Pick up one of our ever-popular 'make your own galley' kits from the Library now. Or, you can download it here. Some people like to burn them every year in their own mini-Up helly aa!

Download a galley kit

Read a brief history of Up Helly Aa

This is a special partnership project between Orkney and Shetland Libraries, funded by Scotland's Islands. In February, three staff from Orkney Library and Archives will be visiting us and we will stage three joint events. There is a 'Whassigo' evening on the 14th of Feburary, and on the 15th a 'Peedie Bookbug' session and an Orkney vs Shetland poetry evening. More information about the Orkney events

Are you interested in borrowing ebooks from the Library? We are considering a pilot project. Please fill in our survey here.

Note that at present Libraries aren't able to lend e-books for Kindles, as they are exclusive to Amazon. We would still invite Kindle owners to fill in our survey though, as all information is useful to us in gauging demand.

Even more reasons to visit us on Saturday 4th February which is National Libraries Day. We have a peerie bairns story time at 10, an extra Click Shetland computer drop-in at 11, and Basement Browsing from 2pm. Also some fun competitions to try!

A big thank you to everyone who filled in our annual customer satisfaction survey. You gave us a wonderful 92% statisfaction rating, with nearly 50% scoring us 10 out of 10! You particularly praised staff, the selection of books and the computer facilities. You gave us suggestions for improvement - particularly you'd like more space. You also gave us valuable feedback on your worries about spending cuts.

We know that our readers love to get tips from other readers, so in the New year we're bringing back our Readers Recommend display. Drop into the Library and fill out a slip about the book you recommend, so we can put it on the display. Or email us, or post it on Facebook. Just name the book + say in about 20 words why others should read it.

Our Reader in Residence, Jen Hadfield, hosted 'Poetry for Tea' get togethers in November and December. Now, from 12th January, she brings you the Book Buffet - a mixture of themed book sessions, every Thursday from 6pm to 7pm. The first session is about epic poems - come along to the Library mezzanine and read or just listen. Reader in Residence home page

The Library is delighted to announce that Jen Hadfield will be our Reader-in-Residence for six months. Jen will be doing a variety of work both in and out of the Library to promote reading. First events: a new round of Bards in the Bog and a 'Poetry for Tea' group meeting on Thursday nights. Readers-in-Residence is funded by Creative Scotland and administered and developed by Shetland Arts Development Agency. Reader-in-Residence web page

Need some help using computers and the Internet? Every Wednesday between 11am and 12 noon an extra member of Library staff will be available in the Learning Centre to help with your queries. Come along for some friendly and informal help.

In February the group is reading Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. Upcoming reads: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole and And then forever by Christine de Luca.

The next book group meeting is on Tuesday 21 Feburary 2012, at 7.30 pm in the Old Library Centre. New members are welcome at the Book Group: just contact Karen or Morag here at the library if you want to join.

On Friday 11th November, we hosted the Shetland launch of Jeff Merrifield's book Seeker, about theatre producer Ken Campbell. Helped by sketches played out by Serpentine Drama, this was an enjoyable and quirky event.

On 28th of October we presented another of our nights of Halloween nastiness. The Hellish Fiddler was in attendance, and there was excellent music from Jordan Ogre and Milford the Malevolent, as well as drama from Serpentine and some wonderully spooky readings and poetry. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Library staff celebrated Children's Book Week, which ran from 3rd to 9th October, in style by dressing up as characters from their favourite bairn's books. From left to right are Madame Hootch (Harry Potter), Mrs Goggins (Postman Pat), Little Miss Muffet, Pippa Longstocking and Mrs Trunchbull (Matilda).

National Poetry Day was on Thursday 7th of October. The theme was games, so we made a variety of poetic word-game competitions for you to try. N+7 poetry: get a dictionary, choose a poem, replace all the nouns with ones seven ahead in the dictionary: create an interesting new poem! The winner is Margaret Rorie, with her new intepretation of a Dylan classic. 'ten thousand mince pies in the mud of a greenhouse...'

Silvija Crook, who has been the Manager of Shetland Library since 2005, retired on the 30th of September. At a farewell reception for her and her husband Bill, who also retired from Shetland Islands Council on the same day, she was presented with gifts from the staff. Silvija will be greatly missed and we wish her the very happiest retirement. Press release about the Council retirements.

We are delighted to announce our Librarians on Loan project. Funded by Scotlands Islands, the project is a staff exchange between Orkney and Shetland Libraries. As well as learning and sharing ideas, staff will stage events to encourage more of the public to use our Libraries. The first Librarians on Loan events took place in Orkney Library and Archive on the 9th and 10th of September, when three Shetlanders travelled there to help stage 2 children's events and an Orkney vs Shetland poetry night..

Help Yourself to Health is an award-winning joint project run by Shetland Library and NHS Shetland. We promote health and wellbeing books in the library, including recommended stock from the NHS.

Try NHS 24: health Information and self care advice for Scotland

As an extra service to our customers, we regularly open up the library basement so that you can have look at some of our reserve stock - lots and lots of extra books for you to browse. (Please note that children under eight must be accompanied by an adult.) Watch this space for the next Basement Browsing.