The Family Library is keeping open its doors for longer.

Opening hours at the library, next to the children’s playground in Westmoreland Road, Douglas, have been extended on Wednesdays to help cater for the increasing number of activities that now take place.

The library is now open 10am-5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 1.30pm to 5pm on Thursdays.

Saturdays remain the same, open from 10.30am to 4pm. The library no longer closes at lunch times.

Librarian in charge Mary Cousins said: ‘We decided to open on Wednesday mornings instead of at 1.30pm, in order to give our young readers more opportunity to explore the thousands of books we have.

‘It also increases the available time for the many other activities that we host in the library.’

The Family Library, which is run on a charitable basis under the auspices of the Manx Educational Foundation, is increasing the many activities that are available to members.

There is a packed schedule of events at the library this autumn.

On Saturdays, starting on September 20, there will be an origami workshop for children aged six and over with Yukie Martin, from 11am to 11.45am at ?2.50 per session. As if that wasn’t enough, Saturdays (up to October 25) will also see animation workshops from 12.30pm to 2pm, available for those aged eight and over, at ?5 per session.

Saturday, September 27, sees a free Meet the Author event as part of Manx Litfest, featuring author Phillip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, from 10.30am-11.30am.

Jolly Music sessions, featuring action songs with Graeme Jolly, will be held in the library on Fridays from 4.15pm-4.45pm (participation is free).

The autumn term also sees the start of the Learning Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons: fun sessions to practise times tables on Thursdays and to practise hand writing and spelling on Fridays. The sessions last from 4pm to 4.30pm and are ?2. The times tables sessions are available for children aged six and over and the hand writing sessions for those aged four upwards.

These new events are in addition to regular services, including Storybox, pre-school story-telling and craft on Fridays at 10.30am. While the story-telling is free, there’s a ?1 fee for those taking part in the craft.

Sticky Fingers craft sessions take place on Saturdays at 10.30am and cost ?2.

Teddy Time, pre-school sessions about numbers, shapes and colour, takes place from 2pm-2.45pm on Thursdays with places at ?2.
Busy Bees pre-school stories and craft sessions are held on alternate Wednesdays from 1.45pm to 2.45pm. Phone Rosie on 437387 for details.

The 10-week course of Sing and Sign sessions for babies are held on Tuesdays. To complete the course is ?50. Contact Nicki on 492182 for details.

And La Jolie Ronde French classes are held on Saturday afternoons. Contact Stephanie on 430665 or 663124 for details.

Unless other contact details are stated, contact the library on 640650 to book places or obtain more details on the various workshops and activity sessions.

For all the latest news at the Family Library, visit the website www.familylibrary.im.