Celebrate Penlan at 50!
Memories from Penlan Library staff.
Penlan Library is unique in that we regularly have horses visit in our library car park occasionally tethered to the grass area around the back or side of the building
“I really appreciate my local library in Penlan, having been a member for many years and visiting regularly to borrow books. When I retired about 10 years ago Jodi encouraged me to join the monthly craft sessions, I have made some fantastic friends at the group, learnt lot’s of new skills and have never missed a session yet. I used to visit the library with my grandchildren when they were small and we all remember being thrilled when my granddaughter won the Summer Reading Challenge and we got to visit the lord mayors chambers for a special presentation.”
Jodi has worked in Penlan for so long that children who used to visit with school when she started now bring their own children to the library and still remember her!
Once we accidentally pressed the panic alarm and were blissfully unaware until a hoard of police and the fire brigade arrived – oops
We have the best customers that love to tell us stories and bring cake.
“I have been a regular customer of Penlan Library since it first opened 50 years ago and was also a customer of the old library in Heol Gwyrosydd. I used to visit the library with my mother and we were both thrilled when a library opened in our community as we had previously had to visit Brynhyfryd Library and a library in Treboeth. When I got married I introduced my wife to the library in Penlan, she remembers the first book she ever borrowed was Catherine Cookson – The Glass Virgin recommended to her by my mother. When my mother was unable to read books any more she used to borrow audio books on cassette. Both myself and my wife still visit the library in Penlan every few weeks for our books.”
We love to dress up for storytimes and World Book Day and have had some excellent outfits over the years.
“I have been visiting the library in Penlan for over 40 years, I used to visit with my mum and we changed our books regularly. We were both avid readers. I still use the library regularly today and have introduced the younger members of my family to Penlan Library. My granddaughter and great granddaughters often visit the library with me and collect my books when I have been unable to get out. I am member of the knitting group and have attended many excellent events at the library over the years. I remember Jodi Starting work at Penlan and how so much has changed in the last 20 or so years.”
We have had lots of fun activities for our customers over the years from arm chair tai chi, line dancing, sing along quiz and coffee mornings to baby massage, Graffiti workshops, record breaker challenges and bedtime storytimes.
We visited local parks and green spaces with families as part of our geocacheing club
Our fabulous knitting group has raised thousands of pounds for the British Legion with their gorgeous knitted poppies.
Our Easter Bonnet parades are always a wonderful sight with everyone making a superb effort and our craft and knitting ladies love when santa visits the library as much as the children do! Some unusual visitors!
Our original rhymetime babies are now turning 11 and the group is still growing, we can’t wait to get our babies back in the library for song and rhymetime.
