A Sound Initiative
An instrument can be ordered by placing a request at your local branch/mobile library.
Have you longed to learn a musical instrument but didn’t want to commit to the purchase of an expensive instrument in case it didn’t suit you?
‘A Sound Initiative’ is a program intended to allow people to test their skills on a particular instrument before investing a significant amount of money on an instrument of their own.
How it works
An instrument can be ordered by placing a request at your local branch.
The collection will be available to borrowers only via the Cork County Library branch network and instruments borrowed from a branch must be returned to that branch.
Instruments may be borrowed for up to 3 weeks and may be renewed if no-one else has placed a request for it.
Donations of musical instruments are greatly appreciated.
Instruments available
- A selection of violins, including several ½ size, ¼ size and 1/16 size
- A selection of guitars, including several ¾ scale and several electric guitars
- A selection of Casio and Yamaha keyboards
- Adult and child-sized piano accordions
- A drum practice pad
- Mandolins
- Bodhráns
- Ukuleles
- Banjos
Please contact us on (021) 4546499, or at asoundinitiative@corkcoco.ie if you have a musical instrument that you’d be happy to donate to the library.
To see the Cork County Library Musical Instrument policy and for information on the policy in relation to the care of instruments, please see the FAQs section of the website and the Policies and Byelaws section. Check: https://www.corkcoco.ie/library-services/frequently-asked-questions.
The Grow It Forward campaign is underway!
Grow It Forward is a newly launched programme rolled out by Libraries Ireland in conjunction with the Grow It Yourself (GIY) movement and Healthy Ireland.
The campaign aims to:
- Foster a love of the outdoors and promote the physical and mental health benefits of spending time out in the fresh air.
- Show people how easy and rewarding it is to grow your own vegetables.
- Promote awareness of the environmental benefits of growing your own food.
- Encourage people to grow and eat their own delicious produce and connect with where their food comes from to promote healthy choices.
An incredible 50,000 free food growing kits will be given away over the course of the campaign. Each kit has lots of seeds, enough in fact to share with 9 others, be it in seed, seedling, plant or produce form, enabling half a million people across Ireland to enjoy the wide range of benefits that come from growing food at home.
Each food growing pack includes seeds for beetroot, carrots, salad leaves, peas and tomatoes; a growing guide and gift tags to help share them with others. Those who sign up will also receive regular e-mails with growing support and have a wealth of expertise knowledge and a growing community through GIY online supports and forums.
If you are interested in participating please contact your local library but be quick as the kits are flying out the door!
Online resources and events:
Check out some of the videos on our YouTube Channel to cook along with:
Darina Allen’s fab Beetroot and Tomato Grow It Forward dishes.
Darina Allen’s divine Carrot and Radish Grow It Forward dishes.
Do you have some lovely Grow It Forward produce at home? Then you should try some of Darina Allen’s delicious Grow It Forward recipes below!
Booklet One Recipes:
• Carrot and Apple Salad with Honey and Vinegar Dressing.
• Roast Carrots with Labneh and Pistachio.
• Radishes with Butter and Sea Salt.
Booklet Two Recipes:
• Pickled Beetroot, Chorizo and Hen's Egg Salad
• Pickled Beetroot
• Homemade Mayonnaise
• Tomato, Red Onion and Basil Salad
Emer from Midleton Library celebrates the Grow It Forward campaign by showing us how to make Donal Skehan’s delicious Dark Chocolate and Beetroot Cupcakes with chocolate frosting.
Go to Donal Skehan's website for the recipe.
Carrot Cake Muffins by Emer from Midleton Library.
Divine carrot cake muffins with cream cheese frosting, the perfect way to use up your Grow It Forward produce!
Recipe: Makes 12 Muffins
Ingredients:
For the Muffins
140ml Sunflower Oil
3 eggs
220g Soft Light Brown Sugar
250g Self Raising Flour
1tsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Mixed Spice
300g Grated Carrot
100g Sultanas
Zest of One Orange
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
300g Cream cheese
70g Butter
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
200g Icing Sugar
Equipment:
Cupcake tray and Muffin Cases
Mixing Bowl
Sieve
Wooden Spoon
Whisk
Spatula
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/ 350F/ Gas Mark 4
For the Muffins:
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk, then add the brown sugar and mix
Add in the grated carrot, sultanas and orange zest and mix together with a wooden spoon until combined
Place 12 muffin cases into your cupcake tray, spoon the mixture into the paper cases
Bake in the oven for approximately 30 -35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean
For the Icing:
Beat the butter and the cream cheese together in a bowl until well combined
Add the vanilla extract and icing sugar and mix until the icing is smooth and thick
Using a palette knife, spread the icing over the completely cooled muffins
Place in the fridge to set.
Don’t forget BorrowBox, our e-book library app and PressReader our e-magazine resource are always open and totally free with your library card!
Both Grow It Yourself publications are available on BorrowBox, along with a wealth of gardening, food growing and cookery books for you to explore.
For instructions on how to access these, click here.
Also, check out Grow It Yourself for information including growing guides and fab recipes.
It’s all happening at the library!!
Cork County Library offers a wide range of activities to the public both young and old, where they can learn not just about books and literature, but also learn about a wide range of science related topics.
Education
Fun and engaging daily curriculum based lessons for primary school children learning at home. Classes start on TV and extra content for related projects is available online. Presented by qualified primary school teachers.
Home learning hub for primary school children with book readings, live lessons and positive news updates. There are weekly learning resource packs from Junior Infant to 6th classes so children can continue to learn from home.
Department of Education and Skills (DES) official portal for Irish education. Curriculum based resources for primary and post-primary students. Free access to worldbookonline with information resources and free e-books during the school closure period. The link to this is available in the “Home Access” section of the Scoilnet website
Online Irish education resources for parents and teachers.
An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscoilíochta
Online school resources for primary and post-primary students in the Irish language.
National School for Special Education
Online resources for children with special needs who are at home as a result of school closures.
Fun online maths activities and projects that can be done with everyday things at home.
Culture/Art/Music
Cork’s Glucksman Gallery at University College Cork is a leading museum nationally and internationally for creative learning and access to the visual arts. Online “Creativity at Home” sessions are offered during the current closure of the gallery.
Dedicated cultural centre for children. Free dance, music, art and theatre projects for children are available online.
Music resources linked to the primary school curriculum with free courses for parents and children.
Literature
“Bright Sparks Creative Bursts” writing games are offered online for children and families. Inspiration is provided by children’s author Sarah Webb.
The website for the national children’s books organization of Ireland has book recommendations and reviews for all age groups. Imagination Nation playbook activities for primary school children with drawing, writing and mindfulness exercises from leading Irish authors and artists can also be accessed.
Author, David Walliams, offers free audio recordings from his books and also downloadable activity sheets.
Frequently Asked Questions can be accessed on yourcouncil.ie.
Type "library" in the search bar to view FAQs relating to Cork County Library.