Things in the library 30th July

 Things about opening hours... 

So far we have had little response to our survey about early morning/late evening opening hours. If this is something you would use then please take a couple of minutes to give your opinion. This will inform our decisions about opening hours from September. 

In the meantime the library will be open until 19:00 on Tuesdays in August (unless we have any unforeseen staffing issues) and on Wed 4th August until 19:30 - no counter services available for the last hour as I will be hosting the Teams Online meeting for Reading Group.

Things to read... 

So 4th August 18:30 till 19:30 'Little Women' is the book to be discussed. Please contact the library if you would like the joining link. The book to be reading for September is 'West' by Carys Davie.

Things with a new look...

We had an update of our library management systems this week and alongside that the images have been updated for our library catalogue. So if you are looking at the catalogue (a webpage - so available for searching from anywhere) you might spot some of these.

Things about LGBTQ+... 

People who identify as LGBTQ+ experience disproportionately worse health outcomes and have poorer experiences when accessing health services. In this Kingsfund podcast, three years on from the Government’s LGBT action plan, Helen McKenna sat down with Dr Michael Brady, National Adviser for LGBT Health at NHS England, and Michelle Ross, Co-Founder and Director of Holistic Wellbeing services at cliniQ to explore the health inequalities LGBTQ+ people face and what needs to happen to make sure health services are inclusive.

Things for all of us... 

PHE has launched the latest Better Health campaign to encourage adults across the nation to lose excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this summer. The move follows a nationwide survey of over 5,000 adults which revealed that over 4 in 10 (41%) adults in England say they have put on weight since the first lockdown in March 2020.

Almost over half a stone (4.1kg) was gained on average by those who put on weight, with 1 in 5 (21%) reporting putting on a stone or more. In adults aged 35 to 65 years old, the average weight gain for those who put on weight rises to over 10lbs (4.6kg).

Search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.

Things about Tai Chi... 

Tai chi was as effective as conventional exercise for reducing central obesity in middle-aged and older adults, according to a trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The authors recommended incorporating the gentle mind-body exercise into physical activity guidelines for older people.                         

 

Twelve weeks of regular tai chi sessions helped older adults reduce their waist size in a recent clinical trial. The trial’s 543 participants aged 50 years or older were located at a single research site in Hong Kong. They were randomly assigned to a control group with no exercise, to aerobic exercise and strength training, or to a tai chi group for 12 weeks. An instructor led the conventional exercise and tai chi groups, which met 3 times a week for 1 hour.   

At baseline, 75% of participants were overweight or obese. Because Asian individuals typically have a higher body fat percentage than White people at the same body mass index (BMI), the researchers used waist circumference as a more accurate measure of cardiometabolic risk. At weeks 12 and 38, waist circumference decreased similarly in the conventional exercise and tai chi groups but increased in the control group. Both exercise groups also had modest decreases in body weight and BMI.

Things about autism... 

 A policy paper on the 'The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026' was published recently. The roadmap for the next 5 years, which is set out in their vision, gives these aims:

• Improving understanding and acceptance of autism within society
• Improving autistic children and young people’s access to education and supporting positive transitions into adulthood
• Supporting more autistic people into employment
• Tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people
• Building the right support in the community and supporting people in inpatient care

Things to see... 

A new exhibition opens at the Millenium Gallery next week. 'Earthbound: Contemporary Landscape from the Roberts Institute of Art' and a related event (charge and needs booking) you can join award-winning artist Paul Evans for a day of drawing from natural environment surrounding Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. Using both traditional and highly innovative techniques, Paul will take you through a number of drawing exercises that will bring you closer to nature, build your personal repertoire of marks, and improve your ability to 'experience and see things for yourself - as they really are'.

For family events across the road at Weston Park see these suggestions. 

Things to make... 

If you are enjoying the Olympics then why not try some Japanese inspired recipes, perhaps this version of a Katsu curry which can be adapted for different diets.