ANGUSalive Updates

Published

15th April 2020

ANGUSalive library services still available despite closures

ANGUSalive libraries have launched a comprehensive online and social media offering to help the communities of Angus stay healthy, active and creative at home during these unprecedented times in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

With all ANGUSalive libraries closed, people are reminded that they can still get access to our e-books. You can use your existing library card number or join ANGUSalive libraries online at https://angus.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/OPAC/JOIN to receive a membership number. Then either download the RBDigital app or visit https://angus.rbdigitalglobal.com to register an account. The services are free to use and all people need is a valid library card number and a smart phone or tablet.

The RBDigital app offers eBooks, audiobooks and magazines for free straight away, or even learn a new language.
There’s a book or magazine that appeals to all interests. Reading can be a wonderful and healthy escape from the stress of everyday life improving mental wellbeing.

ANGUSalive libraries Facebook page also has fun and interactive content with videos, stories and facts to bring the library offering to life, including appearances from our very own Bookbug. A video from one of our Creative Learning Advisors shows how to make a paper chain snake, to go alongside one of our e-audiobooks, ‘The Snake Who came to Stay by Julia Donaldson’.

The library team will also be hosting Tech Tuesdays, during which they’ll post information regarding Adult and Junior courses, online resources, challenges to keep kids entertained and general information about keeping safe online and much more. Keep an out for Monday ‘Let’s get Crafty’ craft sessions and Friday Fun with Lego sessions, too. We would love to see your creations and encourage you to share them with us.

Adeline Kinsella, Cultural Team Lead for the charity said, “Throughout the current crisis we have been working hard to provide the best service we can. In the past few weeks a number of actions have been taken to ensure that while at home you can still enjoy our service. You can now join the library online for an unlimited period with access to all our e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and e-comics. We have also extended books currently checked out and reserved items. We are also working hard with our suppliers to extend our online services and resources available to members. Please ensure you have liked our page so you can keep up-to-date with our services during the current crisis.”

Information on all ANGUSalive’s digital and social media offering while its venues are closed can be found at www.angusalive.scot/at-home

We look forward to staying connected to our audiences online and hope to be able to welcome visitors back to the libraries again soon.

 

Angus’ history in the spotlight in new podcast series

A new podcast series called ‘The Road to Angus’ is set to look back through the mists of time to showcase the fascinating history of the county, its present and future.

Created by the ANGUSalive Museums, Galleries, Archives and Libraries teams, topics that will be covered include a closer look at Pictish stones; how to do genealogy at home; uncovering the archaeology of museums as well as a lifting the lid on letters from the attic.

In the inaugural episode, ‘The Picts in 2020’, ANGUSalive Curatorial Assistant James Wylie and Cultural Team Lead Adeline Kinsella discuss how modern technology is helping preserve, study and globalise the wonderful carved Pictish stones of Angus. They delve deep into the mysterious and often misunderstood natives of Eastern Scotland, and look at how the internet is allowing us to create museums without borders and bring their collections to people’s homes.

Adeline tells us more about the podcast series. She said: “With our venues being currently closed, our podcast series is a fantastic way to bring our collections to your home, with a different topic launched every week.

“ANGUSalive may have been set up in 2015, but the history and culture of Angus stretches further back into the mists of time and is still going strong today.

“We have over 25 Pictish stones or fragments of them in our collection, and these stones are really quite fragile as they are made of sandstone and will degrade over time. So it’s great to hear from James about their fascinating history, what they tell us about the Picts and also the work we are doing to digitise some in our collection for future generations to enjoy.”

The ‘Picts in 2020’ features some of the Pictish stones located around Angus such as the stone at Dunnichen Cathedral and the Camus Cross at Monikie, but also key pieces from ANGUSalive’s own collections including the Kirriemuir 2 stone with its detailed carvings on both sides and oghan (early medieval alphabet) which is yet to be translated.

Adeline continues: “The podcast highlights why Pictish stones are so important in telling us about this ancient civilisation, a civilisation that wasn’t as primitive as people may have initially thought.

“We hope people will tune into the podcast series to hear more about the marvellous history and fascinating facts we have around Angus as well as send us their ideas on topics they’d like covered in future episodes.”

The podcast series is part of ANGUSalive’s digital and social media offering while its venues are closed.

Find out more at www.angusalive.scot/at-home 

You can also download the podcast from a number of podcast online outlets including Anchor, Spotify and Google podcasts among many others.

 

 

 

 

ANGUSalive

ANGUSalive (SC046133) is the culture, sport and leisure trust for the county of Angus and has been operating since December 2015.

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