Heritage Week in Offaly libraries

National Heritage Week 2011 runs from August 20 (Saturday) to 28 and will see events taking place all over the country with the aim of building awareness of our built, natural and cultural heritage in order to encourage its conservation and preservation. This year, Offaly County Library Service will be hosting or organising a total of eleven activities and events for all ages, all of which are free of charge. Banagher Library will be hosting a talk by local historian George Smith entitled Banagher's Jostle Stones and Other Old Street Furniture on Tuesday, August 23, from 4pm to 4.45pm. Images from the Lawrence Collection and the Gaynor Collection will feature in Birr Library's Photographic Exhibition of Birr in the Early 20th Century which will run in the library from August 20 to 27 during library opening hours. The Engage With Architecture Exhibition in Clara Library focuses on profiling some of Offaly's protected structures and also features models and jigsaws. It runs in Clara Library from August 23 to 27 during library opening hours. Kid's Architectural Bingo will be taking place in Tullamore Library on Wednesday, August 24, from 11am to 12pm and will also take place in Clara Library on Thursday, August 25, from 3pm to 4pm. This event is suitable for eight to twelve year olds and those taking part will be in with a chance of winning an Offaly Heritage poster. Wildlife artist Gordon D'arcy will be holding Learn to Draw Wildlife workshops on Friday, August 26, in Edenderry Library from 10.30am to 12pm and in Tullamore Library from 2.30pm to 4pm. These workshops are aimed at children aged eight to twelve years. Booking is essential for either location as places are limited. Edenderry Library will be playing host to Mapping Edenderry in the 18th Century: an exhibition. This exhibition of maps of Edenderry in the 18th century is organised by Edenderry Historical Society and will run in Edenderry Library from August 20 to 27 during library opening hours. Edenderry Library will be showing the film of John B. Keane's The Field on Wednesday, August 24 from 6pm to 8.30pm. On Saturday, August 27, Edenderry Library will be hosting an interactive demonstration on basket weaving from 10am to 11am as well as providing an opportunity to discover more about spinning, a traditional craft that involves changing fleece (sheep's wool) into yarn on the same day from 12pm to 1pm.