Balgreen Library

https://literacytrust.org.uk/about-us/national-year-of-reading-2026/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23389106801&gbraid=0AAAAADlbJ6-9oC7FhBYk6--9Ql1YpLyYv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4rTvrazekwMVc5NQBh39Ow9dEAAYASACEgIDaPD_BwE

National Year of Reading 2026 | National Literacy Trust The National Year of Reading 2026 is the biggest campaign in a generation designed to help more people (re)discover the joy of reading and make it part of their everyday lives.

Retired police officer Gerard McEwan will be speaking on The Memorial Roll, information about the Edinburgh Police service and those who lost their lives during World War II.
There is no need to book ahead and it is free to attend.

The books, with further details than those included in the lecture, form part of our Local History collection. Access this collection in the library and other resources online with your library card. You can also come and check out the exhibition boards from the ELB Police Historical Society for all of February.

Summer Activities at Balgreen Library!

Just arrived this morning - the Book Festival brochures! Get yours quick, because we have a limited supply currently (although we will be ordering more).

Calling all photographers!
Edinburgh Libraries have launched a photography competition celebrating gardening and the city’s parks, gardens and green spaces.
The 'Unearthed Edinburgh' theme recognises both the city’s wonderful green spaces and gardening as forces for creativity, resilience and connection. We welcome photos which celebrate any green space in the city, from the Meadows to your window box!

The competition is free to enter and open to all. All entries must be submitted via Edinburgh Collected (www.edinburghcollected.org) where they will become part of a community archive of Edinburgh memories.
Tell us in the accompanying description what makes the picture special to you and remember to add the tag "unearthed". Entries will be judged on both their photographic merit and on the accompanying text.

There are fantastic prizes to be won! Enter for a chance to win:
1st prize – £100 book token
2nd prize – £50 book token
3rd prize – £25 book token.
The competition runs until 31 July 2025.

Make sure to read the Unearthed Edinburgh competition guidelines and terms and conditions - https://zurl.co/BvAtt - or if you have any queries, contact [email protected]

This competition is part of a wider project in collaboration with the British Library and the Living Knowledge Network of libraries on the theme of Unearthed: The Power of Gardening.

What’s your experience of dealing with Council services in the last year?
We want everyone to feel welcome in Edinburgh, whether they live, work, study, or visit here. As part of our work to tackle inequalities, we want your views so we can improve our services.

We’ve already spoken with groups that support different people in the city. They told us about the equality issues affecting communities. We want to hear from more people so we can set out the work we need to do to tackle inequalities

Drop in any time between 1pm and 4pm to one of our sessions:
• 11 March in Fountainbridge Library 137 Dundee Street Edinburgh EH11 1BG
• 18 March in Granton Library 29 Wardieburn Terrace Edinburgh EH5 1DD
• 25 March in Gilmerton Library 13 Newtoft Street Edinburgh EH17 8RG
• 1 April in East Neighbourhood Centre and Library 101 Niddrie Mains Road Edinburgh EH16 4DS.

We are also hosting sessions with Equality and Rights Network (EaRN) at Volunteer Edinburgh, 222 Leith Walk Edinburgh EH6 5EQ on:
• Tuesday 11 March – 10am to 11.30am
• Wednesday 19 March – 6pm to 7.30pm
• Wednesday 26 March – 11.30am to 1pm
• Tuesday 29 April - 10am to 11.30am.

If you have any accessibility needs, please contact Pamela Curran at [email protected] or the venue you wish to attend, and we will endeavour to make necessary arrangements.

Come down to Fountainbridge Library on the 7th of March for a fun story and craft session with children's storybook author; Madeline Pinkerton. Event starts at 2PM

Come along to our women’s group every Wednesday at St Bride’s.

We have so much planned over the next few weeks, and would love some more members.

Feel free to give Katie a call if you are interested in being a part of this lovely group.

These books need love!
We have a selection of delightful and enthralling library books glammed up for a night out with you!