Free car bins

We are now supplying the red car bins that were advertised in the newspapers while stocks last

*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.

Fás eCollege - Learning Online at WHC Library

Lifelong Learning in the Community Open To All For More Details Contact: Library Desk If you are new to computers and want to take things slowly, our project is perfect for you. We will help you get up and running and proficient at a nice easy pace. Aimed at absolute beginners and those who want to improve their PC Skills, Fás eCollege and the Library Council are offering you the chance to brush up on your PC Skills in your local library. Limited Places Available Courses Available

• ECDL
• Health & Safety Courses
• Basic Photography
• Finance Fundamentals
• Computer Skills
• Key Skills - Numeracy & Literacy
• Office Admin/Reception
• Child Development Basics
• Gardening & Horticulture
• English as a Second Language

Computer Skills Will Include

• Intro to Computing
• Intro to Internet & Email
• Intro to Word Processing
• Intro to Spreadsheets

Do want to Renew your Books from Home?

All of our members can now avail of our online service, whereby you can renew your books over the internet. You can also check your library account to see if you have all your books before you return them to us.

To use this service you will need your library card barcode number and a P.I.N number. You must contact the library desk with your choice of any 4-digit number and we will set you up for this service.

Alternatively, you can email me at this address lhogan@limerickcity.ie and i will confirm your accounts activation in reply.

Please include your name, address, id number and your 4-digit PIN (that you have chosen) in the email.

The link to Renew your books is on the menu on the right habd side of this blog (2nd from top).

Please Note: You can only Renew Books that are still in date (not overdue) and Not Requested by another borrower.

Summer Activities for Kids 2008

Summer Activities for Kids 2008 29th – 31st July

Tuesday 29nd July - Storytime & Crafts Age: 4-6yrs Time: 11-12pm

Tuesday 29nd July - Create & Make

Age: 9-12yrs Time: 3-4pm

Wednesday 30th July – Create & Make Age:9-12yrs Time: 3-4pm

Thursday 31st July - Storytime & Crafts Age: 4-6yrs

Time: 3-4pm

Please Note:12 children per session. All activities are first come first served. A Parent or Guardian must be present when signing children in for the Arts and Crafts classes and must stay in the library building for the duration.

Hospital Primary School Visit WHC Library

Today over 50 Junior & Senior Infants from Hospital Primary School visited the library on their way back from a showing of the 'Gruffalo' in the University Concert Hall. The pupils were very well behaved and were a credit to their teachers. They were treated to storytime & colouring by library staff.

The Alchemist - For Free!

Paulo Coehlo has just released a free digital version of his classic novel 'The Alchemist' Use the widget below to read it.

CBS Sexton St. Visit Library

Earlier this morning 40 1st year students from CBS Sexton St. visited the WHC Library. They were split into 2 groups; One group were given a tour of the library floor, they were shown how we organise the books to make them easier to find, and they were shown what we have to cater for their age group and interests. The other group were at workstations in the PC Room and were shown how to search our catalogue online, how to search for information online and also how to use the Web application Google Earth.

New Non-Fiction for Teenagers!

Writing Down the Days: 365 Creative Journaling Ideas for Young People
by Lorraine M. Dahlstrom, M.A.

Down with boring writing assignments! Here's a year's worth of alternatives - fresh, interesting, and fun. Each day's entry starts with a fact-filled introduction so young writers learn something new. Each features a person, place or event that gives special meaning to that calendar day. And each proves that writing dosen't have to be dreary or dull.
Many assignments include addresses, phone numbers, and websites that lead to more information.
Lorraine Dahlstrom, M.A. earned her master's degree in learning and human development. She's been a secondary English teacher for more than 25 years.




Down & Dirty: 43 Fun & Funky First-Time Projects & Activities to get you Gardening

by Ellen Mastoon


Wherever you have dirt - your yard, an urban balcony, or anywhere else - you can discover the pleasures of getting down and dirty. Ellen Zacho's 43 no-experience-required projects inspire you to dig in, have fun, and help things grow. Isn't it time to bring a little more green into your world?

Xtreme Music Series

The Xtreme series provides a funky and fresh teaching method for beginners through a series of easy-to-follow lessons, exercises, true stories and superstar tips. Whether it be electric guitars, drums, Djing or singing, our team of Xtremists are here to guide you, advise you and test you - and make sure you have fun along the way!

The Lonely Planet Gap Year Book

Given the choice between stressful exams or job interviews and the endless white sand of an Australian beach, what would you choose? Be the first in your family to go around the world, teach children English in Africa, tend baby jaguars in Bolivia, study film in New York.

The Power to Prevent Suicide: A Guide for Teens Helping Teens

by Richard E. Nelson, Ph.D. & Judith C. Galas

This practical book also explores the reasons why someone may want to take their own life, offers advice on the warning signs, explains when and how to seek help, and encourages teens to get their schools and local communities involved in suicide awareness and prevention. An intelligent and insightful volume, it acknowledges that teenagers do recognise when someone is deeply troubled, and care enough to reach out and help.

Write Where You Are: How to use writing to make sense of your life

by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Ph.D.

As a teen, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg found hope, insight, and strength through writing. Today as a creative writing teacher, she helps her students explore the many benefits of writing.

By putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) you can express your true feelings, understand yourself better, create and re-create yourself, dream wide and deep, know you're not alone, and feel more alive. A nd that's just for starters.

Leap onto the blank page where anything is possible!

Readymade CVs: Sample CVs for every type of job

by Lynn Williams

A good CV is an essential tool in the survival kit of every job hunter. It shows that you have the necessary qualities and qualifications that potential employers are looking for, and improves you chances of getting an interview.

This fully revised edition of Readymade CVs makes the task of preparing a CV much easier. It shows you what information to include and what to leave out, how to present your CV and how to make a great first impression. There are even more easy-to-read sample CVs for a wide variety of jobs, ready to be adapted to your individual circumstances, and advice on overcoming common CV problems; what to put on your CV if you've just left school; CVs for specific jobs; CVs for tricky situations.

This edition also includes the latest information on online CVs and electronic job-hunting as well as useful lists of action words and positive phrases to make your CV really stand out.

WHC Library Book Club

Watch House Cross Library Bookclub, had its first official meeting on April 25th. The club which meets on a monthly basis has been organised by library staff in conjunction with the Community Coordinators who are active in St. Munchins parish.

Members have a diverse range of interests and tastes which should lead to some interesting book choices over the coming year. The first book chosen was ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by Irish author John Boyne, the book was thoroughly enjoyed by all but also provoked some lively debate between members.

New Non-Fiction Titles in the Library

Marilyn Monroe: A Life in Pictures

by Verlac Editions

Icon, legend, actress, star - all these words can be used to describe Marilyn Monroe and yet they simply do not do her justice, because she was so much more. Norma Jean has inspired and created more headlines than any other movie actress - yet her marriages, affairs and life choices all distract us from the talent of this very beautiful woman. Part of the successful "Life in pictures" series, this book presents Marilyn at her very best. Following her from toddler to teen, to one of Hollywood's best-loved celebrities, we gain a unique insight into her life, loves and career. Over 160 pictures represent impressive iconographic research, including personal photos, images from national archives, private collections and press agencies - some not published before. Famous quotes on and from Monroe further reveal the thoughts of her closest friends, collaborators and admirers. This is both a unique collection and a visual reminder of why Marilyn has endured as one of our most fascinating and best-loved Hollywood stars.

Surfing the World

by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor

Transworld Surf Magazine (USA)
"This book deserves a place on your coffee table - or better yet, in your bag as you board a plane... "
HuckMagazine (Pan Euro)
Great read...one of the most enjoyable and well put together surf books to be published in the last few years. "
Coldswell"A definitive must have for anyone serious about surfing"

Best Loved Poems

edited by John Boyes

This glorious celebration of classic poetry features verse from around the English-speaking world. Carefully selected and divided into themed sections, the poems encompass the wealth of human experience - love, death, youth, old age, nature, travel and humour are all included in works that range from the 1500s onwards.
A comprehensive range of time-honoured poetry from the British Isles, America, Canada and New Zealand, the collection embraces the famous and the not so famous, from Blake and Wordsworth to Adeler and Wyatt, ANd includes over 170 other poets.
From Coleridge's fantastical Xanadu or the battlefields of John McCrae, to the ominous croaking of Poe's raven, this is a wonderful collection of poems containing the great and the good, the funny and the tragic, and everything in between.

Cancer is a Word, Not a Sentence

by Dr. Robert Buckman

A six-step, practical guide that helps you through the first few weeks following diagnosis. Cancer is a Word, Not a Sentence is a straightforward guide to life after diagnosis. It explains what your diagnosis actually means, what the tests are about, what the future holds, how to judge the treatment options open to you, how to cope with the side effects, and the inevitable ups and downs you experience following treatment. Dr Buckman focuses on the day-to-day: how to talk to your partner, children and friends, and how to communicate with your medical team. There's even a section addressed to those close to you who 'just don't know what to say.' His informed, no-nonsense approach offers reliable and essential facts and advice for everyone dealing with a diagnosis of cancer.

Bible John's Secret Daughter: Murder, Drugs and a Mother's Secret Heartbreak
by David Leslie

There was one partner the pretty young women who danced away the 1960s in Glasgow's Barrowlands were desperate to avoid: Bible John, so named because he quoted scripture to his victims. He was being hunted for three brutal unsolved sex murders, and each of his victims had been picked up after a night at the famous dance hall. Police were still investigating the first terrifying murder when Hannah Martin was raped on her way home from the Barrowlands. When Bible John struck twice more, Hannah confided to friends that his description matched that of her own attacker.

The next shock came when Hannah discovered she was pregnant. Her distraught father banished her from the family home and forced her to give her child up for adoption. She would never see her daughter again, but in a bizarre twist three decades later, an investigation into the infamous World's End murder would result in Hannah's daughter discovering the identity of the mother she never knew. Tragically, the news came too late for them to be reunited but it set her on a course to uncover the shocking secrets of her mother's life. Did Hannah know Bible John? What did Hannah Martin reveal of her baby's father?

How did she then become a member of a multimillion-pound drug-smuggling gang? Why, after expecting a huge bounty, did she die in poverty? The answers are all here in Bible John's "Secret Daughter".

The Complete Book of Hairstyling
by Charles Worthington

This indispensable and comprehensive hair bible from celebrity hairdresser Charles Worthington is a must-have accessory that no girl should be without.

Charles Worthington is one of today's most influential and creative hairdressers. He has twice won the title of British Hairdresser of the Year, as well as numerous other awards, and owns five world-class London salons and a super-salon in New York. Charles's award-winning product ranges are sold worldwide. His work is featured in Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire, and he makes regular television appearances on ITVs This Morning.

Make Up
by Marie Claire

192 pages of beauty lessons, ranging from the most basic to the most sophisticated, that will teach you to make yourself up like a pro and make the most of what you've already got!
Celebrity make up artists share their secrets with you...
Oliver Echaudemaison (Guerlain)
James Kaliardos (L'Oreal Paris)
Bobbi Brown (Bobbi Brown)
Giorgio Armani (Georgio Armani Cosmetics)
Terry (by Terry)

Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook: A Short Guide to her Ideas and Materials
by Maria Montessori

This is the book that Maria Montessori wrote in response to requests from thousands of parents and teachers. A short, illustrated guide to the use of the Montessori classroom materials, it shows how to set up a 'children's house' - an environment for learning where children can be their own masters, free to learn at their own pace.
Frames for lacing and buttoning, geometrical wooden insets, sound cylinders, sandpaper letters, coloured numerical rods: these are familiar features of any Montessori classroom, whether in the pioneering days or today. Dr. Montessori explains how to use these materials with preschool children to stimulate their powers of observation, recognition, judgement and classification.
These self-correcting learning tools are the original 'teaching models' for young children. Inherently logical and aesthetically pleasing, they were designed to hone the child's visual, auditory, and tactile perceptions. Dr. Montessori stresses that each child approaches the apparatus differently. The role of the adult, whether teacher or parent, is to let the child experiment, perceive his own mistakes, and run his own risks in learning.

A Day in the Library

Another typical day in WHC Library. Maria, Branch Librarian reads a story to some very attentive children while a mother reads a story to her son.

St. Munchin's Family Resource Centre at the Library

St. Munchin's Family Resource Centre are making great use of our facilities at WHC Library.
In the two pictures above, you can see a Basic Computer Class, and an Adult Education (English Leaving Cert) course in full swing.

For more information on St. Munchin's FRC
click here

Fair Trade Hamper Winners - CSPE Ard Scoil Rís

Thanks to the Fair Trade Committee of Limerick City, we received a fabulous Fair Trade Hamper to raffle. We decided to raffle it among all the Secondary School classes that visited the library to watch the documentary 'Black Gold'.
The winners of the raffle were CSPE Class, Ard Scoil Ris,
and Mr. David Barry their teacher was on hand to receive the hamper from Liam Hogan Library Assistant.

Arts and Craft Classes

Maximum number of children per class is 12 and it is on a 'First come First served'basis. The age range for the Saturday classes is strictly 6-10 years Library Staff and Children attending the class are the only people permitted in the room during classes. Classes run for approximately 1 hour, 11 am-12. The latest possible time to join the class is 11.15 am, as any later will disturb the class and force it to run over time. A Parent or Guardian ( OVER 18)must be present when signing children in for the Arts and Crafts classes and must stay in the library building for the duration.

Class Visits Continue

Here are the girls from 3rd Class St. Munchin's Girls on their recent visit to the library.

World Book Day

World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

The origins of the day we now celebrate in the UK and Ireland come from Catalonia, Spain where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 80 years ago.

World Book Day 2008 in the UK and Ireland will take place on Thursday 6th March. Please note that this date applies to the UK and Ireland only. The initiative is so well established in schools here that we want to make sure that the Day happens in term time to really make the most of this opportunity to celebrate books and reading. Most other countries hold World Book Day on 23rd April every year.

World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all.

A main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. To support this aim, a Schools’ Pack full of ideas and activities, display material and more information about how to get involved in World Book Day will be mailed to schools (including those secondary schools that have specially registered to participate) from mid-January 2008. Registered pre-schools will also receive material around the same time. In the Events section you can see the range of activities and events organised by thousands of people around the country, many of which you can attend.

For more info click here

Minister O'Dea launches Limerick Library Initiative

An initiative aimed at showing the importance of libraries was officially launched by the Minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea, on Monday.

For the full story click here

Faitrade Fortnight: Classes view 'Black Gold' in Library

Two classes visited the library today to watch screenings of the Fair Trade Documentary 'Black Gold'. Ard Scoil Ris and St. Nessan's were the two schools represented.
Sinead McDonnell, who is the Environment and Fairtrade Officer for the City of Limerick was on hand to introduce the film and explain abit more about the movement to the students.
Over 50's students in total attended.

Absolute Beginners Class Graduate

The Second class to undertake our Absolute Beginners computer course have graduated today! Over the period of 6 weeks this class of very studious pupils have learnt the following;

- The Fundamentals of a Computer
- How to use a keyboard and mouse
- How to browse the Internet
- How to use Search Engines
- How to set up an Email Account
- How to use E-Commerce Websites