Things in the library 2 Oct ...

 Treasure now available... 

We are so sorry to anyone who tried to take part in our Treasure Hunt and found they could not access the quiz (and huge thanks to the person who informed us of the problem this week). As a result we have extended the quiz deadline till 30th October this is the link and it's well worth competing as the prize is a £30 book token donated by Blackwells which can be used in store or online.

Things coming soon...

Our popular Randomised Coffee Trial will be running in November, details coming soon. If you have not taken part in one of these before do consider doing so as it is a great way to meet and chat to other opeople in the trust who you might normally never meet. You will be given a link to sign up then we will randomly match you to someone else...you then arrange to meet either on site or via Microsoft teams for a 30 minute chat about anything you like. Particularly at the moment it is a good way to 'bump' in to someone and have a conversation.

Things to attend...

Our next online reading group is on Wed 7th October at the new time of 18:30 till 19:30. Our book is 'Versions of Us'. If you like chatting about books do come and join us - you have to provide your own drinks and nibbles now we are not meeting in the library. if you are interested email the library to ask to be put on the mailing list.

More things to attend... 

Thursday Journal Club is re-starting- sadly without the home-made muffins - email the library if you cannot access a copy of the paper or if you require access details

• When: Thursday 8 October 8:00 am - 9:00 am
• Venue: Virtual & from the Lecture Theatre
• Presenter: Sahawash Jamali
• Paper: COVID-19 in children: analysis of the first pandemic peak in England

Things about sport... 

The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit’s (CPSU) annual campaign to raise awareness of the importance of parents' involvement in youth sport takes place in the week 5-11 October 2020. The theme is ‘Let’s talk about keeping children safe in sport’. During the week the CPSU will be sharing guidance on the types of things sports clubs should have in place to keep children safe and how parents can get help with any concerns they might have.

Things about disability...

Temporary Coronavirus Act provisions debated in the House of Commons on Weds 30 September could substantially restrict or curtail important, hard-won rights that disabled people rely on for their quality of life, says a new report by the Women and Equalities Committee. The Committee insists that they must not become new norms, setting back disabled people’s rights by many years. Read the Report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: interim  Report on temporary provisions in the Coronavirus Act  There are implications for Education, Health and Care Plan duties to young people with SEND.

Things about self-harm... 

In September 2020, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention launched their report on the inquiry into support available for young people who self-harm. This inquiry was carried out by a panel of parliamentarians on behalf of the APPG on Suicide and Self-Harm, with support provided by Samaritans.

Things about childhood... 

The Children's Commissioner has published a report into Childhood in the time of Covid. Children have fewer health risks from Covid-19 and yet they have suffered disproportionately from the nation’s efforts to contain the virus. This report aims to set out, in one place, the key ways in which children’s lives have been impacted as a result of the Covid-19 crisis – the nation’s biggest test since the Second World War. In doing so, it provides a roadmap for what must be done to enable children to recover from their experiences, and how their needs must be put first in the event of further lockdowns.

Things to make... 

Instead of a pasta bake why not use gnocchi for a change - you can probably substitute them for pasta in any recipe or try this easy vegitarian recipe for Gnocchi & tomato bake

Things back in the library...

Things about our COVID19 free zone...

The Library, F Floor, Stephenson Wing (Grey lifts) has been set up as a‘COVID conversation-free zone’, where you can spend your breaks or just take a breather. It does not have views over Weston park...despite what the Trust's well-being email said....but will be supplying staff with free hot drinks and biscuits and has  lots of natural light for those of you who work in windowless environments.We will also have our colouring sheets out.
Please do wash your hands before entering and when leaving (there are toilet facilities directly in front of the lifts) and maintain the usual social distancing rules when in there.  This space will be available from Monday and will be open 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Things about reading group...
We successfully met via a Google Hangout on Wednesday evening. The book to be reading for the May meeting on 6th May is Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, careful there are several books with this title.  If you don't normally take part in Reading Group perhaps now is the time to start. I expect we will meet via Hangout at 6.15 but please email the library and ask to be out on the mailing list if you want to be kept informed. You will have to provide your own drink and nibbles!





Things virtual...

Blackwell's Bookshop has launched a three-week virtual book festival.   All events will take place on Twitter @blackwellbooks use #BlackwellsVF with live discussions with authors and the opportunity to ask questions. Today's event at 4pm will be ‘Me Not You – The Trouble with Mainstream Feminism’ by Alison Phipps.

Things we can still do...

We are managing to do one to one training on most of our Book a Librarian topic. Feel free to request a session and we will work out a way to do this with you if we can. If there are a few of you wanting the same training and we can all get together at the same time that will make it more efficient. If you need to contact us for anything please use the library emails rather than our individual ones, this is so that whoever is 'on duty' can answer the emails and avoids unnecessary duplication of work.

Things for disabled children...
Contact, the charity for families with disabled children, has updated its advice and support page with information relating to Coronavirus. The webpage includes information on: children with complex health needs; coronavirus and children’s education; and coping at home. The Council for Disabled Children has published an open letter from the Children and Families Minister to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their parents, families and others who support them signposting guidance published over the past week


Things to help with working @home...
Remember to take breaks away from the computer and regular walks around the house or garden. Also bear in mind the times when you are naturally more alert and those times when you flag a little. This article from Evernote is helpful in suggesting '4 Ways to Stay Focused and Get Stuff Done'.

Also if you are starting to gather some emails or documents that you can't do anything about until you are properly back at work then set up a 'Post Covid19' folder or label in your file structure so you can park things there . That way you won't keep looking at them in your inbox but you will easily be able to find them all in one place when we are working normally again. Ask us if you need help with this.

Things for children who are anxious...
The NSPCC's library have put together a collection of 25 book titles for children who are worried or anxious, you can see them listed on their library catalogue. You won't be able to access the books from here but many will be available to buy online.
The NSPCC also have some suggestions and links if you're worried a child may be struggling with their mental health or has anxiety about coronavirus.
The children's commissioner has created a children’s guide to coronavirus to help explain the situation. The guide aims to answer children’s questions about coronavirus, tell children how to stay safe and protect other people and how to help them make the best of their time at home.

Things to eat...
Not one specific recipe this week but a link to some store cupboard recipes .








Things even further away from the library...
I am about to go on holiday for two weeks - sadly no further than my garden now but those dandelions don't know what is about to hit them...no excuses for any weeds this year. There may not be any blogs for the next two weeks so stay safe, take breaks when you can and have an unusual but Happy Easter.

Things in the library 24 Feb...

Things for sale...
We have a new selection of books we are selling (old editions) now available in the library. Please email for a copy of the list ...but first come,first served and we can't keep things for you unless you are registered with the library.



Things about children with complex needs...
The Council for Disabled Children and The True Colours Trust have published Understanding the needs of disabled children with complex needs or life-limiting conditions: what we can learn from national data? This paper shares the findings of a data analysis carried out between August and October 2016. The main aim of the project was to explore what national data reported by health, education and social services show about disabled children and young people with complex needs or life-limiting conditions. The figures estimate that numbers have increased dramatically by over 50% since 2004, from 49,300 to 73,000 children and young people.

Things to comment on...
NICE is producing new guidelines to help people who work with children spot and stop abuse or neglect. It outlines how social workers, teachers and police officers, along with others working outside healthcare, can spot the signs of abuse or neglect and how they should act faced with a range of differing circumstances.The guidelines includes physical, mental and sexual abuse as well as newly recognised forms of abuse such as female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual exploitation, child trafficking and forced marriage.It outlines soft signs that in themselves do not indicate abuse but warrant further consideration and harder warning signs that professionals should investigate. The draft is available for public comment in a consultation.

Things about hygiene...
NICE – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – has published final guidance recommending all children and young people, from pre-school to university age, be taught the importance of hand washing and managing some common infections themselves. These recommendations aim to educate the general public in how they can contribute in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.




Things that are smart...
Asthma UK recently published a report 'Smart asthma: Real-world implementation of connected devices in the UK to reduce asthma attacks' The report sets out the opportunities and possible pitfalls as we digitise asthma. They have consulted industry, expert clinicians, eminent academics and policy specialists in the course of developing this report. They state that "to make new technology stick it must help healthcare system efficiency and allow providers to make a fair profit. However, our overriding and unapologetic duty is driving improvement for the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma, and the families who have lost a loved one as a result of a failure in asthma care. It is for these people’s sake that the recommendations in this report should be seriously debated and considered, and the future implementation of digital asthma care taken up at the highest levels of the NHS."

Things about the long-term future of NHS...
The Centre for Policy Studies issued a report this week authored by Maurice Saatchi entitled 'An NHS Royal Commission From fighting fires to lasting settlement'. They conclude:
"Whatever the view, however, a Royal Commission on the long-term future of the NHS would offer signifi cant benefits, not least because of the huge looming challenges, such as the ageing population, the increasing prevalence of long-term conditions and the inflationary pressures of medical innovation. Only a Royal Commission can secure the bipartisan support needed to establish the lasting reforms required to ensure the world-class 21st Century health system that we all want to see."

Things to flip...
Yes...pancake day or 'Shrove Tuesday' is next week on Feb 28th. Christians traditionally used up food that couldn't be eaten during Lent, which was a time for fasting and penance, by making pancakes. If you want an easy recipe to follow here is one from Mary Berry. I should point out one error though as the article includes the phrase "any uneaten pancakes " ...not something I have personally ever experienced in our house!

Things artistic...
In some areas of the world this weekend will also see carnival parades and celebrations which, when we lived in the Netherlands, were a great fun time indicating that spring was on its way. This painting 'The Fight Between Carnival and Lent'  by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1559) depicts the contrast between two sides of contemporary life, as can be seen by the appearance of the inn on the left side - for enjoyment, and the church on the right side - for religious observance. The busy scene depicts well-behaved children near the church and a beer drinking scene near the inn. At the centre is a well, showing the coming together of different parts of the community, and other scenes show a fish stall and two competing floats.
The picture is full of symbolism (the meaning of some of which is now conjecture). I am always fascinated to look at the details on these paintings as a depiction of everyday life from over 450 years ago.

Things in the library 2 Dec

Things sparkly...
Us...we have put our Christmas decorations up early this year as once we get into preparing for our annual stock-take (library closed Thursday 22 Dec) we forget about them until the last minute and then don't seem to have them up for long. Come and see how we look and take out some festive leisure reading for your Christmas break (if you get one!).
Remember we are closed between Christmas & New Year so if you need any library services before we go let us know as soon as possible please. Books that are 3-week loans are now being stamped for January.



Things about doctors & managers...
The Nuffield Trust have published a narrative literature review on  this week. This  looks at empirical studies on perceptions of doctor–manager relationships at medical director and clinical director level in the UK published since a 2002 survey on this subject by the same authors. This literature review accompanies a research report on the findings from a 2015 survey of doctor– manager relationships at board and middle-management levels of NHS acute trusts, which seeks to understand their views on the current state of the relationship in the UK, the pressures it is coming under, how it has changed, and the outlook for the future.

Things glowing...
I heard an interesting item on 'Inside Science' on BBC Radio 4 yesterday about glowing dressings that detect infection. These have been developed at University of Bath and have now started clinical trials. The trial, at Southmead Hospital Bristol, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Queen Victoria Hospital East Grinstead will see swabs and used dressings taken from hundreds of patients to be used in laboratory tests at the University of Bath. These double-blind tests will establish statistically how sensitive the bandages are to infections, and how specifically they react to infections they are designed to detect. The samples will also undergo tests by scientists at the University of Brighton seeking genomic data from infection-causing bacteria which will help improve the bandages’ performance further.

Things about disability services...
The report 'Disability Matters in Britain 2016: Enablers and challenges to inclusion for disabledchildren, young people and their families' has been published. The report pulls together the views and experiences of disabled children, young people and their parents or carers with the aim of raising awareness of good practice being adopted already, encouraging others to follow their lead and to help ensure that disabled people of all ages are valued as equals in our communities. The report reflects the views of 10 young people, 123 parent carers of disabled children and adults and 128 professionals and volunteers who responded to the Disability Matters ‘call for evidence’ earlier this year. Key findings include:

• Out of 72 examples from 123 parent carers, 30 parent carers experienced negative or unhelpful attitudes from others including other parents
• 22 parent carers said they found it difficult to access healthcare services 
• 20 parent carers reported trouble in finding opportunities for their child or young person so socialise with others
• 19 parent carers said their child hadn’t accessed any social activities such as cinema, bowling and youth clubs in the past 12 months due to poor attitudes, inexperienced staff or inaccessible buildings and services
• 40% of 96 respondents in the health sector felt their organisation was average or below average at communicating with disabled children and young people

Things Welsh and Christmassy...
A festive fairytale treat for all the family, A Child’s Christmas in Wales chronicles Dylan Thomas's own childhood memories and remains one of his most popular and loved works. In this wonderful adaptation for strings, step into December days ‘as white as Lapland’, where mischief is easily found, snowballs are hurled, and the curious grownups are shrewdly observed. University of Sheffield 18th December Evening & Matinee performances. Music: Ligeti Quartet Narration: Matthew Bulgo

Things achieved...

We haven't heard much from Sarah..she was last heard of heading for the Galapagos Islands. However here is her certificate of achievement.  At least she has stocktaking to look forward to on her return!

(c) http://laylita.com/

Not sure what she has been eating on her travels but as it's chilly here perhaps we can try one of these Ecuadorian soups...though not sure Tesco stocks cow's feet so might give that one a miss!