South Western Regional Library Services

Tickets are now available for our first public event for the Words Alive in Libraries author tour, with Fiona Williams, author of The House of Broken Bricks, on Thursday 29th January, at Arts University Plymouth. www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/ply...

We’re pleased to announce a major new project for 2026, Words Alive in Libraries, a fourth partnership with the wonderful @swrls.bsky.social (the South Western Regional Library Service), building on the success of our previous writer tours of libraries around the south west.

Thank you for coming, and sorry for delay here! Was lovely to have you along and to hear all about the brilliant MBA library.

SWRLS AGM Conference Join us for the SWRLS AGM Conference for lively library conversations, to catch up with colleagues & take an exciting archives tour!

Next SWRLS event coming up in Exeter on Thursday 13 November - join us for lively library conversations & archive visits... Free to staff at SWRLS member libraries - sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swrls-agm-...

Permanently Temporary – Taking up Space in Cultural History A timely panel discussion, hosted at Museum of Architecture in Bath

In Bath on Friday evening - to explore how people of colour can take up their rightful and permanent space within heritage institutions at a time when much history continues to be hidden.

We're excited to be working with @literatureworks.bsky.social on this new author tour in SW libraries, to kick off in Jan 2026, to include writing & reading workshops... thank you to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social National Lottery Projects funding #NationalYearOfReading

Jobs (All) | Swrls

New job: Stock Librarian, Bristol Central Library, 18.5 hours per week, permanent - more information via jobs page www.swrls.org.uk/jobs

new online training - free for staff at SWRLS member libraries SWRLS has a long-established reputation for creating training opportunities across library sectors, and in 2025 we are excited to make some of this training and related resources even more accessible ...

Our new area on Basecamp contains resources for libraries on advocacy, AI, & bid support, plus a full training course primarily for frontline workers to help manage difficult customer situations. Free to SWRLS member library staff. More info. on today's blog post #librarytraining

In case you missed the news last week...we are looking for a new Programme Officer, who will support us in making exciting literature activities and events happen all across the South West.

📅 Apply by Monday 25th August

Jobs (All) | Swrls

Three new job posts in SW libraries - from Plymouth and Torbay to North Somerset, in NHS & public libraries www.swrls.org.uk/jobs

Members' Day 2025 We gathered this year on 25 June at Exeter Community Centre, and it was wonderful to welcome members from across the region spanning Wiltshire to Cornwall and more… After last year’s event at Plymouth...

a write-up of SWRLS's Members' Day last week, including insights & advice on #libraryadvocacy

Brilliant to have you there - thank you - and so glad it was inspiring :-)

Photo of the opening presentation slide for the South Western Regional Library Services Members' day. The theme was 'uniting, inspiring and collaborating across libraries, information services and cultural organisations in the South West'

Our camera-shy library team opted out of a selfie but had an inspiring time at the @swrls.bsky.social Members' day yesterday. We're already planning how we can bring some of the ideas that were shared to our users in the @thembauk.bsky.social library

Thank you so much - yes thankfully I clocked this yesterday morning and sorted it out - the domain was already renewed but some auto process hadn't happened as it should have - all seemed v. complex but fine now! Thanks again - really appreciate you flagging up.

Our life writing course led by @susannacrossman.bsky.social begins very soon, and now's your last chance to book if you want to take part in the three online sessions that start this Thursday.

Don't delay, booking closes soon: quaywords.org.uk/take-part/qu...

getting excited about our next Members' Day in just over 3 weeks! Free to SWRLS member library staff - sign up below.

Exhibition: Unearthed: The Power of Gardening 2 May - 1st September 2025Unearthed: The Power of Gardening explores the transformative, enriching and sometimes radical power of gardening in Britain and how it impacts people, communities and the en...

This talk is part of a mini-series of lectures on topics related to gardening, alongside our current exhibition UNEARTHED: The Power of Gardening 🌻🌍

bristol.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=211...

#LivingKnowledgeNetwork #Unearthed #Gardening #Bristol #BristolLibraries #BritishLibrary

Libraries Unlimited and grassroots groups join forces for region-wide programme backed by the National Lottery - Libraries Unlimited Communities across Devon are set to benefit from a major new climate action initiative thanks to £1.5 million in National Lottery funding. The five-year project – Together for Tomorrow – will be led b...

With this funding we aim to make a real difference in Devon - watch this space! www.librariesunlimited.org.uk/libraries-un...

Mental Health Awareness Week Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 is taking place 12 to 18 May, and the theme is Community.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek this year focuses on the power of community. Public #Libraries help fight loneliness and encourage connections by bringing people of all different ages and backgrounds together in a free, non-judgmental space.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/pub...

Nottinghamshire Library Service's 'Places to Connect' project.

Culture Nature England, our partnership with @naturalengland.bsky.social that helps #Libraries deliver work to build connections with nature, has ended.

Public libraries used their grants for truly innovative projects, which you can explore here.

www.librariesconnected.org.uk/projects/cul...

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 💚

📚 Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing

✅ Reading Well books are all recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered, and their relatives and carers 👩‍⚕️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Jobs (All) | Swrls

5 roles currently advertised in SW libraries, from team leader to customer service to climate action...

Speaker announcement graphic for Lisa McLaren

📢 Speaker Announcement! Lisa McLaren, Deputy Director at SCONUL, joins #CILIPConf25 for the AI’s Carbon Footprint panel discussion! With expertise across universities, the NHS and public libraries, Lisa brings valuable insights into AI’s climate impact. cilipconference.org.uk

Our next talk is on Wed 14th May at 2pm -

"Making a Grand Exit: The Elaborate Funeral of Maud Courtenay (d.1467)" by Dr Lynda Pidgeon.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

A colour photograph taken from the MBA Library window, looking out over Plymouth Sound. In the foreground on the left is part of the original building, with the MBA flag flying. In the middle background is Tinside Lido and Drake's Island. On the right of the image is a corner of the library building.

What a fantastic end to April - we couldn't resist taking a snap of the view across #PlymouthSound from the library's reading room @thembauk.bsky.social. Have a great day everyone 🌞

🌷 Our spring events keep growing!

Special mention: Exeter MP Steve Race will be dropping by for an IT drop-in session on Fri 16 May, 11.30-12.30. He’s keen to hear how library digital services—eg free PC use, Tech Buddies, WiFi—have helped you, & what more we could offer. Come share your thoughts!

Creative Writing Group Research Survey

Have you attended a creative writing group, workshop or programme in the community or online?

If so, make sure to complete this quick survey before the end of June for the chance to win prizes, including a @writerscentre.bsky.social self-paced course worth £75.

👉🏻 bit.ly/4gdiXdu

Seed Bed - Literature Works Projects we’ve funded

This is one of many projects we're pleased to support via Seed Bed, a fund for grassroots initiatives which explore the environment and ecology crises through creative words and stories.

Find out more about Seed Bed on our website here: literatureworks.org.uk/seed-bed/