Ellesmere Port Library celebrates its 60th birthday

Ellesmere Port Library has celebrated its big 60th birthday in style with an event at the Library that attracted over 100 people on Thursday 5th May 2022.

The Library invited people to share their memories and take a look at displays on the history of the library and life in the 1960s, as well as a celebratory coffee morning.

Cheshire and Chester Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins, read a story to a class of children in Year 3 from William Stockton Primary School and answered questions from the pupils.

Councillor Gittins said: “On 5 May 1962, our fabulous Ellesmere Port Library was officially opened.  It was wonderful to see so many people at today’s event to celebrate this milestone.  The fabulous selection of photos and press cuttings were so interesting to see and I’m sure brought back many memories for people.

“Libraries are at the heart of our communities and are here to satisfy our thirst for knowledge, our desire to be entertained and our need for social interaction through the many events and activities on offer. I’m sure the valuable role-played by Ellesmere Port Library to its communities will continue for many, many years to come.”

The Mayor of Ellesmere Port, Councillor Lisa Denson, cut a very special birthday cake, complete with books made from icing, during the event.

In the evening, library staff showed off their acting skills as characters from “The Glass Room” and visitors were able to solve a murder mystery written by Ann Cleeves (who also wrote the television series “Vera” and “Shetland”). The audience of the sold-out event thoroughly enjoyed working out who the murderer was, with many looking forward to attending future events.

The Library had gained permission from the North West Film Archive to show rare footage of the building being opened back in 1962.  Displays showed films, music and headlines of the day; vintage fashion, library paraphernalia and books from the 1960s. A memory book has been placed in the library for people to write in their memories of the library.  If anyone missed the event, these will be on display until the end of the month.

Ellesmere Port Library is free to join and is open on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 7pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.  As well as a wide range of books, there are public access computers to use, Wi-Fi, printing facilities, activities, and a café.

Regular weekly events include Baby Rhymetimes on Tuesdays from 10.15am to 10.45am, plus Toddler rhyme and sign Wednesdays 10.15 to 10.45am.  Please pre-book for both these sessions.

Ellesmere Port Local and Family History Society visits the Library on Wednesdays between 10am and 12 noon.  They used the event to proudly launch their new book, The Village of Whitby.  The township of Whitby can be traced back as far as the Dane invasion around 793AD, around 1,200 years before the town of Ellesmere Port began to evolve.  The book is for sale at the Boat Museum, or via email (eplocalhistory@yahoo.com) and telephone: 07594 321524 (£12 + p&p).

An Armed Forces Veterans Support group takes place on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 11am to 1pm; Reading Groups are held on the first Friday of the month from 2pm to 3pm; and the very popular Not a Reading Group meet on the last Friday of the month between 5.50pm and 6.30pm.  Please contact the Library if you would like to join any of these groups.

There is also a drop-in LEGO Club on Saturdays between 10am and 12 noon.

The Library is on Civic Way, opposite the Civic Hall, and can be contacted on 0151 337 4684/5 during opening hours.Ellesmere Port Library has celebrated its big 60^th birthday in style with an event at the Library that attracted over 100 people on Thursday 5 May 2022.

The Library invited people to share their memories and take a look at displays on the history of the library and life in the 1960s, as well as a celebratory coffee morning.

Cheshire and Chester Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins, read a story to a class of children in Year 3 from William Stockton Primary School and answered questions from the pupils.

Councillor Gittins said: “On 5 May 1962, our fabulous Ellesmere Port Library was officially opened.  It was wonderful to see so many people at today’s event to celebrate this milestone.  The fabulous selection of photos and press cuttings were so interesting to see and I’m sure brought back many memories for people.

“Libraries are at the heart of our communities and are here to satisfy our thirst for knowledge, our desire to be entertained and our need for social interaction through the many events and activities on offer. I’m sure the valuable role-played by Ellesmere Port Library to its communities will continue for many, many years to come.”

The Mayor of Ellesmere Port, Councillor Lisa Denson, cut a very special birthday cake, complete with books made from icing, during the event.

In the evening, library staff showed off their acting skills as characters from “The Glass Room” and visitors were able to solve a murder mystery written by Ann Cleeves (who also wrote the television series “Vera” and “Shetland”). The audience of the sold-out event thoroughly enjoyed working out who the murderer was, with many looking forward to attending future events.

The Library had gained permission from the North West Film Archive to show rare footage of the building being opened back in 1962.  Displays showed films, music and headlines of the day; vintage fashion, library paraphernalia and books from the 1960s. A memory book has been placed in the library for people to write in their memories of the library.  If anyone missed the event, these will be on display until the end of the month.

Ellesmere Port Library is free to join and is open on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 7pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.  As well as a wide range of books, there are public access computers to use, Wi-Fi, printing facilities, activities, and a café.

Regular weekly events include Baby Rhymetimes on Tuesdays from 10.15am to 10.45am, plus Toddler rhyme and sign Wednesdays 10.15 to 10.45am.  Please pre-book for both these sessions.

Ellesmere Port Local and Family History Society visits the Library on Wednesdays between 10am and 12 noon.  They used the event to proudly launch their new book, The Village of Whitby.  The township of Whitby can be traced back as far as the Dane invasion around 793AD, around 1,200 years before the town of Ellesmere Port began to evolve.  The book is for sale at the Boat Museum, or via email (eplocalhistory@yahoo.com) and telephone: 07594 321524 (£12 + p&p).

An Armed Forces Veterans Support group takes place on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 11am to 1pm; Reading Groups are held on the first Friday of the month from 2pm to 3pm; and the very popular Not a Reading Group meet on the last Friday of the month between 5.50pm and 6.30pm.  Please contact the Library if you would like to join any of these groups.

There is also a drop-in LEGO Club on Saturdays between 10am and 12 noon.

The Library is on Civic Way, opposite the Civic Hall, and can be contacted on 0151 337 4684/5 during opening hours.

Pictured - Visitors looking at the exhibition.