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You'll be surprised by what is available at your local library...

Darren Squires of Creative Projects (third from right) explains the art of making figures from dough to then use in animation films

The image of libraries being stuffy, quiet places where nothing interesting ever happens should now be forgotten – for good.
Hull's libraries have a wide range of services to offer the whole family, and if you visit the Children's Library in Albion Street, Hull city centre, you'll find a bright, colourful, stimulating and airy space which appeals to both parents and children.
And the new T-Zone Club, which opened recently in its own special area inside the Children's Library, is an example of how libraries are meeting the needs of today's savvy teenage users.
Whether it's learning film and video making or doing animation, digital photography, school homework, drama, listening to a chart-topping CD or just chilling out and meeting friends, the new club has lots to offer young people who want a satisfying and productive way to fill their spare time.
And it's all free.
"We have a committed group of young people who come along to T-Zone each week and they are making the most of the new facilities," says Janis Wilson, the senior librarian for children and young people at Hull Libraries.

Creativity

Ashley Hatton-Brown (above) checks out the books available in the T-Zone and (below) a young person uses the computer facilities. Pictured right is a play area in the Children's Library

"They are developing their creativity and some of the work they have produced – such as digital photographs and making Wallace and Gromit-like figures from coloured dough for use in short animated films – has been really impressive.
"T-Zone is open to all teenagers in Hull and they can get involved whenever they want and for as long as they want, and pick and choose what they want to do when they are here."
The zone was set up in the first place thanks to the efforts of a group of young people who worked with library staff to bid for funding from the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund (YCF) to pay for teaching workshops, a digital film camera and other information technology equipment.
The funds come from the government ,and young people in Hull can bid for grants for projects that benefit the local community.
T-Zone was successful and received £3,010 from the YOF and £2,628 from the YCF to help get the club off the ground.
Now, fully up and running after it was launched in January, teaching sessions at T-Zone, which is open on Saturdays from 2 - 4pm, are led by a Hull-based arts, education and media production company called Creative Projects.
"The young people are gaining knowledge and experience by being part of T-Zone, which can help them in the future decisions they make for college courses, jobs and careers," says Darren Squires of Creative Projects.
"The club is just a great place to visit on a Saturday and it's a real credit to the library that it has made the space available to accommodate it."

Hull Children's Book Award

Promoting reading and literacy among young people is an important part of the work of the Schools Library Service, and that is why the service runs the Hull Children's Book Award.
Children and young people in 25 primary schools and nine secondary schools across the city are taking part this year by reading six books recommended by the library service for their age group.
The shortlisted titles for primary school children are: The Savage by David Almond; Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson; Clovertwig and the Incredible Flying Cottage by Kaye Umansky; Angel Boy by Bernard Ashley; Aliens Don't Eat Dog Food by Dinah Capparucci and Spellbound by Anna Dale.
The shortlist for secondary school pupils is: Weird by Jeremy Strong; Blood Child by Tim Bowler; Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd; Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray; Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper and Message in a Bottle by Valerie Zenatti.
The book awards will reach a finale at two events in May when pupils pick the winning books for their age range.
Secondary school pupils from the nine schools will meet at Sydney Smith School in west Hull on May 7 to name their favourite book, and primary pupils will meet at Hull City Hall on May 21 to vote for their preferred read.
The winning authors will be invited to Hull at a later date to meet pupils in a further bid to promote reading and to receive their awards.

info

For more information on the YOF and YCF and making applications for funding phone 300300 and ask for Dean Davis the Hull Youth Development Service. For more details on libraries visit www.hullcc.gov.uk