To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Welcome to our October news!
This week is Libraries Week. This is a national celebration of libraries of all types, organised by CILIP, the library and information association, and supported by partners including suppliers Bolinda Digital, BorrowBox and Nielsen. This year’s theme is Never stop learning, which recognises the many opportunities you will find in libraries to pick up new skills, whatever your age. Call in to your local library to find out what we can offer for you.
A fantastic range of activities for adults and children takes place every week in West Berkshire libraries. Although a few may need advance booking, most of our activities are available free of charge and you can just drop in to take part.
To find out what’s happening near you, check with your local library to see what’s on offer or search the West Berkshire Directory. Facebook users can also see what’s coming up by following @WBerksLibraries and going to our Events listing.
Look out for some special activities for children during half term too, such as Badge Week at Theale Library – a chance to design and make your own badge to take away, with all materials provided. For more information, please contact the library.
Monday 10 October is World Mental Health Day - a chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling.
We have books to support you in managing common mental health conditions or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also include personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs.
All of the books in our Reading Well for Mental Health booklist have been recommended by mental health professionals and are available to borrow for free. We have separate booklists on mental health for children and for young adults too, as well as books for physical health conditions. Pick up a Reading Well list in your local library or check our catalogue and reserve your chosen titles online.
We have recently upgraded the lighting system in Theale Library, which is already making savings. It is estimated that the new LED lights will save £1,254.18 in energy costs and 7.16 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Visit us to see for yourself what a difference the brighter lighting has made!
May we remind you that Burghfield Common Library will be closed from 10-14 October while it is re-decorated. No items will be due for return to the library during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience that these building works may cause but hope you will agree that the improvements make it worthwhile.
Well done to everyone who completed one of our reading challenges this summer. In total, 2,969 children visited a West Berkshire library to take part in the ‘Gadgeteers’ challenge to read six books, while over 200 more joined in digitally via the Summer Reading Challenge website. 421 pre-school children who took part in our mini challenge and 751 people took the Grown-Ups2! Challenge.
Special congratulations to John Brook, who completed his Grown-Ups2! Challenge and won a wi-fi tablet in our prize draw. John is seen here receiving his prize from Sarah Bulley, Senior Customer Service Assistant at Pangbourne Library.
Pick up a bargain in our super sale of DVDs withdrawn from library stock. We will have popular titles for children and adults, 50p each or three for £1. DVDs will be on sale at Newbury Library throughout opening hours from Saturday 22 October until Saturday 29 October inclusive, while stocks last.
Children aged 7-11 years can achieve their ‘Discover’ Arts Award in a morning in three fun-filled sessions at central Newbury venues on Tuesday 25 October. Participants will start with a drama session at the Corn Exchange, then move to Newbury Library for a story-based session and on to the West Berkshire Museum for a craft activity. Full price £5 per child. For more details and to book, please contact the Corn Exchange, Newbury.
If you missed our coding workshops for youngsters over 8 years during the summer, you will be pleased to know that Newbury Library is holding two further sessions on Thursday 27 October, 2-3pm and 3.30-4.30pm. Build a robot from our LEGO and we’ll show you how to program it with a face that moves!
These sessions are free but numbers will be limited and advance booking is essential. To book, please email library@westberks.gov.uk
We know that reading is important to many people, but also that buying books and magazines can be expensive. Remember that we’ve got a wide range, for all ages, which you can borrow from us free of charge. This includes all the latest bestsellers and a variety of magazines, books and newspapers available from our e-library. Check our catalogue or download the West Berkshire Libraries app from your usual app store to see what’s available.
Our next newsletter will be out in early November. Meanwhile follow @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with latest news about everything that’s happening in our libraries.
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