Dancing on library lawn, a stained glass workshop – and a Lego ‘map attack’: it’s been a day of family fun at York Explore central library.
And it has all been for a great cause – to raise money for the York library service’s programme of summer activities for children.
The fun began at 11.30am, and continued right through to a raffle prize draw at 3.45pm.
Activities outdoors on library lawn have included a children’s ‘storytime’ with storyteller David Gillingwater; a fun science show; a live performance of The Firework Maker’s Daughter by the NDB1 (Next Door But One) theatre company – and a session of acoustic guitar music with singer and guitarist Alex Jackson.
Events indoors in the library, meanwhile, have included a Lego ‘map attack’ – in which Lego enthusiasts are invited to build Lego versions of historic York buildings on a map of York; a booksale; and a stained glass workshop with artist Griselda Goldsborough.
Jenny Layfield, the chief executive of Explore York Libraries and Archives, which staged today’s event, said there had been a ‘lot of families’ dropping in.
“We’ve had lots of children watching Next Door But One’s production of The Firework Maker’s Daughter – and people have been really enjoying what is going on,” she said.
Explore York always stages lots of Lego events at its local libraries, Jenny said – but the ‘map attack’ was always popular.
“You do a bit of archives education, show people some buildings that existed in York – and they then use that to build their own building – or a fantasy version of it! – on a map of York. It’s very popular!”
Money raised from today’s event will be used to fund Explore’s programme of summer activities for children.
The independently-run library service’s next fundraising day, just before Christmas, will focus on the city archive maintained by Explore – one of the best historical archives outside London anywhere in the UK.
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