Derwent Valley BRIDGE Library

30/10/2026

Join us on Thursday 12th November for a Mince Pie Tasting. Sample the variety on offer and decide your favourite - accompanied by a glass of w**e or a soft drink. There will also be a fun quiz to enjoy during the evening.

Tickets are now on sale in the library priced at £10 each. Pop in and pick up yours soon! All profits go towards keeping our library running for the local community.

Library opening hours:
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

18/10/2026

On Friday 9th October, Ayton School had a visit from some Smugglers! 🏴‍☠️

The SaltburnSmugglers, who write and sing sea shanties, visited the school for an exciting workshop based around smuggling, singing and working on a sailing ship. They worked with every class, from the youngest to the oldest and had so much fun. At the end of the day, the children put on a concert for their parents to show what they had learned.

All this was possible because the library applied for a grant on behalf of the school. To make sure that the tiny tots were not left out, we decorated the children's section of the library with a sea theme and had pirate and smuggler stories for them during their story time activities.

18/10/2026

We are all set for Halloween. Just pop into the library during normal opening hours to pick up a trail pack, enjoy some spooky colouring or choose a creepy book…

16/10/2026

HALF TERM ACTIVITY FOR 1-5 YEAR OLDS! On Tuesday 27 October from 10.30-11.30 Kathy Seabrook's Fun Music will be in the library. Children must be members of North Yorkshire Libraries and be accompanied by an adult. The event is free but donations to help pay our bills are always welcome. Booking essential, in person or by ringing 01609 534059 during open hours. Sorry - no other way of booking is possible.

13/10/2026

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes...

Our Halloween Trail is back and starts this Saturday, so you have plenty of time to complete the cryptic questions. But only if you dare...

10/10/2026

We had lots of fun being pirates yesterday at our Pat Almond story time. During our story time, we sailed ships, rowed boats and walked the plank! We then dug for treasure, made pirate hats and created treasure sensory bottles.

Thankfully, we were home in time for tea and the glitter and sand were easily hoovered up!

For more creative play ideas like these, download the Easypeasy app which is free to all families in North Yorkshire and is available here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BqKQkuMwe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/10/2026

This time last week we welcomed members of our local community into the library - and many of them went home with a brand new pair of slippers for the winter after spending time enjoying coffee and a chat with friends!

A big ‘Thank You’ to our volunteers who opened up the library and ran the event.

04/10/2026

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬

𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬
𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝟕.𝟎𝟎𝐩𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲

“In these uncertain times, what are the stories that we need to get us through? I have been a writer for forty years, of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. In the early 2020s, I had three crime novels which were set in Scarborough published by Constable/Little Brown.
However, more recently my writing has taken a different direction – towards a 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚. I want to offer tales which help imagine a more sustainable future. Is this even possible? Where do I start? What avenues do I explore? During my talk, I will look at what this new genre Thrutopia actually is, at the writing craft and at my choices when it comes to publication.”

Tickets available in the Library priced £5

03/10/2026

There are still some tickets left for this year’s Pat Almond concert with the brilliant on Saturday 10th October. If you are interested in diving into the history of sea shanties, then Royal Museums Greenwich have this useful overview.

From sailor songs to TikTok sensations, find out more about the history of the sea shanty, and discover the meanings behind 'The Wellerman' and other famous examples

02/10/2026

As part of our 2026 Pat Almond events, we visited East Ayton School Nursery this morning for a pirate themed story and book borrowing session.

The children showed off their amazing imaginations, acting out the story and inventing their own ocean adventures. We also enjoyed sharing lots of songs and rhymes to support the children’s speech, language and communication skills.