|
To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Welcome to our May news!
 Thank you to the 276 people who visited Thatcham Library on Saturday 22 April to celebrate the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III with us. We hope you enjoyed the morning as much as we did.
Our community celebrations continue tomorrow, Friday 5 May, when Newbury Library and Educafe will be holding a Coronation Tea Party, 2.15-4.15pm. Advance booking is required in order for us to be sure of numbers. Please visit the Educafe website to check remaining availability: www.educafeuk.co.uk/product/coronation-tea-party.
If you would like to watch the Coronation on Saturday 6 May in your local library, you can do so at any of our networked computers. Newbury Library will also be screening the event in the Carnegie Lounge. All welcome.
 We know that many students will be preparing for public exams this month. We have study spaces in all West Berkshire libraries where you can enjoy free Wi-Fi, use library computers or bring your own laptop or other device. (We have charging points available in many of our libraries.) But if you prefer to study at home, don’t forget that many of our e-resources are available to library members remotely, 24/7. This includes resources which are great for revision and homework help, such as Brillder and Britannica Student Edition.
Find a guide to using Britannica for 11-16 year olds on the West Berkshire Libraries YouTube channel.
 For anyone who would like a little help using digital resources, completing online forms or with other IT issues, remember that Newbury Library offers individual help in FREE 30 or 60 minute sessions. The library also provides personal IT tuition in weekly 1-hour sessions, suitable for both beginners and for anyone seeking more detailed help. The cost for these is £35 for a course of 10 sessions, first session free. To book either of these services, please ring 01635 519900 or email rav.gopal@westberks.gov.uk.
Hungerford Library provides free IT help on Wednesday and Friday mornings by appointment. Please ring 01488 682660 or email hungerfordlibrary@westberks.gov.uk.
We are happy to assist you in other branches as well whenever possible. Please contact your local library to make an arrangement for this.
 Children 5 years and over are invited to a new club at Hungerford Library. The club runs every Friday, 2.30-5pm, with different activities each week. All materials are provided free. For more information please ring 01488 682660 or ask in the library.
 This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 15 to 21 May, with a focus on ‘anxiety’. This is a normal emotion but sometimes dealing with it can be hard. In West Berkshire libraries we have a number of books recommended by health professionals to help you manage this and other common mental health conditions. Library members can borrow these free of charge.
Our Reading Well collections include books for children and teenagers as well as adults. Find a full list on our catalogue, including Reading Well books for long term physical health conditions as well as mental health.
 Have you borrowed one of our popular Wellbeing Bags yet? These are 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.
Later this month we will be ‘refreshing’ our bags, so the contents will include some new items. Reserve a Wellbeing Bag online and collect it from your local library. We are sure you will find something of interest inside!
 Over the past few months, many of our younger members have enjoyed listening to the six books shortlisted for the 2022-23 BookTrust Storytime Prize at our Rhymetimes and Storytimes. If you came along to one of these sessions and voted for your favourite, you will be interested to know that the winning book was Can You Tickle A Tiger? by Gemma Cooper (writing as Bobbie Brooks), illustrated by Carrie Hennon and published by Imagine That.
This is such a lovely book to share with young children! We are pleased to say that you can find copies in all West Berkshire libraries.
We know that many children also enjoy reading about Elmer, the colourful elephant, in the popular books by David McKee. We will be celebrating Elmer Day on Saturday 27 May. Borrow or reserve your favourite children’s stories about Elmer the elephant and find activities in all our libraries.
Look out for other activities for children coming up over May half term, including drop-in craft sessions at Hungerford Library on Tuesday 30 May, 10.30am to 12pm, and at Theale Library on Wednesday 31 May, 10.30am to 5pm. Theale Library is also running an extra LEGO session on Thursday 1 June, 2.30pm to 4pm.
Remember that many of our regular events will continue during half term, including LEGO Clubs at Burghfield Common Library on Friday 2 June and at Hungerford, Newbury, Pangbourne and Thatcham libraries on Saturday 3 June
Burghfield Common Library will be having a Book Sale, starting Wednesday 31 May and continuing until Saturday 3 June. Make a date to come and pick up a bargain.
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 June.
|
