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To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Here is the July 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.
Once again, we would like to thank everyone who has followed the guidelines when visiting our libraries, which has helped to protect our communities. All West Berkshire libraries are now open for their full hours and we hope to be able to make further services available in coming weeks, including the reintroduction of study spaces in libraries, but this is dependent on government guidance about removing restrictions in Step 4 of the Roadmap to Recovery on 19 July. Please continue to follow @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the most up to date news.
 Starting on 1 July, we have reading challenges for EVERYONE in West Berkshire!
We know that many people have been reading more over the past year and it’s certainly a great way to help maintain your health and wellbeing. This summer, why not take a library challenge and see what you can read before 15 September?
Read on to find the challenge for you.
 Children aged 4-11 years are invited to become Wild World Heroes!
Our annual Summer Reading Challenge for this age group has been developed this year by The Reading Agency in partnership with WWF, the world’s leading independent conservation organisation. It is a celebration of books, nature and action for the environment.
When children sign up for the Challenge at their local library, they receive a poster and stickers. There will be even more stickers to collect as they read and discover how to make a difference to their local environment.
We encourage children to read six library books – which can include e-books and audiobooks - between 1 July and 15 September, and there are medals and certificates for all who succeed. It’s a fun way for them to keep up their reading skills and confidence over the summer holidays and it’s all FREE.
 Felicity Harrison, Libraries Manager, and Cllr Howard Woollaston, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, launch the Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021. They are pictured in Hungerford Library, one of the eight West Berkshire Libraries, all of which are running the Challenge this summer.
 
Children who are not yet reading won’t be left out. We have a Mini Challenge for younger library members, who can collect their own stickers for borrowing up to six books over the summer.
Even babies can have their own library cards, allowing adults to borrow up to 15 books at a time for them. Remember that it’s free to join your local library and free to borrow books to enjoy at home; and if you have a baby over 10 weeks old and you haven’t yet received a Bookstart book pack for them from your health visitor, you can pick one up from your local library.
 Adults and older children are invited to take our Grown-ups2! Challenge. Just read three library books before 15 September to be entered into a prize draw to win a WiFi tablet.
For all of our challenges, please sign up in your local library with your own library card to get started. Good luck to all!
 If you are looking for inspiration as to what to read next, check the library catalogue or download the West Berkshire Libraries app to see all the latest bestsellers, or join our friendly online book group West Berks Reads to find out what others have enjoyed and to share your own recommendations.
Children can also find plenty of suggestions for books to read, as well as lots of fun, online activities on the Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge website
We have lots for you to enjoy online this summer. Visit our YouTube channel for a selection of storytimes and rhymetimes for younger members and watch out for our special Children’s Book Week on Instagram at the end of the month.
If you missed Neeta Madahar’s recent introductory session on Chair Yoga, you can catch up on YouTube now.
You will also find some of our talks here and online guides to using our e-library services from Libby and from BorrowBox on an Android device, all available free of charge.
 Don’t forget that the West Berkshire Libraries app is available from both Google Play Store (for Android devices) and the Apple App Store. Our new app offers you an easy way to renew your loans, search for and reserve books, read and listen to e-books, access other e-resources, manage multiple accounts for family members and more – all from your mobile or tablet.
Download the app and enjoy all of these services from your app today!
You can find details of all West Berkshire Libraries opening hours, including our Mobile Library timetable, on our website: www.westberks.gov.uk/libraries.
Keep up to date with all our news by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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