Occupy Edinburgh
Scotland v England
New Library App
National Libraries Day
Midlothian Libraries Fine Amnesty
Occupy Edinburgh still occupying our thoughts this week. The campers moved to The Meadows last Monday following their eviction from St Andrew Square, and found themselves in court yesterday morning. The Reporter spoke to Willie Black after the court hearing, and he was very pleased that the sheriff had dealt with the matter fairly. He said that the council had tried to “shift the goalposts” during the hearing, but that if necessary the camp would move to the eastern side of the Meadows which he claims is not covered by any bye-laws, as it is not within the council’s ownership. Whether or not that is the case will no doubt be thrashed out next Friday when the council and the occupiers are back in court again.
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Nothing and everything to do with nationalism, there is a rugby international with the Calcutta Cup being played for at Murrayfield today starting at 5 p.m. Ross Ford who plays for Edinburgh Rugby will captain the home team. England last won here in 2004, so it should be an exciting match. And at The Jamhouse tonight a charity event for Hearts and Balls with two bands playing live, the John Beattie Band and the Prov Johnstone Tribute Band. You can be assured of a good night and the cause is also a very good one, supporting as it does rugby players who have sustained injury.
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Edinburgh City Libraries have just launched a mobile app. Here is what they say about it:-“One of the first fully transactional public library smartphone apps in the UK, the Edinburgh Library app helps you get more from your library service:
Out shopping and seen a book you want to read? Scan the barcode on the back cover to your phone and the libraries app will search the catalogue to see if the library has a copy you can reserve.
Couldn’t get to the library to renew your books and DVDs ? Use the Edinburgh Libraries app to log in to your account and do it there and then wherever you are.
Keep forgetting your library membership card ? Scan it in to your phone and you won’t need to worry in future. The scan will work on self service and at traditional library counters.
Edinburgh Libraries updated smart phone app is now available and if you already have the previous version you can quickly update it on your phone.
If you are not a member you can still use the app to search the library catalogue, find the nearest Edinburgh library to where you are, when it’s open and how to get there, or just follow the Literary Map of Edinburgh.”
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Today is National Libraries Day. There are lots of events to attend in city libraries which you can find out about here.
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Midlothian Libraries to offer a week-long Fines Amnesty from today until 11 February 2012.
Midlothian Councillor Peter Boyes, Cabinet Member responsible for Libraries, explains: “We know that some people with overdue items have been discouraged from using our library service because of the fines they have accrued. By offering this one-off fines amnesty, we hope to tempt them back into the habit of using their local library on a regular basis.”
Boyes continued: “Love your Library Day is all about celebrating the importance of libraries to local communities and this amnesty is a practical way of encouraging as many residents as possible to take advantage of all that our libraries have to offer.”
The fines amnesty is a one-off opportunity. It applies to all overdue items, regardless of how long the item has been overdue. Items not returned by 11 February will continue to accrue fines at the usual rate.
