To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Welcome to our June news!
We are bringing you this month’s news a little earlier than usual as all West Berkshire libraries will be closed on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 June for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holidays.
All of our libraries will be open again on Saturday 4 June.
We know that many of you are looking forward to celebrating the Jubilee and we have activities and events for you to enjoy in all our libraries - including opportunities to make and take home your own crown! Most library activities are free and you can drop in on the day, but please check the details with your local library in advance. Here are a few of the highlights:
-
Tuesday 31 May - Craft workshop for adults at Newbury Library, 2-3pm. Use hand printed wood type blocks on paper to create joyful artwork. Advance booking essential.
-
Wednesday 1 June - Teddy Bears’ Picnics during our regular Rhymetimes at Hungerford Library, 10am and 11am. Bring your favourite toy with you.
-
Saturday 4 June - Newbury Library’s LEGO Club will have a ‘royal’ theme today. Children over 5 can drop in to take part, 2-3pm. Parents/carers need to stay with under 8s.
-
Saturday 11 June- You are invited to join us for a party in the garden at Thatcham Library, 10am to 12pm. Take part in our treasure hunt or enter the prize draw. Refreshments available.
- Did you do anything special to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond or Golden Jubilees? Do you remember the Silver Jubilee? We would love to hear your memories. We’re collecting reminiscences in a special ‘memory book’ at Burghfield Common Library, which will be available during library opening hours.
West Berkshire Libraries are delighted to be supporting The Big Jubilee Read.
This is a national campaign from BBC Arts and The Reading Agency celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with great reads from across the Commonwealth. Seventy titles - 10 from each decade of the Queen's reign - have been chosen by an expert panel to introduce you to a brilliant selection of authors and books.
We are displaying some of the books from each decade for a week each at Newbury Library. Drop in to the library during opening hours to see what's available or reserve your copies via our online catalogue to collect from your local library.
Reading groups can find lots of resources relating to The Big Jubilee Read on The Reading Agency's website: http://readinggroups.org/big-jubilee-read, where you can also share your own suggestions for other great reads from across the Commonwealth which were published during this time period.
-
How to draw and paint EVERYTHING! – more arts workshops for anyone over 55, in which artist Simon Jardine takes you through a whistle stop tour of general art tips and techniques: Tuesday mornings at Hungerford Library starting on 7 June (10.30am-12pm) and Thursday afternoons at Theale Library from 9 June (2.30-4pm). Each weekly session is £3. Book in advance via the Corn Exchange website or at the library on the day.
This month, Educafe is coming to Hungerford Library. Join us on Friday 17 and Friday 24 June, 12-2.30pm, when you will find various activities including a befriending service, parents’ area, English language chat and, as always, free coffee and delicious cakes!
Don’t forget that Educafe runs every Wednesday, 11am-2pm, at Newbury Library as well. All welcome.
Our computer courses at Newbury Library have moved to Tuesday afternoons. We provide individual tuition in weekly 1-hour sessions, suitable for both beginners and for anyone seeking further IT help. You decide what you would like to cover. Cost: £35 for a course of 10 sessions.
For more details and to book a place, please ring 01635 519900 during library opening hours or email rav.gopal@westberks.gov.uk.
We have recently been working with colleagues in West Berkshire Public Health and Wellbeing to put together new wellbeing bags for you to borrow from West Berkshire Libraries. These are packed full of activities and ideas to help you maintain your health and wellbeing, including colourings sheets, card games and suggestions for learning a new skill. Library members can borrow a bag for three weeks, free of charge.
Reserve a bag online and collect it from your local library. We are sure you will find something of interest inside!
. . . our popular Summer Reading Challenge for 4-11 year olds!
This year’s Challenge is called Gadgeteers and has been developed by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Science Museum Group in order to encourage children in many aspects of science engagement. Borrow and read six library books before 15 September to get your certificate and medal, with stickers to collect and other incentives along the way.
Look out for Challenge invitations being sent to children in primary schools across the district in coming weeks and find out more in our newsletter next month.
We are currently looking for volunteers to assist us with the Summer Reading Challenge over the summer holidays. If you can spare some time to help, please ring 01635 519533 or apply online at https://www.westberks.gov.uk/volunteer.
We hope to bring you our next newsletter in late June. Meanwhile please follow @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with latest news about all that’s happening in our libraries.
You can find details of all West Berkshire Libraries opening hours, including our Mobile Library timetable, on our website: www.westberks.gov.uk/libraries
|