Staff at Guetersloh Library in Germany

International Twin Libraries to Link Up Live for a Special Celebration of Libraries and Learning

Beeston Library and its German twin, Gütersloh Library will be getting together for ‘A Day and Night of Libraries’ to celebrate all things literature, libraries and learning on Friday 17 March 2023. The two libraries will be linked up live and participate in a cultural exchange of themed events and courses throughout the day and evening for members of the public to enjoy.

The event celebrates Broxtowe’s continued relationship with the city of Gütersloh in northern Germany, which have been twinned towns since 1978. This event is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office as part of the Urban X-Change Network, which provides a platform for cross-border cultural and educational activities between nine German Adult Education Centres and their counterparts in the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the USA.

This unique opportunity provides a platform for both libraries to showcase their commitment to promoting learning, fostering community connections, and celebrating the value of libraries as vibrant and welcoming spaces in the UK and in Germany.

The day-long celebration kicks off at Beeston Library at 10.30am with a special Places of Welcome gathering, featuring games, a themed quiz and German treats. Followed by a special session of Rassle, Reim and Rolle for under 5s with a twist and some German songs. Beeston Mum’s Choir will be performing live at 12.30pm, with an afternoon of free and fun activities planned including badgemaking, craft, and board games for visitors of all ages.

Evening activities will include VR gaming for 12 – 16 yr olds, beginner’s English and German classes, a Paper Cranes Poetry Slam performance and live acoustic melodies from Nottingham songwriters Phil Langran and Steve Benford. Both evening events are bookable with tickets available via Eventbrite and at Beeston library.

Peter Gaw, Chief Executive Officer at Inspire, commented;

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Gütersloh Library on this event to celebrate the joy of learning and the importance of libraries as community spaces. This event is a fantastic opportunity to share cultural experiences and inspire people to connect with their local library here in the UK. We are grateful to the German Federal Foreign Office for their support through the Urban X-Change Network, and to all the library staff and volunteers who have made this day possible. We hope that visitors will enjoy the diverse range of activities on offer!”.

The Day and Night of Libraries event starts at Beeston Library at 10.30am on Friday 17th March. Further information about the event, including the full event schedule and how to book tickets can be found on the Inspire website – Day and Night of Libraries | Inspire – Culture, Learning, Libraries (inspireculture.org.uk)

Posted on 06 March 2023

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Jack Woolley