It's time for the next edition of our new mini-podcast Bea's Books where Jennie and Pari are challenged by Bea the bonsai tree to recommend books on the theme she gives them.

This week, the theme is 'I Didn't See That Coming', and Jennie and Pari have some great book recommendations for you to find out about. Join them for some fun book chat and maybe you'll discover your next read.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using hashtag #FLBpodcast and #BeasBooks or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings, we'd always appreciate a rating too. 

With the good weather arriving, libraries start to get excited about the Summer Reading Challenge coming.

Chris Wilson, our E-Services Librarian, caught up with our Librarian, Lindsey Smith to find out more about the programme and why everyone should bring their little ones along to sign them up when it's on Saturday 24 June.

Chris also visited a local school, St. Edward's Primary School, to find out from some of the school children why they love reading and what some of their favourite books and authors are too. So make sure you keep listening to hear from the kids themselves. They impressed us with their love of reading and we're sure you will be too.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings. we'd always appreciate a rating too.

In our first Bea's Book standalone episode, join Pari and Jennie as they take on Bea's theme of Strange Bedfellows.

Bea is their fabulous bonsai tree who suggests the theme for them to tackle and choose books that fit the theme. Get some great book recommendations from Pari and Jennie with some fun and laughs along the way.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast and #BeasBooks or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings, we'd always appreciate a rating too.

In our new podcast, our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, catches up with Edinburgh author Lesley Kelly.

Lesley is best known for our series The Health of Strangers - set in a pandemic-hit Edinburgh and a Health Enforcement Team is put together in order to assist with mandatory health checks from the Government. Written prior to the World's real pandemic struggles in recent years, Lesley's stories are exciting and fast-paced - definitely worth a read if you enjoy that genre. 

Her new book, Dead Man Driving, continues the story of Edinburgh's Health Enforcement Team as their duties, as the often do, go beyond health check enforcement. 

This episode also sees the launch of a new part of our podcast - Bea's Books. Listen after the interview to find out more from Jennie and Pari from Coatbridge Library. You'll be able to watch our for more sections of Bea's Books in the weeks between our regular episodes.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings, we'd always appreciate a rating too.

It's Bookbug Week! We're celebrating on our podcast with this special episode featuring a special guest from the Scottish Book Trust, the people behind the Bookbug programme.

Our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, caught up with Ruth Boreham, the Early Years Community Engagement Project Manager with the Scottish Book Trust. Ruth filled us in on exactly what happens with the Bookbug programme, how successful it has been nationally and let's us know why Bookbug is worth a week-long national celebration. 

We also hear from Susan Wilson, our Library Assistant and Bookbug Leader at Newmains Library as well the star of some of our Bookbug Online videos. Susan chats to us about her own personal experiences of attending Bookbug as a parent and the benefits she felt from that and also gives her own perspective of being a Bookbug Leader.

There are also a few book recommendations in there from both Ruth and Susan too for parents looking to find some great reads for their little ones.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings, we'd always appreciate a rating too. 

Who doesn't love stories about Vikings or Ghosts? Or finding out interesting facts from around Scotland. That's where the fantastic books from well-known Scottish children's author David Macphail can help.

The worlds he has created whether it be with Thorfinn, the nicest Viking or in the Top-Secret Grandad are filled with just that along with his recent fact atlas An Amazing Illustrated Atlas of Scotland full of great little pieces of information.

Our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, got up with David to find out more about his books as well as his own personal adventures, writing with his famous mum Cathy Macphail and also his love of zombies and cream buns.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings we'd always appreciate a rating too.

World Book Night is fast approaching and we thought we'd give you a few options for the perfect book to read on the night.

Our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, managed to get a handful of our staff to take part in our online book speed dating, getting just 3 minutes each to sell you their book choice as the one you should pick. Listen up for recommendations from Hilary and Peter from Motherwell Library, Jennie and Pari from Coatbridge Library and Craig from our Macmillan team.

You can vote for your favourite in our online poll too, and we'll announce the winner the day after World Book Night.

Vote here: https://www.menti.com/alxjyxfzqmum

View the results so far here: https://www.mentimeter.com/app/presentation/al37hvxqp17viigoy382gy3kg429prki 

Spring is upon us and for North Lanarkshire Libraries that means it's Let's Go Easter time.

Our libraries are awash with kids activities mostly with an Easter theme. So there are plenty of opportunities to visit your local library and have a fun-filled experience. 

Chris Wilson, our E-Services Librarian, caught up with a few staff from around our library service to find out what is coming in week 2 of Let's Go Easter than you can still bring the little ones to while they are on holiday from school. 

He is joined by Jennie Bissland and Pari Shetty from Coatbridge Library, Roslyn Woods from Wishaw Library and Hilary Petrie from Motherwell Library to discover more details of some of the great activities happening in their libraries. 

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings we'd always appreciate a rating too. 

One of our most successful events recently has been our Code Club sessions. Across various clubs, our Digital Learning team has been helping children learn basic coding using the Scratch programming language.

Our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, managed to catch up with some of the team to find out more.

Digital Learning Officer, Hilary Petrie, gives us a little bit of background to the project and hopes going forward, our Digital Assistant in Cumbernauld Library, Ekaterine Tsurtsumia fills us in on what has been going on in some of the clubs in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area and finally our Digital Assistant in Motherwell Library, Peter Benassi tells us a little bit about his plans to launch Code Club in Motherwell Library too.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings we'd always appreciate a rating too.

Our podcast is back with a round-up of some exciting opportunities for our library members to get involved in.

Our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, chats through a host of chances to see some top authors in our libraries in the next few weeks and he catches up with our Librarian at Coatbridge Library, Thomas Clark, to find out a little more about great activities happening there.

Listen to the end as well to find out a little bit about our exciting Memory Room which is launching soon at Airdrie Library. 

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast by using #FLBpodcast or by emailing [email protected]. On podcast platforms that allow ratings we'd always appreciate a rating too.