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Freshwater Library opened 70 years ago, and was the first purpose built library on the Isle of Wight. In 1904 book collections were sent in boxes from Seely Library in Newport and in turn displayed in West Wight Social Club and local Schools. The library was completed in October 1939, the year war broke out. With 4,000 books, one young borrower was so pleased to be able to touch new books! We now hold 10,000 books and over 15,000 items. To find out more click here.
Services available at this library:
- Books
- DVDs*
- Videos*
- Talking Books on Cassette*
- Large Print
- Reading Group
- Computer facilities
- Internet access
- Word processing
- Scanning facilities
- Printing*
- Photocopying service*
- Fax service *
- Exhibition Gallery*
- Reference Collection
- Local Studies Collection
- Tennyson Collection
- Robert Hooke Collection
- Julia Margaret Cameron Collection
- Newspapers
- Garden Refuse Sacks*
- Local walk leaflets*
- Magnifying Sheets*
- Bus pass applications
- Teenage Area
- Children’s Library
- Homework collection
- Rhyme Time every Friday 10.30 - 11.00am
- Storytime for under 6s every Saturday 11.00 - 11.30am
Freshwater Help Centre
The library now accommodates the West Wight Information Centre. For opening times please click here.
HM Revenue & Customs
On Wednesdays, 9.30-12.30, an Inland Revenue member of staff is available for Inland Revenue enquiries. Click here for their website.
New Groups?
Crossword, Puzzles or Board Games
Do you enjoy crossword, puzzles or board games? Would you like to meet regularly in Freshwater Library one morning each week to join a group of others in a variety of activities. The first meeting is on Wednesday 8th September at 10.30am.
Knit and Natter/Crochet and Chatter Group
Work on your latest project. Meet up with others regularly with whatever craft appeals to you. We plan to meet monthly on the third Tuesday morning of the month starting Wednesday September 21st
Please let the staff know if you are interested in any of these activities.
Please let the staff know if you are interested in any of these activities.
Rhythm Time
Rhythm time for babies & toddlers will be running up to Christmas, during term time,
at Freshwater Library from 1.45-2.15, in partnership with the West Wight Children's
Centre. Rhyme time will still be running at the usual time of 10.30-11.00 on
Fridays throughout the year. Both events are free.
at Freshwater Library from 1.45-2.15, in partnership with the West Wight Children's
Centre. Rhyme time will still be running at the usual time of 10.30-11.00 on
Fridays throughout the year. Both events are free.
Events at this library
Reading Group for listeners – 7th September
We are launching Isle of Wight Libraries’ first reading group for people with
visual impairments. The group’s first monthly meeting will be in Freshwater Library
at 2pm on 7th September, when they will be discussing former Richard & Judy Book
Club favourite “Star of the Sea” by Joseph O’Connor.
The books are supplied by the Calibre Audio Library and can be listened to in CD or
cassette format. The reading group is free to join, and all the talking books are
free to borrow.
If you would like to join the group, please phone Lois Cooper, Library Co-ordinator
on 752377 or ask for details in the library.”
visual impairments. The group’s first monthly meeting will be in Freshwater Library
at 2pm on 7th September, when they will be discussing former Richard & Judy Book
Club favourite “Star of the Sea” by Joseph O’Connor.
The books are supplied by the Calibre Audio Library and can be listened to in CD or
cassette format. The reading group is free to join, and all the talking books are
free to borrow.
If you would like to join the group, please phone Lois Cooper, Library Co-ordinator
on 752377 or ask for details in the library.”
Local exhibition – 13th September
Come and share your memories and photographs of Freshwater and Totland with the newly set up group: “Freshwater & Totland Archive Group”. There will be a display of photographs as well for people to look at. Monday 13th September from 10-12.30 pm.
Book Chat – 28th September
Do you love reading? Are you keen to talk to other people about the books you have read, the good and the not so good? Freshwater Library has a “Book Chat” group for people like you. Meeting other group members once a month in the library, you will be able to talk about your favourite books and those books you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy! If you want to, you can read out your favourite passages from the books you’ve read, to inspire the others to read them too.
Celebrating Age – 2nd October
Come and meet some of the local Freshwater & Totland archive group on Saturday 2nd October, 10-12am. This is part of the Celebrating Age Festival run by Age Concern.
New Books
Try a new book or DVD!
Click the picture for more details and to see if the item is currently in.
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Promotions at this library
1970 Pop Festival
We have put together a collection of books about the bands and singers involved in the 1970 Pop Festival and books about the festival itself. Discover all about their lives and singing career.
New Large Print and Spoken Word CD
Enjoy our new collection of Large Print and Spoken Word CDs
Do you find that the print size in some of today’s novels is a bit too small to read? But have you sometimes thought that books published in large print are rather old-fashioned? Times have changed! Freshwater Library now has some of today’s bestselling and popular novels in large print format. Titles recently added to stock include “Medusa” by
Clive Cussler and “Her fearful symmetry” by Audrey
Niffenegger. So come into the library today to see for
yourself how large print books have changed!
We now have booklets which list recent titles, in Isle of Wight
Libraries, for:
Do you find that the print size in some of today’s novels is a bit too small to read? But have you sometimes thought that books published in large print are rather old-fashioned? Times have changed! Freshwater Library now has some of today’s bestselling and popular novels in large print format. Titles recently added to stock include “Medusa” by
Clive Cussler and “Her fearful symmetry” by Audrey
Niffenegger. So come into the library today to see for
yourself how large print books have changed!
We now have booklets which list recent titles, in Isle of Wight
Libraries, for:
Family sagas
Large Print
Spoken Word CDs
Please ask at the counter for your own copy.
Crime Novels
Do you enjoy reading crime novels or detective whodunnits? If you do, you’ll be very happy to hear that at Freshwater Library you can find all these novels in one place. We now have a separate crime section to make it easier for you to find the sort of novels you love to read
Meet your local Health Trainers
Do you want to improve your health and well being? Don’t know where to start? Need some support and practical ideas? Your local health trainers are visit the library regularly, where they will be available for personal advice and support on your health and wellbeing.
Age Concern
As part of their programme of periodic visits to the library, there will be leaflets and a display about the services Age Concern offer. There will be an advisor available at some point during the week for information, advice, advocacy, shopping service, welfare benefits, befriending service and many more services. Confirmed dates to follow. Any queries please ask at the counter.
Information, Advice & Guidance
Are you considering returning to learning? Do you need to learn new skills to gain employment but feel unsure of your next move? For a 1-2-1 free and unbiased Advice and Guidance session with Lu Farnsworth for help with your next step, contact Freshwater Library or for further information call 527529. Click here for their website.
Sale Books
We have a selection of withdrawn stock for sale in the library.
Exhibitions
Wildlife photos - September
The Freshwater Village Association are holding an exhibition of photographs of wildlife taken in West Wight by local people. This is the year of biodiversity and to tie in with this they are exhibiting photos of wildlife found here in West Wight – from bugs and birds to plants, fungi and animals. There is a link to the Freshwater Village Association website at the bottom of this page.
Calling all local artists!
Looking for somewhere to exhibit your paintings or photographs? How about Freshwater Library? We have over 6,000 visitors each month, and you will only be asked to pay us a fee (10%) if you sell any of your work. Phone the library on 752377 for availability. To download an art exhibition application form click here.
New – A Community Archive for Freshwater and Totland
A local archive group has been set up in the West Wight, recording the history of the area, and providing a valuable resource for the local community. If you have photos, documents, maps, news, memories or articles please contact Roger on 755382, or the staff at Freshwater Library.
The Archive group will be holding an exhibition at the library on Monday, 13th September, from 10 to 12.30.
The Archive group will be holding an exhibition at the library on Monday, 13th September, from 10 to 12.30.
Past Events
70 years of Freshwater Library – 16th November, 2009
Freshwater Library had their official opening of the new building on 16th November 1939. To celebrate 70 years of service to the people of West Wight, the library put on a display about its history, and events past and present. At 11 am on the 16th itself we shared with our readers a celebratory cake.
E-readers & Audio Downloads – 10th February 2010
We had a demonstration of e-readers from Paul at Waterstones and were shown how to download free audio books from the Library’s website. Please click here for more information.
Courses
Family History Fun
A guided tour of some of the family history sites available on the internet, given by the Island Heritage Librarian. Cost £5.00. Booking essential. The next course is on Thursday 28th October. Please ask at the counter or email freshwaterlibrary.iow.gov.uk for further details.
Silver Surfers
If you are over 50 and want to learn how to use the Internet and e-mail, register for a free 2 hour Silver Surfer Session at Freshwater Library. Please ask at the counter for further details.
One to one hourly internet session –
West Wight Training Centre regularly come to Freshwater Library offering free one to one hourly internet sessions. They will give an introduction to using the computers, help with Word, using email and the internet. Booking is essential.
Local Reading Groups are now reading:
West Wight Reading Group: Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
The Good Read Group: Star of the sea by Joseph O’Connor
Jan Toms Reading Group: Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe
The Yarmouth WI Reading Group: Star of the sea by Joseph O’Connor
Red Lion Reading Group: Sorrow of Sisters by Wendy K Harris
Christian Viewpoint Reading Group: God on Mute by Pete Greig
Brook Reading Group: The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
by Lauren Liebenberg
Hopeful Reading Group are reading: Restless by William Boyd
Reading Group for listeners are listening to: Star of the sea by Joseph O’Connor
For more details of these groups please ask the staff at Freshwater Library.
The Good Read Group: Star of the sea by Joseph O’Connor
Jan Toms Reading Group: Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe
The Yarmouth WI Reading Group: Star of the sea by Joseph O’Connor
Red Lion Reading Group: Sorrow of Sisters by Wendy K Harris
Christian Viewpoint Reading Group: God on Mute by Pete Greig
Brook Reading Group: The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
by Lauren Liebenberg
Hopeful Reading Group are reading: Restless by William Boyd
Reading Group for listeners are listening to: Star of the sea by Joseph O’Connor
For more details of these groups please ask the staff at Freshwater Library.
Useful Information
Service Description: Children’s and adults’ books, large print books, videos, DVDs and talking books on tape, reference collection, newspapers, photocopying, fax service, free internet access, free computer access and a collection of books on Tennyson. Freshwater Library also has a gallery space for art exhibitions.
| Contact Information | |
| Department | Libraries & Information Service |
| Address | Freshwater Library 41 School Green Road Freshwater Isle of Wight PO40 9AP |
| External Phone | 01983 752377 |
| Opening Times | Monday 9.00am - 5.30pm Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm Wednesday 9.30am - 6.00pm Thursday CLOSED Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 9.30am - 4.30pm Sunday CLOSED |
| Contact | Click to contact service |
| Direct Contact | |
Page last updated on: 02/09/2010
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