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To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Welcome to our March news!
 If you are reading this newsletter on Thursday 2 March, may we take this opportunity to wish you a happy World Book Day. Children and young people should already have received tokens through schools and nurseries which enable them to purchase one of the selected World Book Day titles. Tokens are valid until 26 March. Find more information on the World Book Day website: https://www.worldbookday.com/books/.
World Book Day celebrates the joy of books and reading and the many benefits it brings. For instance, it can contribute to good health. In West Berkshire libraries, in addition to providing books for you to read for pleasure, promoting relaxation and empathy, we have special collections for children, young people and adults which provide information on a range of mental and physical health conditions, all recommended by health professionals.
Find a full list of our Reading Well Books on Prescription titles on our catalogue and borrow them for free through any West Berkshire library to help you maintain your health and wellbeing.
 A new exhibition at West Berkshire Museum in Newbury shares the art, thoughts and words of Ukrainians who have settled in the district over the past year. It showcases the work of three Ukrainian artists - Nadia, Natalia and Luda - and features a series of three emotional short films. Alongside the films which Nadia and Natalia recorded during Educafe at Newbury Library, the third tells the story of the Brickmans, a West Berkshire family who host a young couple, Max and Katya, through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
This exhibition will run at the Museum until Sunday 26 March. Entrance is free.
 Free, compostable food waste caddy liners will be available from 6 to12 March from all West Berkshire libraries and from West Berkshire Council Reception in Market Street, Newbury. Come and collect one free roll per household by showing proof of your West Berkshire address.
This offer applies while stocks lasts. Please make sure to check opening times before visiting. For more information please visit www.westberks.gov.uk/foodwaste.
Meet us at Mortimer Library at 10am on Wednesday 15, 22 or 29 March to join one of the Creative Wellbeing Walks which are being run by West Berkshire Culture and Libraries in partnership with Ramblers Wellbeing Walks. Walks are also planned from The Croft Hall in Hungerford on Tuesdays 7, 14, 21 and 28 March.
These walks promote physical and mental wellbeing and are an opportunity to do something creative. They are led by local artist Simon Jardine and each walk includes short stops to paint, draw or photograph areas of interest. Walks end with a creative class, along with tea and coffee.
They are open to everyone - no experience of photography, painting and drawing is necessary. Free art equipment is provided. Walks are informal, relaxed and friendly, and are suitable for adults, but not families or children.
Places must be booked in advance. To book and for more information please contact gemma.taylor@westberks.gov.uk
 Artist Mandy Allport from the Corn Exchange Newbury will be running further world crafts sessions at Newbury Library this month on Friday mornings 3, 10 and 17 March. Anyone 55+ years is welcome to take part. All materials are provided free of charge, along with tea and coffee, but pre-booking is essential.
On 3 March the session will focus on decorative pottery from Portugal; 10 March on needle crafts from Peru; and on 17 March we will be making dream catchers (such as those illustrated), inspired by crafters from North America.
For more information and to book, please contact the Corn Exchange: 01635 522733 or book online.
We recently uploaded some more quick videos with craft ideas for you as ‘Shorts’ on our YouTube channel. These are all simple crafts inspired by some of our favourite children’s books. Take a look and see what you can make.
Don’t forget that we post online crafts for children every weekend on Facebook and Instagram on Saturdays and on Twitter on Sundays.
 Bookings are open now for children 5 to 12 years to take part in this event at Theale Library on Monday 3 April, 2 to 3pm. There will be a chance to find out how fossils are made and where to find them, as well as to handle some wonderful examples.
This event is free. For more information and to book please contact the library.
We’re also taking bookings now for two performances of the classic tale ‘The Ugly Duckling’ on Wednesday 5 April. This story has been specially adapted for children 2 to 6 years by Lizzie Lewis from The Watermill Theatre, who will be presenting the show at Thatcham Library, 11 to 11.35am, and at Mortimer Library, 2 to 2.35pm.
Tickets for these performances are £5 for adults, £2 for children, with special rates for childminders and nurseries. Advance booking is essential through Thatcham and Mortimer libraries.
Look out for news about further performances coming soon to Newbury Library!
Remember that you can keep up with the latest news about everything that’s happening in our libraries by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Facebook users can also see what’s coming up by going to our Events listing. Additionally, to find out what’s happening near you, check with your local library or search the West Berkshire Directory.
Our next newsletter will be out in early April
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