Libraries Week 2022

Our libraries are home to many of our Inspire Adult Learning courses. The free* and low-cost courses are designed to inspire our community and support them in gaining valuable skills for work, leisure, family, and life.

Whether you want to progress your career with a recognised qualification, or you’re just looking to have fun and pick up a new hobby, Inspire Adult Learning courses are for everyone. Many are short enough to easily undertake around other commitments, and with many taking place in our Nottinghamshire libraries, you can learn local and go far!

Make sure to check out the Puzzle Busters events this Libraries Week, where you can take part in fun maths-based activities. You can also stop by to meet the Inspire Learning team to find out more about courses in your local area.

*Certain eligibility criteria apply.

Our libraries are a home to life-long learning, and that doesn’t just mean learning past school years. It means that we’re here to support learning and development from the get-go, with courses, groups, and resources for families to grow and achieve together.

We offer Family Learning courses designed to support your family - whether that’s adult-only courses to provide supportive tips and skills, or courses to take as a family to nurture young minds and inspire new skills and knowledge. You can view all upcoming Family Learning courses here.

At our Nottinghamshire Libraries, we have a wide range of story and information books to delight, inspire and enthuse a love of reading and learning. Children and young people up to the age of 19 can enjoy no overdue charges, and books, talking books and DVDs can be reserved free of charge.

Our libraries provide events such as Rattle Rhyme and Roll and Storyhullabaloo to bring families together and allow children to socialise. Check your local library page to find out what’s happening near you.

Plus, Family Theatre is back and is bringing fun and imaginative theatre to your doorstep, inspiring children and teaching creative and practical ideas! Find out more about upcoming shows.

Reading and books are an excellent way to learn, and where better to go than your local library.  By signing up for a library card, you can borrow up to 24 items at one time as well as have 24/7 access to thousands of digital resources including eBooks, eMagazines and eAudio books. Signing up is free and you can join either online here or in your local library.

Whether you’re learning on one of our courses, or learning in other ways, our libraries can help support you. We have a vast range of books on many inspiring topics - whether you’re after beginner’s crochet patterns, looking up sustainability practices, or even need an extra bit of maths revision help, there is a book for you.

Pop into your local library to browse books, and speak to a member of staff if you’re looking for something specific to support your learning. You can also browse our catalogue online here.

Our eBooks provider, BorrowBox is delighted to celebrate and showcase the central role that libraries play in supporting life-long learning. Providing unlimited access to must-have titles to promote a love of learning. Find out more here and find out how to access BorrowBox with your Inspire library card here. 

Our libraries can support you in ways outside of books, offering a range of facilities including bookable PCs and free Wi-Fi accessed using your library card. We also offer study spaces, where you can take time to revise and learn in a quiet environment, for free. Some of our libraries offer job clubs, where you can access free support and advice, and learn new skills to help improve work.

Other learning opportunities include a free Adult Reading Scheme, to offer support for adults who struggle to read or may never have learnt when they were young. The 1:1 sessions are tailored to individuals, to learn at their own level and pace in a supportive environment. If you know someone who may benefit from the scheme, you can find out more here.

If you own, or are looking to start, a business, Business and IP Centre Nottinghamshire provides library members access to a range of market research, company information and business databases to support your business information needs. They also have local sites in Beeston Library, Mansfield Central Library, and Sutton-in-Ashfield Library, where you will be able to access in-person one-to-ones, events, and workshops, to help you gain the knowledge and skills to run a successful business. You can find out more on the BIPC page.