Temporary disruption to services between 8th–28th May

PEMBROKESHIRE Libraries will be upgrading to a new library management system this spring. The switch will affect services between Wednesday, 8th May and Tuesday, 28th May, with temporary disruption to the systems that manage library membership, customer accounts, book loans, item details, and access to digital services.

During this time, the current system will be replaced by a temporary platform provided by the new supplier. While core borrowing services will continue, other services such as:

• Book reservations and requests
• Access to the online catalogue
• Use of self-service machines

…will be unavailable until the transition is complete.

Normal service is expected to resume from Wednesday, 28th May, as libraries begin using the new system.

A new all-Wales library system

Pembrokeshire Libraries has joined the all-Wales Public Library Service consortium, supported by grant funding from the Welsh Government. The change in supplier will not only improve the quality of service for customers but also reduce costs.

Benefits of the new system include:

• A more user-friendly online catalogue
• Better account management tools
• Easier access to e-books, audiobooks, and digital resources
• A new events calendar for library users

There are no plans to close any libraries, including the Mobile Library and Library at Home service, during the transition. However, unstaffed access (Open Plus) at Narberth and Neyland libraries will be unavailable until the upgrade is complete.

You can still borrow books during the changeover, but you must bring your library card, as staff will be unable to access your details manually.

Loan extensions and overdue charges

• Loan due dates between 8th May and 14th June will automatically be extended to Monday, 16th June (or your next library open day).
• No overdue fines will be charged during this period.
• Any existing fines or charges will be carried over to the new system.
• Up to two years of your loan history will be transferred. If you wish to download your full loan history, you must do so by Tuesday, 7th May, via the library webpage:
  www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/libraries-and-culture

Statement from the Council

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “There will be some disruption to library services as we switch over to the new management system. As our library staff learn new skills, there may also be temporary issues with e-resources, so we kindly ask for your patience.

If customers remember to bring their library card, they can still borrow books as normal. From Wednesday, 28th May, we’ll start using the new and improved system.”

Key dates to remember

• Tuesday, 9th April
  Last day to place reservations, stock requests, or inter-library loan requests (including Reading Groups).
• Tuesday, 7th May
  Last day to use self-service machines and Open Plus unstaffed access.
  Final day for courtesy and overdue notices to be sent.
• 8th May – 14th June
  No items will be due back during this period. All loans will be extended to Monday, 16th June (or next working day).
• Wednesday, 28th May
  Expected start of new system roll-out (depending on each library’s opening days).

Plastic tracking tech to trace 146,000 tonnes of waste in Wales

PEMBROKESHIRE is at the forefront of a new recycling initiative that could transform how waste is tracked and processed in Wales.

Polytag has successfully integrated Plastic Detection Units at four Welsh Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) — including one in Pembrokeshire — as part of its Ecotrace Programme. The other new locations are in Conwy, Gwynedd, and Anglesey.

The technology, developed by Welsh firm Polytag, allows packaging to be scanned for invisible UV tags embedded in label artwork. This enables brands and retailers to pinpoint exactly when and where their plastic packaging is recycled, closing a major data gap in the recycling process.

Each year, the four Welsh MRFs handle a combined 146,000 tonnes of recyclable material. The new detection units are expected to significantly enhance efficiency, with the sites currently operating at an average recycling rate of 66.5%.

The Pembrokeshire installation was delivered in partnership with another Welsh company, EBS, and funded through a £100,000 grant from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Centre of Excellence, supported by the Welsh Government.

Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, said: “Wales is already a leader in recycling, currently holding the UK’s highest average recycling rate at a very impressive 66.5%. Installing these four new Plastic Detection Units across the country takes this success even further.

“It will generate invaluable data on what is being recycled and when, empowering brands to take full responsibility for their packaging. As a Welsh-owned business, it’s especially rewarding to see our technology embraced and to help drive progress toward a truly circular economy.”

The four new sites in Wales join Re-Gen’s MRF in Newry (Northern Ireland) and Biffa’s facilities in Edmonton and Teesside in using Polytag’s technology.

Kate Williams, Innovation Programme Manager at SBRI Centre of Excellence, said: “This initiative is a valuable step in improving recycling data in Wales. Installing advanced tracking technology to promote a circular economy within our recycling streams is essential. We’re excited to witness the impact this collaboration with Polytag will have on sustainability goals across the region.”

Polytag’s detection units scan and collect barcode-level data on individual products as they enter the recycling stream. This data can be used by brands to improve sustainability and by policymakers to shape greener waste strategies as Wales moves toward its net zero target by 2030.

For more information on Polytag’s work with regional and national brands, visit https://polytag.io.

Let me know if you want it localised further, e.g. a Pembrokeshire council comment or specific location detail.

A CAREER switch from acting to hospitality has seen a talented Pembrokeshire restaurant worker named as Welsh tourism’s “Rising Star”.

Charly Dix, who works at Lan y Môr – a Michelin-rated beachside restaurant at Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot – was honoured with the top prize in the Rising Star category at the National Tourism Awards for Wales.

The prestigious ceremony, staged by the Welsh Government and Visit Wales, took place at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

Charly joined Lan y Môr as head waitress last summer and has already been promoted to Assistant Restaurant Manager. She said her early training as an actor gave her a unique advantage in the world of hospitality.

She explained: “I trained as an actor before switching careers, and I have not a single regret – I love my job at Lan y Môr. I’ve learned so much about this fantastic industry, and I’m lucky to work in one of the most exciting restaurants in Wales.

“My acting background really helped me starting out. As actors, we’re trained to observe people, to pick up on moods and behaviours. That helped me read the room, understand what customers wanted – whether it was a chat or a quiet meal – and build a rapport with them. I’ll carry those skills with me throughout my career.”

She added that her six-year-old son Alfie is her biggest fan.

“If I’m ever nominated for something, he always says, ‘Bad luck Mum,’ as a joke – and he said it again tonight! But he’ll be thrilled when I go home and tell him we won.”

The awards featured 48 finalists across 12 categories, ranging from Best Hotel to Best Event, with additional honours for sustainability, accessibility, inclusivity and dog-friendliness.

The evening was hosted by broadcaster Aled Rhys Jones, who is also Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. Entertainment was provided by Welsh of the West End – who reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent – and Band Pres Llareggub, known for their unique blend of Welsh pop, jazz and hip-hop.

Other major winners included the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, named Best Event in Wales. The event, which attracts 200,000 visitors annually to Llanelwedd Showground, is one of the largest agricultural shows in Europe, offering livestock and equine showcases, horticulture, entertainment, and more.

The Best Hotel award went to the five-star Plas Dinas Country House in Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon. The hotel’s fine dining Gunroom Restaurant, led by head chef Daniel ap Geraint – a contestant in the BBC’s Great British Menu – also scooped Best Place to Eat.

Plas Dinas, once the North Wales home of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in the 1960s, was purchased in 2019 by Daniel and Annie Perks, who have lovingly restored the former royal residence.

All winners were congratulated by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS, who said: “The Welsh Government is proud to support the National Tourism Awards for Wales, especially in 2025 – the Year of Croeso.

“These awards showcase excellence in a vital industry that employs nearly 12 per cent of our workforce and contributes £3.8 billion to our economy.

“I congratulate all finalists, who are outstanding ambassadors for Wales. I’m particularly delighted to see Charly Dix win the Rising Star award – a promising sign for our industry’s future.”

Full list of winners – National Tourism Awards for Wales:

• Best Hotel: Gwesty Plas Dinas, Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, Gwynedd
• Best B&B, Inn & Guesthouse: Glangwili Mansion, Llanllawddog, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
• Best Self-Catering: Wonderful Escapes Wern-y-Cwm Farm, Llandewi Skirrid, Abergavenny
• Best Caravan, Camping, Glamping: Meadow Springs Country & Leisure Park, Ffinnant, Trefeglwys, Powys
• Best Attraction: Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
• Best Activity, Experience or Tour: Rock UK Summit Centre, Trelewis, Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil
• Bro a Byd (Sustainability): Cambrian Cottages, Berllan, Gwyddgrug, Pencader, Carmarthenshire
• Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award: Stangwrach Cottages, Llanfynydd, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
• Best Place to Eat: The Gunroom, Plas Dinas, Caernarfon, Gwynedd
• Rising Star: Charly Dix, Lan y Môr, Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
• Best Event: Royal Welsh Show, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys
• Best Dog Friendly Business: Plas Llangoedmor, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, Ceredigion

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