Inspire Kimberley Library

It's World Wide Knit in Public Day! 🌎🧶

Whether you're already part of one of our Knit and Natter groups or enjoy stitching in your spare time, now is the perfect time to get involved in a community knitting initiative!

Our 2026 Inspire Charity Knitting Challenge – Story Snugglers, is all about bringing comfort, warmth, and a love of reading to children. To celebrate the , crafters across Notts are creating colourful, snuggly woollies designed to keep little ones cosy during bedtime stories🌙📖

We’ve already seen some brilliant snugglers from our amazing community, and we’d love to see yours next!

Interested in taking up the challenge? Find patterns, how-to videos AND more on our website: https://bit.ly/4207EOo

📷 Images from Inspire Sutton-in-Ashfield Library

It's global Empathy Day! 🌍✨

This year's Read for Empathy collection includes 65 diverse and BRILLIANT books for 3–16+ year-olds perfect to during the National Year of Reading! 📚

Now in its 10th year, EmpathyLab 's collection is curated by expert librarians, booksellers, teachers and academics to champion children’s literature in all its diversity.

Through these novels, graphics, picture books, poetry collections, non fiction, and early readers – young people can experience, understand and practise empathy – a learnable life skill at the heart of strong relationships and positive wellbeing 💜

our online catalogue 👉 https://bit.ly/4ojJR8v and borrow the books from your local library.

📢 Have your say! Take part in our Adult Library User Survey today!🎉

Whether you use your local library to pick up your favourite reads, take part in a group or course, use the computers or printers, attend an event, or meet friends, we’d love to hear your views! 📚

This is your chance to impact our service and benefit your community. 😍

⭐Complete the survey: inspireculture.org.uk/librarysurvey

The survey is open to adults aged 17+, and the survey closes on Sunday 5 July 2026.

Thank you!

Nottinghamshire County Council

InspiREAD 2026 - Meet the nominees! ✨

RAMZEE is the author/illustrator of The Cheat Book Vol. 1: Can Kamal Cheat His Way Onto the Cool Table - one of the amazing books nominated in our Longer Book category 🤔

He has written comic books for 2000ad and Marvel, and he designs and runs his own comics and illustration workshops too!

Find out more about InspiREAD 2026 and cast your vote - link in the comment section below 👇

InspiREAD 2026 - Meet the nominees! ✨

Simon Packham is the author of Zak Monroe is (NOT) My Friend - one of the amazing books nominated in our Longer Book category 🙅‍♂️

Before he started writing children's books, Simon spent 25 years as a professional actor, musician (violinist/singer/composer) and comedian!

Find out more about InspiREAD 2026 and cast your vote - link in the comment section below 👇

Libraries Change Lives week has reminded us again just how valuable our services are to people in the community 💕

From Retford to East Leake, Huthwaite to Balderton, libraries up and down our county have been sharing the best parts of themselves in a bid to spread the love. Lots of our libraries hosted author events this week including West Bridgford and Worksop libraries. Some shared stories with families and got crafty afterwards, and others took us on a virtual tour of their buildings! Let us know if you explored your local library this week 💬

Did you know that an estimated 15.6 million adults in the UK are library members? Share your local library with someone you care about and help us give communities an even bigger boost this 📚 Join online for FREE at inspireculture.org.uk/join


Nottinghamshire County Council

InspiREAD 2026 - Meet the nominees! ✨

Daniel Duncan is the illustrator of Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder - one of the amazing books nominated in our Longer Book category ⚽

Daniel predominantly uses pencil accompanied by digital illustration techniques in his work. He loves football as much as he loves drawing, so illustrating a book with football as a big theme was really fun!

Find out more about InspiREAD 2026 and cast your vote - link in the comment section below 👇

InspiREAD 2026 - Meet the nominees! ✨

Bali Rai is the author of Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder - one of the amazing books nominated in our Longer Book category - The Official Bali Rai ⚽

He has been writing short stories and poetry since the age of eight, and he's written more than 50 books since 2001! 🤯

Find out more about InspiREAD 2026 and cast your vote - link in the comment section below 👇

Service disruption update - Online library catalogue 📚

Following yesterday evening's disruption, the online catalogue is now available. However, users may encounter problems in performance while our suppliers resolve the issue. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this.

Stay up to date with service disruptions at inspireculture.org.uk/service-disruption