YORK EXPLORE'S HIDDEN GEMS, RELEASING THE MAGIC ACROSS THE CITY OF YORK Chapter 2!!!

I had another really amazing afternoon with Fiona Williams, Chief Executive of Explore York.We visited another four of the Explore libraries and met some more wonderful people who shared their passion, enthusiasm and commitment about what their library or library cafe offered to their community.

We started with lunch at the Tang Hall Explore cafe with Andrew Oldham who talked about the work the team are doing in Tang Hall and the opportunities, activities and challenges. From games and story time and Space Chase; The Summer Reading Challenge to digital visa support providing a convenient and welcoming community service points which applicants can visit in person with their documentation, Tang Hall Explore is clearly an exciting place to be!!

We moved on to Strensall Library with Kelly Sockett who has an amazing story having lived all her life in Strensall and took an apprenticeship route to join the team. Kelly talked enthusiastically about the work she is doing and her plans for the future in Strensall, where lego and Space Chase; The Summer Reading Challenge are grabbing the imagination. Another exciting place working hard at the heart of this community. 

We moved on again to Huntington Library with Joanne Shanks, who shared her passion for the library, the magic of reading and her plans for the future in Huntington... you could easily miss this building as it is tucked away next to the GP Surgery.

We finished our road trip at New Earswick Folk Hall in the New Earswick Library with Mary Marlowe. This is an amazing place where Joseph Rowntree and Explore connect... a place where you can read, return your books, sit and watch the world go by or simply grab and go during a busy day! This is another of the hidden jewels of the Explore family here in York. A really interesting connected model where all aspects of provision can come together to serve the community!!