Suffolk Libraries Day to offer fun and fundraising events across Suffolk

Suffolk Libraries, the charity that runs the county’s library service is gearing up for its third annual countywide fundraising event.

Suffolk Libraries Day takes place on Saturday (12 March) with events taking place across the county and online to help raise funds to support the work of Suffolk Libraries across our communities. The impact of Suffolk Libraries has been highlighted this week with the organisation shortlisted for the High Sheriff’s Awards 2022 under the ‘supporting the isolated’ category.

Events include an online book festival, live rock n roll music at Ipswich Library and local events and activities at all 44 of Suffolk’s libraries. These include boxing, a headless horseman ghost walk, a Victorian toilet and much more! 

Bruce Leeke, Suffolk Libraries Chief Executive, said:
“Our charity has huge reach and impact. Suffolk Libraries Day is all about celebrating what we do at the heart of communities and at the same time raising awareness of the amazing work we fund every year. The pandemic has had a significant impact on our regular income, so we really need people to support Suffolk Libraries Day to help us continue to help tens of thousands across the county.

“Fundraising events like this are a fantastic way of bringing people together to have fun, safe in the knowledge that any money generated will go towards supporting people across Suffolk.”

Online book festival events are taking place all week with Joy Ellis, T.M Logan, Matthew Harffy and Joanne Harris to come over the next few days. 

There are still tickets for Ipswich Library’s Rock n Roll Rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza at 7.30pm on Saturday 12 March featuring two of Suffolk’s top Rock n Roll bands – the Lockerbillies and the Phil Jackson Rock ‘n’ Roll Band. 

Events at libraries (all on 12 March) include: 

·         An afternoon with author Kate Thompson at Felixstowe Library at 3pm

·         A talk and book signing with Erica James at Bury St Edmunds Library – 2pm to 4pm. Bury Library also have a ‘blackout poetry’ activity

·         Lavenham Library are holding a headless horseman ghost walk from 7.30pm

·         Raffle, stalls and ‘pose on the throne’ (a Victorian toilet!) activities at Stradbroke Library

·         Pompom hedgehog crafts at Mildenhall Library

·         Alice in the courtroom activities at Framlingham Library from 10am to 4pm

·         Draw an owl with Izi at Thurston Library from 10.30 to 2.30pm. Ellie Longman, the Library Manager at Thurston is also doing a sponsored walk

·         Craft fayre at Haverhill Library – 10am to 3pm

·         Treasure Hunt at Southwold Library – 10am to 5pm and a cake stall from 10am to 5pm. There will also be a quiz night at 7pm

·         Cakes and crafts at Capel St Mary Library – 10am to 12pm

·         Homemade & Homegrown Village Market at Glemsford Library – 10.30am to 1pm

·         Bubble-blowing afternoon at Stowmarket Library – 2pm 

·         Suffolk ‘n’ Literary Quiz at Lowestoft Library – 7pm to 10pm

·         A morning of boxing activities at Gainsborough Library from 9.30am to 1pm and a fancy dress competition

·         Owl crafts at Stoke Library

·         A mini fayre at Newmarket Library

·         Animal antics at Woodbridge Library from 10am to 4pm

·         Blackout poetry

Various libraries are also running sales of donated books, cakes, toys or crafts on the day. Stowmarket Library will also be hosting a live music gig on Friday 18 March at 7.30pm.

Bestselling author of the famous teen spy Alex Rider series Anthony Horowitz recently endorsed Suffolk Libraries Day in a special video that can be found on Suffolk Libraries YouTube channel.

To find out more or to buy tickets for the book festival and music gig, visit www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/sld