|
To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
We are pleased to bring you the latest news from West Berkshire Libraries, including details about the services we are currently able to provide in line with government rules on managing the risk of COVID-19.
 Library services across the country must comply with the government's current restrictions for COVID-19 and in West Berkshire these require us to close library buildings once again, so that you are currently unable to visit to look at books yourself.
However, you are still able to reserve books via our online catalogue and pick them up from the West Berkshire library most convenient for you, including our Mobile Library. When you receive notification that your books are ready for you, please check the current library opening hours on our website before you come to collect them.
Our popular Order & Collect service is also still available: if you are not sure which title you want, tell us about the sort of books you like to read and we will pick a selection for you. We aim to choose up to five books that you will enjoy and perhaps introduce you to some new authors. Please visit our library catalogue to place your order.
Our At Home service is continuing too, so if you are currently self-isolating or unable to collect your books from us because of age, disability or other special circumstance, we may be able to deliver to you. There is no charge for this service. Please telephone 01635 519827 to find out more or email library@westberks.gov.uk.
All of our libraries have bookdrops/letterboxes where you can return your books even when the library is closed. But if you are unable to do this over the coming weeks, please don't worry - there will be no fines until the end of March 2021.
Unfortunately we cannot offer access to library computers at the moment but we are working towards restoring this service as soon as we can do so safely for customers and staff.
 We’re pleased to tell you that our Storytimes for younger children are continuing for 2021 on YouTube on Friday mornings. In a special session on 15 January we will be sharing a lovely ‘Under the sea’ story with music, told by Danielle from West Berkshire Mini Maestros. If you missed last month’s Storytime link-up between our own Newbury Library and Newbury Town Library in the USA, you will be able to view it on YouTube any time from Sunday 17 January.
For older children, we have a fun Book Worms challenge running between now and half term. Each week we will challenge you to read something different; and our book-related craft activities are still available every weekend.
Find details about everything that’s happening by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 Also for youngsters: we’re taking bookings now for our popular Code Club beginners course for 9-11 year olds, starting again Thursday 25 February. This online course teaches children how to code. We'll provide access to instructions and a step-by-step video guide for each weekly project.
Please email library@westberks.gov.uk for more information and to sign up.
We’ve had a number of requests to repeat the illustrated talk by local historian Dr David Peacock about the battles which took place locally during the English Civil War and the siege of Donnington Castle. We’re pleased to say that Dr Peacock has agreed to repeat this on Zoom on Thursday 28 January, 7pm. Tickets are £5 per household, available from the West Berkshire Heritage website: https://bit.ly/35X0e4d. Bookings close on 27 January.
This month our online book group, West Berks Reads, has been reading Charlotte by Helen Moffett, a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. If you have read the book, we would love to know what you think of it. Please leave us your comments after 16 January or tell us about any other titles you enjoyed over the holiday period. Everyone is welcome to join this friendly group at www.facebook.com/groups/wberksreads.
And if you are not sure what to read next, why not try some of the inspiring true stories we will be highlighting during Biographies Week on Instagram, starting 18 January?
Have you had a chance to explore all of our e-resources yet? We have an extensive collection of e-books and e-audiobooks, available FREE to all members of West Berkshire Libraries. The easiest way to borrow these is via our suppliers’ apps, BorrowBox and Libby respectively.
You can also download the RBdigital app to find nearly 150 weekly and monthly e-magazines, or read daily newspapers via the PressReader app – again, all free of charge to library members. You will need to search for West Berkshire Libraries on the apps and then login with your library card number and PIN.
 We’ve also got a great range of free, digital resources for you, to help with your own studies, children’s homework and for general interest, including Ancestry, Britannica Online and a number of OUP titles. Find details of all of our e-resources on our website and use your library card number and PIN to login.
As always, if you have any difficulties using any of our e-resources, please don’t hesitate to email us and we will be happy to help you get started: library@westberks.gov.uk.
|
