Your kindness can make all the difference to people in living in your local area.
📚 The Home Library Service from @kentlibraries provides essential support to those who find it difficult to visit the library due to ill health, disability, caring responsibilities and more.
🤝 As a volunteer, you'll play a vital role in bringing the joy of reading directly to their doorstep. Create connections and share stories; become a Home Library volunteer.
🔍 Find out more about the Home Library Service and how you can volunteer by visiting our website kent.gov.uk/libraries or comment below and we'll send you a direct link to our webpage
#KentLibraries #TimeToGive #VolunteerKent #Volunteering #Kent #LoveYourLibrary @kcc_kent@libraryonuk
Did you know Kent Libraries create over £300,000 in value every year by supporting mental health and wellbeing?
A new report shows how activities like older people’s arts and crafts sessions, volunteering and book groups help people feel better - and save money for other public services.
Libraries are vital community hubs making a real difference.
👉 Read more via the link in our bio, or search for @librariesconnected 's South East wellbeing report
📚 Free author talks across Kent 📚
Kent Libraries is celebrating the National Year of Reading with a year‑long programme of free author talks at libraries across the county.
Meet bestselling writers, hear them talk about their books, and enjoy stories rooted in real places. From crime and thrillers to historical and contemporary fiction, there is something for every reader.
Author talks are taking place in libraries across Kent, with opportunities to listen, ask questions and discover your next great read. Whether you already love reading or want to get back into it, this programme is for you.
All events are free. Booking is required.
Explore the full National Year of Reading author talk programme and find an event near you by visiting kentlra.qrplanet.com/nyorauthortalks2026
#GoAllInKent #KentLibraries #KentNYoRAuthorEvent
The life-changing impact of prison libraries...
Two of our brilliant prison library team members from HMP Swaleside have been recognised by the High Sheriff of Kent for their outstanding support to prisoners.
Liz and Tracy received the award after a prisoner wrote to highlight their compassion, kindness and the vital role they played during a deeply difficult time, describing the library team as “the prisoners’ emergency service.”
This recognition shines a light on the powerful, often unseen work of prison libraries who provide trusted support, reliable information and a safe space that helps people cope, learn and rehabilitate.
Unsuprisingly, this isn't the first time Tracy and Liz have been recognised for going above and beyond, having won a national Libraries Connected Award a few years ago for their innovative work to encourage more prisoners to use the library as part of recovery from the Covid lockdown.
Please join us in congratulating Liz and Tracy again for this well deserved recognition and for the difference they make every day!
Read the full story at news.kent.gov.uk/articles/high-sheriff-award-recognises-kent-prison-librarians-vital-support
@kcc_kent #PrisonLibraries #KentLibraries #Kent
Next week is Dementia Action Week, and we're partnering with @adssdementia with the See Me First display, designed to raise awareness and understanding of #dementia.
Throughout Dementia Action Week, selected Kent Libraries will be featuring large photographic portraits of people living with dementia, accompanied by short personal stories. Together, these highlight the interests and lives of people beyond their diagnosis.
You are invited to visit, pause, reflect and engage with these stories. The project aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma around dementia. By sharing real stories, we hope to help communities develop a deeper understanding of the challenges people living with dementia face, while also highlighting their individuality.
The exhibition is self guided and suitable for all ages. Information about dementia, local support services and ways to get involved will also be available.
Please note: the content of the display and the resources available may vary between libraries.
To find out where the See Me First display is being displayed during #DementiaActionWeek, visit kent.gov.uk/seemefirst
#DementiaAwareness #Community #KentLibraries adss.org.uk
🔔 Opening Hours - May Bank Holiday and Local Elections
Our libraries, registration offices and
the Kent Archives search room will all be closed on Monday 4 May for the Bank Holiday.
Local elections are also happening across England on Thursday 7 May. The following libraries will be used as polling stations, so there will be no library services available on the day:
o Sherwood Library
o Showfields Library
📚 There's still plenty of time to top up your reading list for the long weekend. Pop in and see us at a library near you!
📱 Don't forget our eLibrary is open 24/7. Discover thousands of free eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines with Libby, BorrowBox, ULibrary and PressReader.
Explore our eLibrary apps at kent.gov.uk/elibrary
Find the latest service updates on our website at kent.gov.uk/libraries
🔎 Links can also be found in our profile bio
#BankHolidayWeekend #KentLibraries #MayElections
Big, exciting news! 🌟
Huge congratulations to James and Zach from #Thanet Libraries, who have been shortlisted for a national @librariesconnected award for their brilliant work with young people in their local community.
By teaming up with local youth football clubs, they’ve brought confidence, wellbeing and community spirit to young people and families across their local area in #Broadstairs and #Margate, helping many reconnect with their local library for the first time in years.
We're so proud of our local library teams. This is what we're all about - community, care and making a real difference.
Please join us in giving Zach and James a big cheer, and in wishing them the best of luck with the awards!
👉 Read the full story at news.kent.gov.uk or head to the link in our bio
⭐ How have libraries across #Kent made a positive difference to your life?
💛 Let us know what you love about your local library and team in the comments or email us at [email protected] - we'd love to hear from you.
#CommunityChampions #KentLibraries @thanet_district_football_ ⚽
It's finally World Book Night!
What will you be reading for the #ReadingHour tonight? Let us know!
It's the perfect excuse to dedicate some time to yourself - grab a book and join in from 7 to 8pm, Thursday 23 April (and beyond!).
#WorldBookNight #NationalYearOfReading #GoAllInKent
MoMeNtS by Nicolette May (UK)
Come and sit.
Come and gaze.
Come and choose a book.
Inspired by Playground sessions, MoMeNtS offers a moment of pause and calm.
Transforming the space with delicate paper sculptures, MoMeNtS is an invitation to be curious, explore books, and let your imagination wander.
Who knows where it will take you?
For all ages
Moments is a Playground Artist commission
🗓️ Friday 22 May – Saturday 30 May
📍Gravesend Library
🗓️ Open Monday - Saturday from 10am - 5pm
🎟️ You're welcome to drop in anytime - no ticket needed
#playgroundfestival #LetsCreate #EarlyYears #Kent PlaygroundFestival2026
✨ A full circle moment… ✨
Last night marked the final session of our 3-month menopause wellness mini-series at Broadstairs Library… and honestly, my heart is so full 💛
Just look at these incredible women…
This wasn’t just a one-off workshop.
This was a journey.
Week by week, these women showed up — for themselves, for each other… and that’s where the magic happened.
✨ Learning what’s actually happening in their bodies
✨ Understanding their symptoms (instead of fighting them)
✨ Making small, realistic changes to daily habits
✨ Supporting their nervous system instead of running on empty
✨ Giving themselves permission to slow down, rest, and reset
And the shifts have been real.
Not just physically… but mentally and emotionally too.
More awareness.
More confidence.
More calm.
More connection.
This is what happens when women are given the space, the support, and the understanding they truly deserve.
I feel incredibly proud to have been part of this journey — and so grateful to every single woman who walked through those doors and trusted the process 💛
A huge thank you to Thanet Libraries for supporting this series, and to Know Your Neighbourhood for the funding that made it possible.
And a special thank you to Sari for holding such a beautiful space in our final session ✨
And whilst this chapter comes to an end… the impact of it is only just beginning ✨
✨ More opportunities to join us coming soon — I’d love to have you with us 💛
Big love
Sarah x
#menopausesupport
#perimenopause
#menopausewellness
#womensupportingwomen
#broadstairs
Have a spare moment this bank holiday?
Our Kent Libraries customer satisfaction survey is now live.
We would love to hear your views on what works well and where we can improve.
You can take part by visiting kentlra.qrplanet.com/librarysurvey26
If you need the survey in another format, please speak to your local library team and we will be happy to help.
#KentLibraries #KentLibrariesSurvey
Something exciting is coming to #Kent this Spring! 👀
Playground Festival, a new international early years festival designed for families with babies and young children in Kent is almost here - and we're excited to now be able to share the full programme.
From Friday 22 May to Sunday 31 May, more than 150 FREE events will take place across 20+ venues including libraries, cultural spaces and outdoor locations across Kent.
The programme brings together inspiring work from artists across the UK, Spain, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Finland and more - all created especially for babies and young children.
Expect performances, installations, workshops, talks and discussions designed to spark imagination and creativity, all for free!
🌟 Share, repost, save the dates and find more information via the link in our bio
🌟 Follow @playgroundkent for the latest news and updates about the festival
#PlaygroundFestival #EarlyYears #KentFamilies #BabyToddler
