The publisher, Bloomsbury, have produced a great celebratory website about it and have launched a brilliant competition where you have to tell them how much you love Harry Potter and why.

We have special boxes in libraries for you to post your entries, so pop along now, borrow one of the books to remind you how much you loved Harry, then tell them and be in the draw for great prizes!

Sorry we haven’t had an update for a little while but Spring is a very busy time for frogs, and I have been out enjoying all the rain that we’ve had recently.

My friends at the library have been working really hard and have put all their events and activities onto Google Calendars, so that you can see everything that’s going on at each individual library, and even print it out if you like.

It’s a lot more colourful than our old calendars and it means you can find out what’s on in every library, not just Wigan and Leigh!

Why not head to our Libraries page, then select a library on the left-hand side and take a look?

We will be using withdrawn book stock to create indigenous British tree silhouettes on the floor (remember Art Attack?) and then making our own individual trees to make a display with, and to take home.

Free drop-in event: the first part of the session will be making and photographing tree shapes on the floor and the last half hour or so of each session will be the mini-tree making activity.

a.m. sessions are from 10am – 12 noon and
p.m. sessions are 1 – 3pm

Tuesday 10th April
Ashton Library a.m., Leigh Library pm

Wednesday 11th
Shevington Library am and pm

Thursday 12th
Leigh Library am, Ashton Library pm

Friday 13th
Wigan Library, Life Centre (North), The Wiend, am and pm

On Tuesday 13th there will be a perfromance of Christmas carols from the pupils of St. John’s Infants from 2.00-2.30pm, just the thing to remind you of what Christmas is all about.

On Saturday 17th December there are two salt dough Christmas craft sessions: one from 10.30-11.30am and one from 2.00-3.00pm. Tickets are £1 each and the activity is suitable for under 12s.

Finally, on Friday 23rd December, there is an under-12s Christmas Party in the Derby Room, tickets £1 each.

For all events, drop into the library or call 01942 404404 for tickets.

As part of the Manchester Science Festival we are having a wonderful celebration called Powerfest at Trencherfield Mill, on 26th October from 11.00am – 3.00pm. There will be kite-making, kite demonstrations, canal trips on the Kittiwake, steam engines and much, much more for all the family to enjoy. Most things are free but small charges may apply for individual activities.

Finally we will be holding a FREE Super Spooky Saturday on 29th October, from 11.00am – 2.30pm at the Museum of Wigan Life. Come along in your Hallowe’en finest, listen to some spooky tales, do some crafts and have fun meeting a visitor fromn long agooooooo. Suitable for children aged 4-11.

For more information, and to book places, please call 01942 828128.

Tuesday 25th October – Hallowe’en Disco, 2.00-3.30pm.
Dancing and games for ages 11 and under, fancy dress optional.
Tickets £1 from Leigh Library 01942 404404.

Wednesday 26th October – Hallowe’en Stories in the Park, 1.30-2.30pm
Spooky stories for age 11 and under in Lilford Park.
FREE tickets from library.

Thursday 27th October – Hallowe’en at Leigh Library, 7.15-8.30pm
Stories, games and fun for age 7+, FREE tickets from library.

‘Meet the Architect’ sessions, where you can find out more about the history of the Museum and take a guided tour, will be taking place at 11.15am and 12.45pm.

For the little ones there will be traditional Punch & Judy puppet shows at 12 noon and 1.30pm.

Everything is free, just turn up on the day.

Come along to Mesnes Park tomorrow between 11am and 3pm for lots of family fun – why not bring a picnic and make a day of it?

There are story times, crafts and object handling as well as planting activities, and a chance to find out about the history of this beautiful Victorian Park.

The free fun starts at 11.00am and runs through until 2.30pm, and there are lots of things to get involved in: you can try your hand at illuminated handwriting by using a quill pen, make a shield or crown and take a look at the mediaeval artefacts.

There are also special sessions from 11.30 – 11.50 when there will be a fun family talk called ‘What is a Legend?’ and you can follow the Lady Mabel Town Trail to Mab’s Cross, from 12.30-1.30pm (£1 charge applies).

Who knows, I might see you there: look out for the knight with webbed feet!

What’s it about?
Well, for children aged 5-12 there is the national challenge, which has a circus theme this year. The Children’s Team are already out and about talking to schools about it. All you have to do is read six books during the summer holidays and you will receive little gifts like stickers, yoyos and bookmarks for each book read, and a certificate at the end. There’s even a fun website, if you want to find out more: Summer Reading Challenge
I thought it wasn’t fair that children should have all the fun, however, so I started my own challenge last year, called Reddit! (get it? say it quick and you will) Reddit! is for mums, dads, uncles, grannies and older brothers and sisters to have fun with – in fact, anyone over the age of 12 can do it.

Just ask your library for your Reddit! diary, read six books of ANY type and tell us which bit you liked best. You can read cookery books, car manuals, history books, art books or even travel guides. It even counts if you read a book to someone else – picture books or any kind of books, so yes, The Tiger that Came to Tea counts just the same as Anna Karenina!

You might even learn a new skill while you’re at it. One group last year got together with cookery books and took it in terms to bring in lunch once a week. There is now a special blog page for you to share your book reviews on so take a look now. Also there is the Reddit! recommends… page here to whet your appetite.

You will get a certificate featuring Yours Truly on it and be entered into a prize draw, not to mention the warm fuzzy feeling of taking on the challenge!