We are very excited to be hosting this fabulous local history event on Monday 26 October!
This is a free event with no bookings required. Please note that spaces will be limited though so please arrive early.
Refreshments provided.
Last Dinosaur’s activities for October break at Blackhall library today:
2pm Dinosaur Paper Puppets – kids 4-10 years old
3.30pm Lego Club – Build your very own dinosaurs and their habitats – kids 5+ years old
Booking not needed, free event.
Children under the age 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
“What’s On” w/b 19th October at Blackhall library
On Monday we still have 2 Dinosoaur’s activities for children:
– 2pm Dino Paper Puppets craft workshop for kids 4-10 years old
– 3.30pm Lego Club – building Dinos and their habitats for kids 5+
Events are free, booking not needed, but children under the age 8 years old need to be accompanied by an adult.
More than 90,000 people took part in Wee Read as Scotland came together yesterday to celebrate the joy of reading – smashing the campaign’s original target of 50,000 pledges.
Wee Read, led by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and funded by the Scottish Government as part of the National Year of Reading 2026, invited people across Scotland to make a simple pledge to read on 7 October. The campaign reached its 50,000 pledge target more than a week before the official reading moment, with a total of 90,717 people pledging to get involved.
Across the country, people of all ages and interests joined the national reading moment, making time to enjoy whatever they like from novels and poetry to comics, magazines, newspapers, recipes and more.
Libraries, schools, workplaces, families and communities marked the day in their own ways, creating a shared celebration of reading and demonstrating that there is no single way to take part.
Activity ranged from East Renfrewshire’s dedicated Harry Potter readings and South Lanarkshire’s Gruffalo scavenger hunt, to a BSL Bookbug session in Paisley, school visits in Edinburgh and Midlothian, family activities in South Lanarkshire and community reading sessions in Inverclyde.
In Motherwell, a readathon in the library’s immersive room surrounded readers with calming imagery of their choice, before the Wee Read mantra video and a message from Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan were showcased.
Across the length and breadth of the country, libraries and communities also hosted reading hours, storytelling, book swaps, quizzes and crafts, reflecting the many different ways people came together to make time for reading.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said: “I’m delighted to support Wee Read. Stories, songs and words form the bedrock of our lives, our culture, our history and our future. Scotland’s plays, books and comics are internationally renowned, as are our playwrights, authors and illustrators.
“Reading and writing play a lifelong role in learning and wellbeing, and in tackling poverty, which remains a key priority for this Government. That’s why we’re taking action to improve access to books and encourage reading for pleasure, through programmes including Bookbug, Read Write Count with the First Minister, Reading Schools, and the School Library and Public Library Improvement Funds.
“Just a few minutes of reading for enjoyment reduces stress and improves wellbeing, and for children it has a positive impact on learning and attainment at school. By taking part in Wee Read, you’re joining thousands across Scotland helping us build a country where reading is valued, shared and enjoyed by all.”
The campaign also highlighted the important role Scotland’s libraries play in helping people find something they enjoy and make reading part of their everyday life – beyond the national reading moment.
With free access to a wide range of reading materials, alongside digital resources, reading groups, events and activities, libraries offer something for people at every stage of life.
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Reaching over 90,000 pledges for Wee Read is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful reflection of the enthusiasm for reading across Scotland.
“We set out with a simple ambition – to give people a reason to make time for reading and to celebrate the many different ways that reading can be part of our lives. Seeing so many people, communities and organisations take part has really brought that notion to life.
“Whether someone read for five minutes or fifty, picked up an old favourite or discovered something completely new, we hope Wee Read reminded them of the joy that reading can bring and, importantly, encouraged people to keep that habit going beyond 7 October.”
Wee Read forms part of the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, a year-long celebration of the pleasure, inspiration, connection and opportunities that reading brings.
Alison added: “Wee Read may have taken place on one day but the campaign’s message is intended to last much longer: there is no right way to read, every read counts and there is always time to read something you enjoy.
“Our libraries are here all year round to help people find their next read, discover something new and connect with their community. And if you didn’t manage to join in with Wee Read, that’s no reason to miss out – you can pick up something new at any time.
“We’d encourage everyone to keep that spirit going, make space for reading and turn to their local library for inspiration, new ideas and everything else it has to offer.”
Find out more and discover ways to keep reading at www.WeeRead.scot.
Share your Wee Read memories and recommendations using #WeeRead26.
WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER
Please join us at Blackhall Library on October 7th for a wee read, coffee morning and scavenger hunt!
Over the age of 50 and need help with IT?
We are very excited to announce that ACE IT will be based at Blackhall Library every Wednesday morning from the 7th October.
To book an appointment please contact ACT IT directly on 0131 667 2053 or info@aceit.org.uk for these free digital coaching sessions.
SYCAMORE CAFE at D MAINS PARISH CHURCH 10.30 – 12.30
A cuppa, a little creativity and a chance to connect!
Have you ever wondered what’s going on in your local community or how you could get involved? Come and find our stall and ask us about what we do!
Come along to our Coffee & Community morning for a chance to meet local groups, discover what’s happening in the area and find out about volunteering opportunities.
There’ll also be some festive fun with gingerbread person decorating on our stall, so why not come along and get creative?
Find out about local events and activities
Meet people who make things happen in our community
Explore volunteering opportunities and ways to help
Enjoy a warm welcome, refreshments and good company
Get involved in some fun gingerbread decorating
You don’t need to commit to anything or have a particular reason to come – just bring yourself and enjoy the morning!
Saturday 3 October 2026
10.30am – 12.30pm
Sycamore Tree Cafe, Davidson’s Mains Parish Church
Pop in, find our stall, say hello and spread the word. We look forward to seeing you there!
BLACHALL LIBRARY (D MAINS SCHOOL) from 5.30 – 6.30pm
Our new teen book group starts tomorrow!
Why not bring a friend with you?
Blackhall Library, 5.30pm-6.30pm.
Free to attend!
SPECSAVERS Glenrothes has helped a youth football team kick off the new season in style after sponsoring a new set of home shirts for the squad.
The locally owned and run Glenrothes store donated £1,000 to Cramond FC, with the sponsorship covering the cost of new home kits for the team’s 36 young players.
The team are now sporting their new shirts as they prepare for the season ahead, with the sponsorship helping ensure the whole squad is equipped with matching kit.
Cramond FC is a long-established community football club which provides opportunities for children and young people to take part in the sport in a positive and supportive environment.
David Platt, store director at Specsavers Glenrothes, says: ‘We’re delighted to be able to support Cramond FC and provide the team with their new home shirts.
‘Grassroots sport plays such an important role in helping young people build confidence, stay active and develop friendships, and we’re really pleased to know our sponsorship has helped all 36 boys start the season with a new kit.
‘Supporting local communities is something that’s important to us at Specsavers, and it’s fantastic to see the players wearing their new shirts and representing their club with pride.’
The sponsorship is part of Specsavers Glenrothes’ commitment to supporting community initiatives and helping young people access opportunities through sport.
To book an appointment at Specsavers Glenrothes for optical or audiology needs, speak to a member of the team on 01592 611044 or visit:
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/glenrothes.
CRAMOND FUNDRAISER
The Cramond FC clubhouse, which is located in Davidson’s Mains Park, is in desperate need of a few repairs and a little refresh.
From toilets needing fixed/replaced, exterior harling and guttering needing work and a full repaint. Any help is appreciated.
See Cramond’s website for info
Edinburgh Fringe performer Kate Danley gave Blackhall Library regulars a taste of the history and mystery of her native Seattle on Wednesday 26th August, when she brought her storytelling show to the newly re-opened facility in Davidsons Mains.
Kate’s show Madam(e) Lou tells the remarkable true story of Lou Graham, a pioneering Seattle entrepreneur and bordello owner whose role in the city’s history has largely been erased. Kate who is visiting and performing in Edinburgh for the first time admits she had some reservations about bringing a history show to a city with such a formidable relationship with its own past.
And while Edinburgh and Seattle may appear to have little in common, Kate has found some unexpectedly dark connections. ‘Both cities have fascinating, murky histories, including stories of body snatching and darker chapters beneath their celebrated pasts.’
Based on more than a decade of research, Madam(e) Lou explores the life of a woman who amassed a fortune during Seattle’s rapid expansion in the 1880s and went on to become a major power player in the evolution of the city.
Kate has been inspired by Edinburgh audiences’ interest in her hometown and her storytelling show has proved a hit with reviewers.
Kate described it as an ‘absolute pleasure’ to bring the show to Blackhall Library and was delighted to connect with an enthusiastic local audience including a couple who knew her from a book tour in the US.
Blackhall Library reopened in the grounds of Davidson’s Mains Primary School in June 2026 after the building on Queensferry Road was condemned. The staff, who were dispersed around the city following the closure of the original building, are working hard to rebuild the library for the local community.
The performance was the biggest event to date and Kate – who as an author is a big supporter of libraries -was thrilled to make the journey out of town for an appreciative crowd.
Anyone who has missed Madam (e) Lou at the Fringe, need not worry, as it has been optioned for a television adaptation and should be coming to a small screen near you soon.
