writing workshop. Take inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance, Juneteenth, rap battles and Windrush to develop your historical fiction writing ideas.

10 ways to use your library this summer

As a Sheffield Libraries member, you have free access to a wealth of facilities to help you connect with culture, creativity, knowledge, and each other.  Becoming a member is FREE.

1.  Stock up on holiday reading 

In these uncertain times, let us help you escape into a good book, or make sense of the world through reading.  You can borrow up to 15 printed books and five eBooks, free of charge for a minimum of three weeks.  From the latest bestseller to all the old classics.  

Download the library app and search the catalogue.

 

2.  Keep the kids entertained during long car journeys

The hugely popular eLibrary was discovered by thousands of new members during the recent national lockdowns.  Enjoy access to thousands of free audiobooks, eBooks, eComics, and eMagazines, either on your desktop or through our Libby app.  

3.  Try our school holiday activities 

We’ve got lots going on to keep the kids entertained.  Sign them up for Gadgeteers, the Summer Reading challenge 2022, and check out our programme of family activities taking place across libraries.

4.  Research your family history

We subscribe to a range of online reference tools on your behalf, meaning you can access high quality content and save money.  Visit the Local Studies Library for help researching your family tree, and use Ancestry UK without subscription at all our libraries.  

5.  Check out a board game 

Pass those long summer evenings with friends by trying one of modern board games.  Board gaming is a fun way to sharpen your thinking, and spend quality time with your family and friends away from a screen. You can now borrow board games from Sheffield Central Library, just like a book.

6.  Explore Sheffield through time and space

Visit Storytrails at Sheffield Central Library on the 27th and 28th July to discover a range of exciting augmented and virtual reality experiences for all the family to enjoy. Explore untold stories through a virtual map made up of 3D models and audio recordings of local community members.

7.  Start a reading group with friends

Whether it’s drink in the garden, or 30 minutes grabbed in the staff canteen; try our free reading group sets service and share your love of reading with others.

8.  Experience foreign food without leaving home

Our libraries stock a massive range of cookbooks covering diverse world cuisine, as well as all the most popular celebrity chefs and bakers.  Let us help you spice up mealtimes.

9.  Discover Graphic Novels

We have an extensive collection of graphic novels at Central Library and online in the eLibrary,  from popular superheroes to powerful and thought-provoking works of art.  Much of the collection is aimed at adults, so if you’ve never tried a graphic novel before, why not give them a try.  You might be surprised.

10.  Take the first step in starting your business

We support entrepreneurs, inventors, and small businesses from that first spark of inspiration to launching and developing a business.  Visit our Business and intellectual Property Centre webpages and discover more…

No Fines, No Worries!

Library fines have been scrapped!

Over at Sheffield Libraries, we’ve been helping local people connect with culture, learning, and each other since 1856.  Looking ahead, we know we have an important role to play in helping the city recover from the pandemic.  So, to pull down barriers and help as many Sheffielders as possible, we are delighted to announce that Sheffield Libraries is now fine free!

From now on we will not be charging anyone for returning their books late. We’ve never charged children, and the good news is, this now applies to all adults too.  Historic fees for late returns are also being removed, so if you have a book from before the pandemic, and were worried about paying old fines, just return it to a member of staff.   We’ll happily waive any fees that previously built up.

Of course, we still encourage you to return library materials on time or to renew them - other Sheffielders are waiting to use them, but we understand that sometimes life gets in the way. So from now on, you don’t need to worry about a daily fine. Just bring the books back as soon as you can.

No fines, no worries!

Reserving and renewing your books has never been easier

Back in February we launched the new Library App which is full of great user friendly features.  In the first few weeks, it was downloaded and used 6000 times by local people!

Download the app

Please note the self service feature is not currently available, but we're working on this and will be activating it soon!

New Year, New Queer

Liz Chapman (@lgbtlibrarian, Sheffield Libraries) and Zoey Dixon (@Zoey_Dixon, Lambeth Libraries) are back again with another bumper harvest of the best queer kidlit for your reading pleasure!

We have something for everyone, from picture books to Young Adult and from non-fiction to graphic novels. You can download a list of our 2022 reading recommendations here - featuring everything we covered in our LGBTQ+ History Month book chat, plus a few bonus titles that we couldn't squeeze in!

All the books are available to borrow (or very soon will be) from your local library. Be first in the queue and reserve your copy now via the Sheffield Libraries catalogue or Lambeth Libraries catalogue.

If you've enjoyed one of our recommendations, or have a favourite queer read that you'd like to share with us, please leave us a comment, or follow @SheffLibraries and @lamlibs and join the conversation on Twitter!