Christmas Opening Hours

Hear ye hear ye...!

The Library will close on Wednesday 23rd December at 4pm until Wednesday 30th December, inclusive.
It will re-open Thursday 31st December for the day.
It will be closed Friday 1st January and will reopen again on Saturday the 2nd January.
Please note the Library is closed every Sunday and Monday.

Merry Christmas from the staff at Watch House Cross Library!

Christmas Origami 2009 - A Christmas Tree

This year we did Christmas Tree Origami with the 7-12 years olds at the last session arts & crafts on December 19th. If you don't know what origami is have a look at this link

New Bookmarks - Fiction Classification

As of today we have new bookmarks to give to all our borrowers (while stock lasts) which shows the different genres that we have arranged in the library.

Crackers Christmas Crafts!

The Homework Club's End of Year Exhibition & Carol Signing

Children's Fun This Christmas!

Arts & Crafts for 7-12 Years Olds

Saturday 28th November 3-4pm

Saturday 5th December 3-4pm

Saturday 12th December 3-4pm

Saturday 19th December 3-4pm

Stories & Art for 4-6 Years

Thursday 3rd December 3-4pm

Thursday 10th December 3-4pm

Thursday 17th December 3-4pm

No booking necessary, first come first served.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Xmas Arts & Crafts

Our beautiful Xmas tree that is now adorned by home made decorations made in this weeks' Arts & Crafts Class..

Artist in Residence Creates Winter Window Wonderland!

Children's Bookclub (9-12 year olds) - December 2009

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

The main characters in this story are brothers Charlie and Tommo Peaceful.
The first half of the story is set in the village in which Charlie and Tommo live with their family. Here we see Tommo struggle with a secret that burdens him but he is afraid to tell to anyone; Charlie takes the place of father figure in the family when their own father dies; Charlie and Tommo meet and make friends with Molly, and their friendship is tested when they both fall in love with her; their oldest brother Big Joe goes missing; and all the while Grandma Wolf and the Colonel undermine the close family and inflict cruelty on them...and thats just the first half of the book!

In the second half of the book the story moves to the trenches in World War I where both brothers have enlisted in the army. The book dosen't flinch from the realities of war - trenchfoot, lice, loneliness, fear and death; and Michael Morpurgo writes so descriptively that the kids said they felt they were there with Charlie and Tommo living the story.

This book has many themes and plots running through it but never get complicated. It's interesting, exciting and sad and you wont put it down until you come to the last page...and if you're Hugh you'll get to the last page...and then start reading it all over again!
Everyone in the Bookclub without exception loved this book. We gave it 9 1/2 out of 10.


Michael Morpurgo has written over 100 childrens books...
War Horse
The Butterfly Lion
The Wreck of the Zanzibar
Arthur, High King of Britain
Kensuke's Kingdom
Farm Boy
Cool!
Why The Whale Came...


He has won lots of awards for his writing including The Smarties Prize, The Whitbread Award and The Childrens Book Award.


His favourite book growing up was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Coláiste Chiaráin visit Library

*New* Public Library Information Services

Some great news for all our members. A new information service is now available on all our Public Access PC's. We have included a link on the right hand side of the blog, called "Public Library Information Services". With this you will be able to access the following valuable resources;

• LexisNexis - the world's largest collection of news & business information online
• Vision-net.ie - A comprehensive and up to date business information service.
• Irish Times - Exact reproductions of all article published by the irish times from 1859 onwards.
• Griffith Valuations - The primary genealogical source for 19th century Ireland.
• Ask About Ireland - Ireland's largest local studies resource.
• ENFO - Your 1st port of call for environmental information.
• OSI Ireland - Archive of historic Ordnance Survey maps and Lewis' topographical Dictionary.

Home School Reading Project: St. Munchin's GNS

Childrens Bookclub (9-12 year olds) November 2009

Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman

If the name of Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman, doesn't send shivers down your spine now, it will when you have read this book.

The Demon Huntsman? Well, he usually conducts his business on All Souls' Eve, the day when we are all supposed to pray for the souls of the dead. Zamiel, the Prince of the Mountains, the Demon Huntsman prowls through the great forests on that night in search of his prey. If you ever think you could do with a bit of supernatural intervention to help your worldly ambitions come to fruition, don't strike a bargain with Zamiel ... He'll remember you, and come a-hunting.
Evil Count Karlstein has a bit of a problem, accounting with Zamiel. He struck a bargain ten years ago, and it is payback time now:
This year,' said Count Karlstein, 'I have to provide a human prey -'
A gasp (oily) from Snivelwurst; a gasp (stifled) from me, and I clung to the little tin candlestick with both hands as I strained to hear what Count Karlstein said next.
'A living human,' he went on, 'or two, complete with soul. Now,' he said briskly, and I heard a chair being pulled across the wooden floor and the creak of the ancient floorboards as the count settled down in it - 'the question, is who shall it be?'
'Ah, yes, a very vexing question, I can well imagine, your grace. Who shall it be? Indeed! A sorrowful task, picking the right merchandise,' said Snivelwurst carefully. He wasn't sure what Karlstein was up to, and he didn't want to say the wrong thing.
'To be sure, Snivelwurst. But in this case there's only one thing for it. It'll have to be my nieces.'...
His nieces! Lucy and Charlotte. A nicer pair of girls you wouldn't come across. I don't know what would have become of them if it hadn't been for Hildi. Hildi, you see, happens to be standing quietly round the corner, and hears the terrible plan. What can she do to save the girls?
You'll have to read on for yourself. It's a rip-roaring tale of drama and suspense, suitable for reading under the bedclothes.
(extract from http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/)

Philip Pullman has written other books including:
Clockwork
The Firework-Maker's Daughter

I Was A Rat!
The Scarecrow and his Servant
His Dark Materials Trilogy:
Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass
(which has been made into a film The Golden Compass)

Children's Book Festival Winners 2009

*New* SMS Service Now Available!

We have just introduced a new SMS Texting service. From now on if you request a book from the library, you will be notified via Text Message, when your book arrives at the library for collection.

The cost of this is €0.15 per text message, which is much cheaper than the cost of the postal notices which is €0.55.

If you wish to avail of this service you just need to inform us of your mobile number! If you do not have a mobile phone then you will continue to receive your notifications by post.

Halloween Fancy Dress Party

Tall Tales & Scary Stories, Fancy Dress & Games on Halloween Morning with Witch Hilary

Children's Book Festival & Halloween Events 2009

Pignut Puppet Show

Puppets Jay and friends keep 4-6 year olds from Corpus Christi and St Lelias entertained with their X-Factor antics. Performed by puppeteer Jason Ryan of Pignut Puppets.

7-9 year olds from Christ the King Caherdavin and St Munchins CBS enjoying the Pignut Puppet Show.

Tall Tales with Witch Hilary

Irish Science Live

Science is a fascinating and exciting subject, but it can be a challenge to teach. Irish Science Live lets the kids learn by doing the experiments themselves through hands-on, informal, fun workshops.

Christ the King Caherdavin, St Munchins GNS and St Munchins CBS attended and covered subjects like gravity, sound, light, chemistry, anatomy and electricity.

Irish Science Live workshop run by Michael Moylan.

Author Visit

Local author Roisin Meaney visits the library and shares some writing tips with budding authors from 4th & 5th classes, Christ the King Caherdavin Boys School.

Puppet-Making Workshop

Jason helps the kids making their own puppets.

Kids Party Club Puppet Show

The Town With No Stories Puppet Show featuring Booky Wook, the Talking Book, entertains 4-8 year olds and their parents from the local area.

Other events during Children's Book Festival included a Poetry Workshop run by Pete Mullineaux on Poetry Ireland Day, attended by pupils from St Nessans Secondary School; the Launch of the Library Junior Book Club for 9-12 year olds, to be held monthly hereafter; and weekly Create & Make and Creepy Crafts sessions for 4-12 year olds.

Children's Book Festival 2009 - Event Guide

Create and Make, Art & Craft Hour Wednesday 7th 5-7yr, 3.30pm-4.30pm Thursday 8th 8-12yrs 3.30pm –4.30pm Creepy Crafts, Halloween fun Wednesday 14th & 21st 5-7yrs 3.30-4.30pm Thursday 15th & 22nd 8-12yrs 3.30-4.30pm Tall Tales with Witch Hilary Halloween Stories, fun and colouring for tots Thursday 15th & 22nd, 3-4yrs 11.00am Saturday 31st 3-4yrs 11.30am Pignut Productions Puppet Workshop Tuesday 27th 7-10yrs 10.30am-12.30 Booking Necessary Puppet Shows, ‘The Town With No Stories’, featuring ‘Booky Wook’ the talking book Thursday 29th 11.30 am & 2.30pm 4-8yrs Halloween Fancy Dress Party Includes Prize giving for our Children’s Book Festival Competitions & Fancy Dress Competition Friday 30th 3.00pm Children’s Book Festival Competition — A competition for all ages with colouring, quizzes & puzzles. Prize giving will take place in the library during midterm at our fancy dress party. Closing date Friday 16th October.

All events are free, limited places, first come first serve.

Contact library staff for details - 061 457726