Inspire Nottinghamshire Libraries

It was just last week we were at Inspire Beeston Library for our annual Volunteer Celebration, and today were were back for more, this time for with BBC Nottingham 🤩

The Beeb came along to join in with our ESOL Converation Cafe and the Places of Welcome group, both of which run every Friday at Beeston Library. We got them involved making cups of tea and calling bingo numbers, and we also got to wish Places of Welcome member John a happy 80th birthday!! 🥳 🥳

It was a fab morning chatting with our amazing volunteers, who really make all of this possible. Thanks so much for all your hard work and smiling faces, and happy National Volunteers Week! 😍

If you want to listen to the show, visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002wvsn and listen from the 54 minute mark.

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 👇

Happy National Volunteers Week! Last Thursday, we held our annual Volunteer Celebration at Inspire Beeston Library to say thank you to our Inspire Community Makers for the amazing work they've done over the past year - and, of course, to celebrate 10 years of Inspire! 🥳 🥳 🥳

Volunteers were able to take part in fun taster sessions run by Inspire tutors - playing musical instrumens, experimenting with Virtual Reality headsets, and knitting! We were joined by Cllr Christopher Adegoke and Vice Chairman Cllr John Doddy, who were on hand to help cut the cake! 🍰

Our volunteers are a key part of our service, bringing experience, ideas and inspiration, delivering and supporting our vision to help the people of Nottinghamshire read, learn and enjoy culture. Volunteers make a massive impact all over Inspire: assisting in libraries, supporting young people at events, helping on our Adult Reading Scheme, running Places of Welcome groups, and much more.

Interested in getting involved? Visit https://inspireculture.volunteermakers.org/ to browse all our roles and sign up to become an Inspire Community Maker.

Nottinghamshire County Council

Do you love Newark, walking, and photography? How about architecture and nature? 📸

If so, you're in luck: In partnership with Newark Creates , join us on Saturday 13 June for two FREE photo walks around Newark with local artist and cultural historian Liam Skillen! 🌳🚶‍♀️‍➡️

Architecture Photo Walk 🏛️🏰
FREE | Saturday 13 June | 10am - 11:30am | Meet at Newark Library

Starting in the Newark Library gardens, we will be walking around Newark identifying architectural elements of interest and exploring the local history through the townscape.

Nature Photo Walk 🌿🐞
FREE | Saturday 13 June | 12pm - 1:30pm | Meet at Newark Library

Starting in the Newark Library gardens, we will be walking around green spaces around town, exploring the environment around us and the beauty to be found in Newark!

Booking advised
Suitable for adults and accompanied children.

Book your FREE place here: inspireculture.org.uk/NewarkCreatesPresents

Newark Creates Cultural Programme | Inspire - Culture, Learning, Libraries Did you know ? We've been bringing you culture, learning and libraries since 2016. Find out more about 10 years of Inspire.

Join us at our next Heritage Talk at Inspire Beeston Library - Q***r Nottingham with CJ DeBarra 🤩🌈

Join author CJ DeBarra for a talk about the history of Nottingham’s Q***r scene, focusing on the pubs, clubs and activism of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Learn about radical archiving and delve into the stories of the Nottinghamshire Q***r History Archive. There will be a chance to see some of the LGBTQ+ artefacts from the archive including badges, publications and Gay News.

Tuesday 30 June | 6pm | Beeston Library | £3.50

CJ Debarra recently launched their book - Q***r Nottingham 1991 - 2020, to a SOLD OUT audience at Nottingham Central Library ! If you missed out on tickets to that event, now's your chance to come along 😅

Find out more and get your tickets now at: https://bit.ly/436tRwO

Volunteers wanted! This we're looking for volunteers to help at our monthly Sing With Friends group at Eastwood Library!

Our Sing With Friends sessions are available to all, but especially aimed at those living with dementia. Music can bring joy and trigger memory for those with dementia and their friends, family and carers. Our singing sessions provide opportunities for people to come together and enjoy the memorable movie magic of film. As volunteer you won't need to sing (though feel free to!) - instead, we need your help with jobs like:

👋Greeting guests with a warm welcome
☕Making hot drinks
🧼Keeping the refreshment area clean and tidy
📝Handing out information about future events

Sound like you? Find out more and apply online: https://inspireculture.volunteermakers.org/get-involved/regular/eastwoodlibrarysingwithfriendsvolunteer/418/

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 👇

Giveaway time! 🎉

We're giving away an amazing book bundle from our 2026 InspiREAD Book Award shortlist! Here’s what you could win:-

✨ Set of all 4 shortlisted books in our Shorter Books category
✨ £30 National Book Token

for the National Year of Reading 2026 and kick start your reading journey with us 📚

How to enter: let us know below which book in any of the Picture Book, Shorter Book or Longer Book categories is your or your kid's favourite! Comment below - or get creative with a drawing or photo!

📅 Enter by 12pm on Friday 12 June📣

👉 Share your favourite to win this fantastic bundle! Don't forget to vote for your winners at Inspireculture.org.uk/inspiread2026