Family fun at Liverpool libraries for half term and beyond

FROM fairy tale performances to puppetry, from cartoon sketching to storytelling, there is lots to keep the children occupied at Liverpool libraries during half term and beyond.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:-"Family activities in our libraries are a great way to keep kids brains ticking over during half-term and participatory arts projects can help young people develop self-confidence, empathy and social skills. However, it is also a good opportunity for parents to meet our team and find out what else is going on in their local library. We all know the vital role that libraries play in fostering a love of reading and improving literacy, but they are so much more than just places to borrow books. They also act as community hubs, often providing a lifeline to isolated parents by offering a space to meet others and share experiences. They also offer a warm, safe space to access computers, the internet and online training courses."

Programmed by Liverpool City Council's Culture Liverpool team and made possible thanks to UK Shared Prosperity Funding, the free drop-in activities will kick off in half-term but continue through to March (more details of which will be revealed soon).

Lunar New Year Movement & Storytelling Workshops With Movema...

Movema professional artists invite families, grown ups and kids alike to share interactive, fun, engaging and educational sessions focused on celebrating Lunar New Year. Suitable for all, no experience needed.

Times and locations:-

• Saturday, 22 February, at the:- Liverpool Central Library, from:- 10am to 12noon.
  

• Saturday, 22 February, at the:- Allerton Library, from:- 1pm to 3pm.

Year of the Snake, Lunar New Year Workshops...

Drop in and create a Snake for Chinese New Year with illustrator and cartoonist Stu Harrison.

Times and locations:-

• Tuesday, 18 February, Lee Valley Library (Belle Vale) from:- 11am to 1pm.
  

• Wednesday, 19 February, Toxteth Library, from:- 11am to 1pm.
  

• Thursday, 20 February, Sefton Park Library, from:- 11am to 1pm.

Sketchy Portraits with Gill Smith...

Drop in to meet children's book illustrator Gill Smith and have a fun quick portrait done of you and your family. A unique experience that you can take home as you own unique artwork.

Times and locations:-

• Tuesday 18 February, Norris Green Library, from:- 10:30am to 1:30pm.
  

• Wednesday 19 February, Kensington Library, from:- 10:30am to 1:30pm.

Up & Away by Tmesis Theatre

An interactive family friendly show using words, puppetry and physical theatre, in a celebration of hope and dreaming the impossible! Join Tmesis Theatre as they take you on an exciting journey of the discovery of flight and the hot air balloon! Suitable for families with children aged 2 upwards. Performance lasts 40 minutes with optional colouring activity afterwards.

• Wednesday, 19 February, Allerton Library, from:- 2pm yo 2:45pm. To attuned you must reserve your free place.

Rumpelstiltskin by Altru Drama

A lovely new performance of the classic tale, packed with fun, original songs, live music and audience interaction. Albert Peddler can sell anything – anything that is except books! He thinks they're boring and rubbish – but Robyn knows better and she takes him on a journey through the story of Rumpelstiltskin to prove just how exciting books can be. The performance is 40 minutes long and is suitable for the whole family.

• Friday, 21 February, Old Swan Library, from:- 11am to 11:40am. To attuned you must reserve your free place.
  

• Friday, 21 February, West Derby Library, from:- 2pm to 2:40pm. To attuned you must reserve your free place.

Alongside the public programme, there will be a series of closed sessions for Schools as part of the Liverpool Learning Partnership, which is committed to supporting schools to encourage reading for pleasure. These visits to community libraries will include resource packs to continue the learning back in School.

Research reveals owners opting for dog dates over romance
Photo with thanks to The Kennel Club

NEW research by The Kennel Club reveals that 45% of dog owners would prefer to spend time with their pet than go on a date, choosing to forego any potential romance this February, while 33% believe they are more compatible with their dog than their partner. And with 54% also admitting they find more comfort in their dog than humans, it seems dogs hold a lot of sway for would-be suitors, with half (50%) claiming they wouldn't be in a relationship with someone who doesn't like dogs.

Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club, said:- "The relationship that people have with their dog is so special, and if Valentine's Day is all about celebrating love, there is – for many people – no love greater than the 1 they share with their dog. However, like any relationship, things can go wrong; people can get swept away by love at 1st sight and find that the dog they chose on a whim, or because of its looks, doesn't fit their lifestyle, and that leads to heartbreak all round."

While the research shows 67% of owners believe their dog is a perfect match for their personality and lifestyle, 18% admit they wish they had spent more time researching.

15% say their dog doesn't fit their lifestyle as well as they'd hoped, with 32% saying they bought because of looks and 14% buying on impulse or because they saw a dog on TV, in a film or with a celebrity.

Bill added:- "While there is no equivalent on the dating scene, a good 1st step to help you find your "paw fect" partner is to visit Crufts, taking place at the NEC Birmingham in March 2025. The Discover Dogs area offers a unique chance to meet more than 200 breeds, each with their own distinctive and predictable set of personality traits and characteristics, so that you can find 1, perhaps that you've never considered, that is perfect for you."

Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. Crufts is held from 6-9 March 2025 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4 and More4, and for further information and tickets visit:- Crufts.Org.UK.