Category: Behind the Scenes

  • Working with BookTrust

    Working with BookTrust

    As the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, BookTrust works with every local authority across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, reaching millions of families with books, resources and support to help make reading part of everyday family life. We’re proud of our partnership with BookTrust, which enables us to work with colleagues and partners across the…

  • A Captivating Collection

    A Captivating Collection

    A brief introduction to our Historical Reference Collection The Historical Reference Collection is B&NES Libraries’ largest reference collection, with approximately 21,000 books. The collection spans a multitude of genres, with subjects ranging from Victorian Travel to 19th Century French Literature, and Fashion to Japanese Wasōbon. The collection has been created through a series of donations…

  • Staff Spotlight: Marie on Dyslexia

    Staff Spotlight: Marie on Dyslexia

    Seeing the World Differently: My Dyslexia Journey My name is Marie, and I have lived my whole life with dyslexia, though for many years I didn’t have a name for the challenges I faced. As a child, I often felt like I was falling behind — struggling to keep up with reading, writing, and spelling…

  • Fabulous Fashion

    Fabulous Fashion

    An introduction to our Fashion Collection Fashion Museum Bath is the UK’s largest museum dedicated to the transformative power of fashion. The new Fashion Museum will be opening 2030 with a pioneering collection to inspire, challenge and spark ideas. It will champion fashion’s transformative power as a global industry and expression of creativity, culture and…

  • Centenary Babies – One Year On

    Centenary Babies – One Year On

    Last July we gifted all babies born in July a special copy of Winnie the Pooh, a title from our Centenary book list, so that they could celebrate 100 years of our public libraries with us.  Click here to see where the journey started We hope those books will be part of those baby’s reading…

  • Libraries Change Lives

    Libraries Change Lives

    The theme of Libraries Week June 2025 was ‘Libraries Change Lives’ so we asked staff and partners to share a few words about how our libraries have changed lives!

  • Wonderful Wasōbon

    Wonderful Wasōbon

    An introduction to the Japanese Collection at Bath Central Library Here at B&NES Libraries we’re lucky enough to have a historic reference collection with all kinds of books spanning hundreds of years. After hosting a Make Mine Mange Exhibition in June 2025, we thought it would be interesting to show you some of the Japanese books…

  • Secrets of Shelving

    Secrets of Shelving

    If you’ve ever wondered why Eric Van Lustbader is under ‘L’, but Elizabeth von Armin is under V, what the deal is with Mcs and Macs, or how to decipher local studies stickers, read on as we reveal the secrets of shelving! We’d love to share more behind the scenes information! Is there something you’ve…

  • What is Libraries at Home?

    What is Libraries at Home?

    Our coordinator and volunteers chat about our Libraries at Home Service and volunteering opportunities. Ever wondered what the Libraries at Home Service is? Want to know how to get involved, or request the service? Watch the video to find out more! A group of volunteers discussed their experience of the service, how they got involved…

  • Staff Spotlight: Being A Librarian Judge

    Staff Spotlight: Being A Librarian Judge

    Behind the scenes of judging a national book award – what really happens! Earlier this year, I applied and was successful in obtaining a place on the librarian reviewing panel for a UK based national book award. The Wilbur Smith Adventure Novel Writing Prize is run yearly and includes publishers submitting works written between publishing…