WiganLeisureandCultureTrustAnnualReviewandReport2008/ 095 Libraries BookingTheTrend- VisitorstoWiganandLeigh'slibrariesincreasedbyfivepercentin 2008/ 09with1,283,882visits. Radio2starStuartMaconieandHollyoaksactressLeah Hackettofficiallylauncheda" NationalYearofReading" inWiganandLeighinApril2008kick startingaseriesofprogrammesheldatlibrariesthroughouttheyeartopromotethepower andimportanceofreadingtoallages( seecoverimage). Theborough'slibrariesalsosaw thenumberofactiveborrowersincreaseto47,925- ariseof1,115aspeopleturnedtouse thefreeresourcesduringthe" creditcrunch". NewSkills- Ourlibrarieshavealwaysbeenattheheartofcommunitiesandarepivotalin providingresourcesandskillswhenitcomestogainingemployment. Inspring2009we teamedupwithWiganCounciltoprovideanewSkillsShopinMarshGreen. Thebespoke serviceoffersexpertadviceandguidanceforanyoneonhowbesttoachievetheirgoalsand searchfortheirdreamjob. WiendRelocation- WiganChildren'sLibrarytemporarilyswitchedlocationtotheGalleries shoppingcentreinFebruary. Itwillreturntoitsoriginalsettingin2011aspartofthe£ 63m jointservicecentreinWiganTownCentre. Themovehasprovedpopular, boostingthe currentfiguresof65,000visitorsperyearand2,500bookissuesamonth. Heritage HistoryInTheMaking- In2009workbegantransformingTheHistoryShopintoa" heritage hub". FormerlyWiganLibraryandfamouslyusedbyGeorgeOrwelltoresearchhisiconic book" TheRoadToWiganPier", therestorationisbeingcarriedoutbyManchesterbased WilliamAnelayLtd, oneofthecountry'sleadingspecialistsinconservationandrestorationof fineandhistoricbuildings. During2009/ 10£ 1.6mwillbespentonmajoraccess improvementsandafullrefurbishmentofthestudyandresearcharea. Oncetherestoration iscompleteanexhibitiondedicatedtothehistoryoftheboroughfromtheRomansto moderndaywillbeondisplay. Restorationworkhasbeenmadepossiblefollowinga£ 500,000grantfromtheHeritage LotteryFundandmatchfundingfromWiganCouncilandWiganLeisureandCultureTrust. LookingIntoThePast- Ourmicroformreaderswereextremelybusyin2008/ 09with 20,000usersresearchingtheirfamilyhistoryatTheHistoryShop. FullSteamAhead- Wigan'sgrandoldenginecelebratedher100thbirthdayin2008 ( seepictureopposite). TheTrencherfieldSteamengine'shorizontaltripleexpansionengine roaredintolifeon3rdOctober- exactlyonehundredyearstothedaysincetheyfirstturned. Wigan'smayorsetthegiantpistonsinmotiontomarkthecentenary. HistoryOutAndAbout- FromWorldWarIIprojectsinsecondaryschoolstoTheLegendof Mab'sCrossourheritageservicesheldamassive244activitiesin2008/ 09involvingmore than10,000participants. Highlightsincludedsevenseparatelocalprojectsunderour CuratingintheCommunityschemewhichenabledlocalgroupstoundertaketheirown heritageprojectsintheirowncommunities. StageSuccess WiganPierTheatreCompanyheld440eventsinvolving750participantsandaudiencesof 4,000throughouttheyear, creatingworkfor55performingartists. TheAdultCommunity Theatre'sannualproductionwas" Teechers" byJohnGodberandyouththeatregroups performed" TheBestOfBritish" atWiganLittleTheatre- atributetoBritain'sfamous comedians. VictorianscenesfromTheWayWeWeremuseumweretouredtovarious communitysettings. Otheroutreachworkincludedadramaprojectaboutperceptionsof disabilitywithAdultCommunityEducationandroleplayperformancesatthePartnership Convention. Arts FromWordsToWOW- WiganandLeigh'shugelypopularFestivalFeverprogramme continuedtoattractpeopleintheirdroves. Theborough'sbestunsignedbandsplayedatHaighFestivalwatchedbyanimpressive 7,000fans. Words2008, HotOnTheSquare, HotOnTheStreetandWigan'sOneWorld( WOW) festival ensuredaphenomenal53,000peopleengagedinartsbasedactivitiesin2008/ 09. CatalystsofCreativity- Gettingthemindactiveisjustasimportantasthebodyandduring 2008/ 09ourartsteamworkedonscoresof' tailormade'communityprojectsdesignedto activatepeople'screativeside. These' catalystsofcreativity'usetheartstohelpinspire individualsandcommunitiesthroughcreativeconsultationtogreaterheights, improving socialskillsandinclusion. HighlightsofafantasticyearsawthePerceptionsproject- which encourageddisabledpeopletohaveavoicethroughthearts- laythefoundationsfor WiganandLeigh'sfirsteverDisabilityArtsFestival. Fit2Danceenjoyedsignificantsuccessgettingbothyoungandoldactivethroughdance. WhileWiganYouthTheatreofferedconstructivepursuitsthroughdramaforyoungpeople. Wigan'sartsteamalsohelpedtoarrange/ support1,576artseventsin2008/ 09. TurnpikeTreat- It'snotoftenyouseea300metreListeriaBacteriummadeoutoffabric curleduponthefloor! Butthat'sexactlywhatgreetedvisitorstotheTurnpikeinMarch2009 aspartofaUKDIYexhibitionexploringtheresurgenceofinterestintraditionalcrafts, such asknittingandcrocheting, withamoremodernedge. ItwasjustonethemanyexcitingandinteractiveexhibitionsheldattheTurnpikeGalleryin Leighthatencouragedmorethan11,740throughthedoorsin2008/ 09. Libraries, HeritageandArts