<![CDATA[Friends of Burnham Library - Blog]]>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:06:54 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[What Rubbish]]>Mon, 30 Oct 2017 08:18:09 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/what-rubbish“No-one needs Libraries anymore – close the public ones and put the books into schools”   So tweeted Andre Walker, journalist and Conservative Party Aide.  The result was a storm of over 100,000 tweets in response debunking his view and telling him he was talking rubbish.  He was forced to issue a tweet backing down, saying that Libraries were more popular than he realised.  How many of our political masters are equally ignorant?
 
This resulted in an article in the Guardian, by writer Rhiannon Lucy Goslett debunking his tweet , which is well worth reading.
 
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/no-one-use-libraries-any-more-rubbish-sanctuaries--enrich-communities
 
Her article contains two (to me)  significant quotes:  “These sanctuaries enrich our lives and communities in so many ways. Without their magical world, I would never have become a writer.”
 
The second is well worth wider dissemination:
 
“Libraries may be needed more by poor people but many comfortably off people use them too. Regardless of class background, libraries plug us into our communities, reminding us that there is life beyond our living rooms, that there’s more to our daily existences than work and coming home, and the same again tomorrow. We are not all atomised in front of our glowing screens. Libraries don’t just mean us, they mean other people too. No wonder we fiercely protective of them. They are priceless. Maybe that’s why they are so busy!”
]]><![CDATA[Sign a Petition to Save Our Libraries]]>Fri, 08 Jan 2016 08:37:33 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/sign-a-petition-to-save-our-librariesPicture

“Public Library News” reports today that as our Libraries come under more and more threat, a movement is starting nationally to stop the Trend. 

BookSeller- "Councils have been accused of seeing libraries as “soft options” and "easy targets" when it comes to deciding on budget cuts and run the risk of "undermining rights" by not fulfilling their legal duties to provide library services, campaigners have said. Following government cuts to local authority budgets, dozens of libraries across the country are under threat as councils review their budgets before the new financial year in April, with some already revealing plans for severe reductions to their library services."

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) c.e.o. Nick Poole said the cuts "...undermine rights which are enshrined in the Equality Act, Human Rights Act and Public Libraries & Museums Act. We have a situation where our national network of libraries is being dismantled while government fails to provide the guidance that local authorities need to provide the comprehensive and efficient library services they must, by statute, provide .."

CILIP is organising a petition to the Government to persuade them to stop the continual death of a thousand cuts to Libraries and to ensure that the statutory rights we all have to a Library are maintained in the face of Councils who see cutting Libraries as a soft touch.  Please sign the petition and forward it to as many of your friends as possible and ask them to sign too.

 All of us in Burnham can see the wonderful job that our library and its devoted staff do to ensure we have such a service, which is available to everybody in the community without exception.  So many people in Burnham visit our Library and remark what a friendly and vibrant place it is with something to offer to so many different groups of people.  We cannot lose this.
 
Please sign the petition here.
 
 
Andrew Strathdee, Chairman

]]><![CDATA[Burnham Library follows advice of DCMS]]>Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:24:03 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/burnham-library-follows-advice-of-dcmsThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published their Independent Library Report for England.  Read it here.

Burnham Library is following their recommendations and have created an Internet Zone with WiFi, tables and power points.
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Burnham Library's new Internet Zone
]]><![CDATA[Newsletter Christmas 2014 ]]>Fri, 19 Dec 2014 09:50:51 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/newsletter-christmas-2014
]]><![CDATA[Christmas Raffle]]>Thu, 23 Oct 2014 12:53:05 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/christmas-raffle
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Tickets are now available at the library and from committee members for this year's bumper Christmas Raffle.

The draw will take place at the Christmas cake sale and coffee morning on 22nd December in the Library.

Many thanks to all those who have donated prizes and to Phil Everitt for his work in putting the draw together. Please buy a ticket and help us to support our fantastic library.

]]><![CDATA[October 2014 Newsletter]]>Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:03:34 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/october-2014-newsletterTo read our October 2014 News please click inside this box below and wait a few seconds for the newsletter to load.
]]><![CDATA[Our First Charity Fair - November 28]]>Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:47:20 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/our-first-charity-fair-november-28
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]]><![CDATA[What Books Do For the Human Soul]]>Mon, 13 Oct 2014 08:50:23 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/what-books-do-for-the-human-soulWe just came across this article by Maria Popova on Brainpickings.org and thought we'd share it. Did you know that reading great literature:

  1. Saves you time
  2. Makes you nicer
  3. Is a cure for loneliness
  4. Prepares you for failure

    Find out more in Maria's article and then pop along to the library and choose an old favourite or look for one you've always wanted to read.  The library staff will be pleased to help you.
]]><![CDATA[Sew, Knit and Natter knit Smoothie Hats...]]>Sat, 06 Sep 2014 10:42:40 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/sew-knit-and-natter-knit-smoothie-hats
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The Sew Knit and Natter team are hard at work knitting their contribution to the 80,000 Innocent Smoothie Bottle Hats which are required for the Big Knit 2014 to raise funds for Age UK.  So far they have knitted over 200.  Don't worry, Ladies, only 79,800 to go!
]]><![CDATA[News Update]]>Fri, 22 Aug 2014 06:27:18 GMThttps://www.friendsofburnhamlibrary.org/blog/news-update1.      New Groups

Computer Group

The first meeting of the new Computer Group will take place on Tuesday, 7th October at 2.00pm in the Library, and monthly thereafter.  The format will be of a surgery, where people can bring along computer problems that they have and are prepared to share with the rest of the group and we will try to find a solution for them.  In addition there will be a sort talk on a current Computer topic – the first meeting being on “Choosing a Tablet Computer”.  There will be a charge for these meetings, although if it is your first meeting to see if it will help you, it is free.  Otherwise there is a charge of £5.00 or £20.00 for 5 sessions if paid in advance.  Any payments will go to pay charges and any expenses and any surplus will go to the Friends of Burnham Library to support the Library.  If you would like to come along on the 7th October please do, but it would be helpful if you could let us know in advance by emailing me or the Library.

Cribbage Group

Friends of Burnham Library and Burnham Working Men’s Club have teamed up to hold afternoon and evening sessions for two Wednesday’s in October.  Those who have played the game before are welcome to refresh their memory but we are hoping that novices of all ages will  take the opportunity to try the game.

Four sessions are provisionally planned on October 8 and 15 at 14.30 till 16.00 and from 20.00 till 21.30.

To find out more and register an interest in having a go :-

Call in at Burnham Library or contact Viv and Tricia Nicholas – phone 01628 661887, e-mail  mrviv.nicholas@btinternet.com.

Cribbage was created in the early 17th century and has remained virtually unchanged as one of the most popular games in the English-speaking world.

It is the only card game that can be legally played for money in English pubs. and can be played by 2,3 or 4 players.   The game relies on a board for scoring and has generated everyday expressions such as level-pegging.

2.    Summer Reading Challenge

One of the most important events in any Libraries Calendar is the Summer Reading Challenge, where we try to enrol as many children as possible to participate in a reading Programme over the Summer Holidays.  The Library Staff have done a tremendous job in recruiting and we have 200 young people who have signed up for the Challenge

We now need to make sure that all the Young people who signed up for the Magical Maze, this year’s Challenge, complete the programme and qualify for their medal and to attend the Summer Challenge party to be held on 23rd September in the Library.  So if you have any junior members of your family who have signed up, please encourage them to complete the cycle.

As a matter of interest, Frank Lampard, the England and former Chelsea player is the champion for The Summer Reading Challenge this year. As a father of two, footballer Frank Lampard is very much aware of the importance of child literacy. As he launches his new children's book series Frankie's Magic Football Lampard is pledging his support for the Summer Reading Challenge, in an effort to inspire more families and boys to read.

Frank Lampard says: "I'm proud to be a champion for this year's Summer Reading Challenge, and that Frankie's Magic Football is included on the books to read list. Reading with my children is incredibly important to me and a wonderful way to spend time together as a family, exploring magical worlds, through books and stories. I hope that many boys, and girls, will be inspired this summer to take up the Summer Reading Challenge and enjoy all of the brilliant books available to them at their local library."

Another event for young people - August 29th 10.30-11.30 Pirate Morning. Make a treasure map and hunt down treasure. Come in Fancy Dress if you dare!   Tickets £1

3.      Police in the Library

Work is proceeding to alter the Library Staff Room to be an office for the Neighbourhood Policing Team to use as a home in Burnham, since the Police Station closed and the staff moved to the new Station in Taplow.  This should open in the next couple of weeks.  Once it does, a sign will be put up and a police telephone will be available outside the Library.  There will also be a number of Police Volunteers starting to work in the Library to help answer any police related enquiries members of the public may have.

4.      On-line Reference Sources

Many of us, (including me!) do not realise the wealth of services to which our Library membership gives us access.  I recently enquired about a new service I had heard of called Access to Research, which gives, through Libraries, access to academic and other research papers, generally free.  Looking at it, this is a tremendous resource for anyone studying for a qualification, writing a book, preparing a talk  or following an interest.

When I went to the page on the Bucks Libraries Website, I must admit to being ashamed I have not realised how much there is available on line to us, far more than could be kept in any one library and accessible in many cases from home, using a simple access code.  So for all those who are thirsty for information here is the list of things that are available.  If you have any problems, the staff in the Library are willing and able to help, another good reason for supporting our local Library.

Library Online reference resources

Many of us do not realise the wealth of resources that are available to us simply by being a member of the Library.  Instead of having to find these resources and register with them and on occasions pay, you just log in to the selected service as below.  If you have any problems, then speak to a member of the Library Staff who will be pleased to help you.  Yet another good reason for signing up as a Library Member…..

Login from home using BUCKS followed by your Buckinghamshire library card number (capital letters no spaces).

If you don't have a library card you can join for free.

For general use
·         Gale Virtual Reference Library
·         GoCitizen
·         Infotrac Journals
·         Infotrac Newspapers
·         Infotrac Newsstand
·         Naxos Music Library
·         Theory Test Pro
·         Who Else Writes Like...?
·         WhoNext? guide


For learning
·         Encyclopedia Britannica - Adult, student and junior editions
·         Issues Online
·         Oxford Art Online
·         Oxford Dictionaries Pro - English Language Resource
·         Oxford English Dictionary
·         Oxford Music Online
·         Oxford Reference
·         Oxford Language Dictionaries
·         Transparent Languages online
·         Very short introductions - History
·         Very short introductions - Literature
·         Very short introductions - Science and mathematics

For history and family research
·         Dictionary of National Biography
·         Financial Times Historical Archive, 1888 - 2010
·         Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 1842-2003
·         John Johnson Collection - Printed ephemera
·         19th Century British Library Newspapers
·         Times Digital Archive 1785-2008
·         Who's Who and Who Was Who from 1898

In libraries and study centres only
Login using a public computer in any Buckinghamshire library or study centre:
·         Ancestry 
·         Access to Research - research journal articles
·         COBRA - Business advice
·         Specialist Info - Information on health professionals
·         Which? online

In study centres only
Available in Aylesbury, Chesham or High Wycombe Study centres or by phoning 0845 2303132.
Please speak to a member of staff for login details.
·         Mint UK - UK company information
·         Datamonitor - market research reports (access via MINT UK)
·         Westlaw - legal information

5.      Draw and Raffle Certificate

Our parent organisation, Burnham Community Association, has applied for and been awarded the certificate we need to run draws and raffles as fund raising activities.  Previously we have been able to run in-house raffles at events, such as the 50:50 Raffle at the Quiz without a licence, but if we want to offer say a Christmas Draw selling tickets outside the Library, then a licence is required, which we now have,  The Fund Raising Committee will be looking at various opportunities to make use of this facility.

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