Worcester Cathedral Priory
Dubley Library
Newsletter of AOUG in the West Midlands (04)
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Cruising along the River Severn and exploring Worcester.
Members and friends met in the beautiful and historic surroundings of Worcester Cathedral Priory Parlour Coffee shop, to enjoy a leisurely lunch. This Cathedral was featured on the £20 bank note between 1999 and 2007 and is a magnificent sight as it rises majestically above the River Severn. Worcester has been the seat of a bishopric since the Seventh Century, and the Cathedral was served by monks until the Reformation. St Oswald and St Wulfstan were among the bishops. Today the Cathedral is the centre of a vibrant community serving the city and diocese of Worcester, and attracting visitors from all over the world.
Major restoration works on the Cathedral, which started in 1988, were completed this year and so the group were able to see the cathedral at its best. The work began with a public appeal to save the tower which was in danger of collapsing and over the past 23 years the entire exterior of the Cathedral, including the Chapter House and Cloisters, has been systemically restored. The Cathedral is now in as sound a condition as at any time in its history. The work has been carried out be a small team of highly skilled stonemasons, employed and based at the Cathedral. Worcester is one of only nine Cathedrals in the country that employs its own team of stonemasons. Our AOUG group were especially interested in the recent, special etched work on a south walk cloister window. The Millenium Window was designed by Mark Cazalet and depicts 1000 years of "the inspired Christian life". The artist pioneered a new technique of working on two sheets of laminated glass allowing three overlapping surfaces to etch and engrave onto.”
After our brief walk around the cloisters, we walked down through the town and along the river. Those of us from outside Worcester were amazed by the hundred of swans gracing the water and were interested to hear from Phillip, the organiser of the event, that this stretch of water was designated as a Swan Sanctuary. Then we reached South Quay, to board the boat “The Earl”. The forty five minute cruise took the group alongside The Worcester Racecourse and the former Worcester Royal Infirmary where the British Medical Association was founded. There were good views of the Cathedral and the “Glover’s Needle”; the tall spire of St. Andrew’s Church so nick-named because of Worcester’s former fame for glove-making.
Then after a restful trip, we strolled back up into town where we were fortunate to be able to see many special displays as this day was also the 360th Anniversary of the Battle of Worcester. The main exhibitions were in the elegant Guildhall, which as the “Commandery”, was King Charles's headquarters in the Battle of Worcester. It is one of the most gracious Queen Anne buildings in the County and designed by Thomas White (a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren) and was originally built as a meeting place for Worcester merchants around 1227. The exterior of the Guildhall is brick, dressed with stone. White himself is said to have carved the figure of Queen Anne over the entry, as well as those of Charles I and II, a reminder of the city's long history of royal support. The interior is superb, boasting exceptional period decoration.
Worcester saw the first cavalry skirmish of the Civil War with The Battle of Powick Bridge on 23rd September 1642 and then the final battle with The Battle of Worcester on 3rd September 1651 and some of the displays in the upper floor of the Guild hall depicted these times. Philip, our enthusiastic and knowledgeable organiser, had to leave us to continue our exploration separately as he was himself required to man a stand about his local church. At this stand, we later discovered, an historical display and several historical papers on the church all produced by Philip himself.
At just 23 years old, Philip`s dedication to, not only study through his OU degree and now his town, but also to share his enthusiasm and passion with fellow AOUG members, was a breath of fresh air for our Association. Thank you Philip, for organising this event! It was well worth the journey down from Sheffield.
Philip Evans – Region 04
(with additional comments by Jean Hertzog, Publicity Officer)
A guided tour of Dudley library.
A guided tour of central library in Dudley took place on Saturday 5th November, 2011. Our members met at the main entrance of this central library at 2.00 pm for our guided tour commenced at about 2.15 pm, with Helen White, a librarian interpreter.
The main entrance has small staircase which leads into the ground floor and as we entered the ground floor, we saw self-service machines. These machines help members to borrow, renew and return books without going to library staff. The main reception is on the rear right hand side of the library where library staff are available to help members.
It was explained that Public libraries, funded by public sources e.g. taxes, allow the public to free access to library services. These public libraries are considered essential in developing both an educated and literate population. However, public libraries are very different from research libraries, school libraries and special libraries.
Members of public can get memberships online or go to the library personally. Dudley’s central library has something for everyone with books of both fact and fiction. Also, there are facilities to search and book holiday packages, as well as to research a family history. A range of CDs, DVDs and audio books are stocked in the central library, along with books on music and films, and information of latest releases in music is available. Books with large print are also available.
We viewed the Internet Café on the first floor, where members can use computers for up to two hours free of charge, with the option of chargeable additional time. Library staff are anxious to help new users and beginners and they offer courses on internet and IT learning in this library.
Local information can be found on www.dudley.gov.uk/libraries with online services giving access to Oxford Reference including the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford Arts and Oxford Music, Britannica Encyclopaedias for all ages, news links to sixty eight regional and national newspapers and magazines and Ancestry.com. Some of the online materials also help the public to keep healthy and fit as well as to teach them to learn to live independently.
We saw books on local history, reference books and telephone directories, including Yellow Pages and the central library`s newspapers and magazines with quiet rooms for reading and study. There is 24/7 free enquiry service available for members, connecting to trained staff who can help to answer questions on searches. Members who cannot attend library can request home visits and members can renew or reserve books online or by telephone.
This central library has a good children library too and organises special activities including
Rattle & Rhyme sessions, holiday activities, Chatter books and teen reading groups, annual summer reading challenges and homework support for all ages
After the guided tour, we returned to our starting point on the ground floor. We showed our appreciations to our library interpreter, Helen White and her colleagues in the usual manner before departing home.
MEMBERS VISIT COVENTRY’S CENTRAL LIBRARY.
A guided tour of the central library in Coventry took place on Saturday 8th October, 2011. Members met at the main entrance of this library. The guided tour commenced at 2.00 p.m. Mr. David Hayward conducted this tour.
This central library has many books, CDs, DVDs and audio books [talking books] for members to borrow. Also, there are self-help books on doctor’s prescriptions which can be borrowed. Self-help books are carefully selected by health professionals. Each title is tried, tested and found effective. Doctors have a complete list of these self-help books. If a patient request self-help book[s], then a prescription is made which the patient takes to the central library. A librarian issues book[s] through the library system. These self-help books are difficult to read as well as hard to concentrate. However, there are exercises and activities to do which brings in benefits of reading these books. There are forms and questionnaires available for members to complete. This self-help prescription books service is confidential.
The central library has self service machines. These machines can be used by members either to borrow or return/renew books. These machines allow members to check how many books they have on loan? It can explain, if there are any fines and charges on items? A receipt is printed by this machine with the amount payable. If the amount exceeds £10.00, then all borrowings and renewals are blocked until payment is fully made. Library staff are available to offer assistance.
The central library offers mobile library service. A library caravan goes out to different places in the City where there are no libraries established and otherwise, where there is no transport for members to go to the city centre. Members can borrow and return/renew items in the same way as they do in the central library. Sometimes, home visits can be made by staff to offer these library services for members who are not able to visit central library.
Access@Central is an important internet service which the central library offers. There are many computers in the central library. Advance booking is essential for one hour free use of computers, but any time thereafter is charged. There are free short term drop –in sessions of fifteen minutes available on four computers for public to use. There are photocopying and facsimile facilities offered. These services are chargeable.
Peoplelink Community Information Services provide information on local groups and other services in the City as well as in the surrounding areas. Both Next Step and Learndirect are established in the central library.
Next Step is a free service to all Adults in England. It provides information on careers and advice on skills. It has helped millions of people. Services are designed to help individual’s needs. Career advisers are professional people who assist people in making correct choices for learning and work. There many areas of assistance offered such as improve reading, writing and maths, understanding job markets, developing CVs, improve interview and presentation skills as well as in developing progress in present employment, if any? Online registration through website:
www.direct.gov.uk
is very useful and it has many links. The Next Step Freephone:
0800 100 900
is available for anyone to speak to the Next Step staff on issues relating either to careers and skills or online registration. Their staff can provide assistance on financial support which includes adult learning grants, professional and career development grants and childcare assistance.
Skills Funding Agency is registered as a data controller of personal data with UK Personal Data supplied by clients/customers for registration with Next Step as only used for that purpose.
Learndirect provides many different courses for public. Some of these courses lead to qualifications which are recognised by employers. Most courses are free and some course have fees. Courses are at different levels. These courses are in classes totally different from schools and colleges. They have no set times and learning is flexible. Courses are ongoing and registration can be done at any time. If courses are difficult, they can be repeated as frequently as one needs until success is achieved. There are online tutors for support.
The central library has got a children library. There are several children activities taking place in the library. They include Storytime, Rhymetime and Art activities. Children must be accompanied by parents during these activities.
Although a small group of AOUG members supported this event, they found it very enjoyable and appreciated it.
Executive Representative - Mohammad Motawalla
Mohammad Motawalla: Tel: 01902 771328
e-mail: mamotawalla@yahoo.co.uk