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To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Welcome to our October news!
 Whether you want to read for pleasure and relaxation, look for ideas on healthy eating or exercise, or search for information about particular health conditions, we have plenty of books to help you maintain your health and wellbeing. Remember that you can borrow up to 15 books at a time for free.
In West Berkshire libraries, in addition to general topics relating to health, we also 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 these 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.
 Being creative and writing poetry is one way to maintain your health and wellbeing that many people find useful. It can often improve your mood, help you get ‘in the zone’ or lose track of time, and can even improve your social life, boost your self-esteem and confidence and improve brain function.
Throughout the summer, residents in West Berkshire have been sending their poems to the Council for Poetry In Mind, a West Berkshire Poetry Campaign. You can find selections of these in all West Berkshire libraries, at Shaw House, West Berkshire Museum and the Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury until the end of October.
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How to Draw & Paint EVERYTHING! is the title of new art classes starting at Burghfield Common Library on Thursday 2 November. Bookings are open now for these weekly sessions, which are part of the Ageing Creatively programme of activities for anyone aged 55+ run by the Corn Exchange, Newbury.
Join artist Simon Jardine on Thursday afternoons over 5 weeks on this whistle-stop tour full of art tips and techniques that cover a multitude of subjects, leaving you with the ability and confidence to tackle almost anything. All materials are provided and everyone - from beginners to experienced artists - is welcome.
For more details and to book for any sessions, please contact the Corn Exchange.
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 If you are aged 19 and over and don’t have maths GCSE at Grade C (or equivalent), you can access free numeracy courses through Multiply, a new national programme which can help you build your confidence with numbers and gain a qualification.
There are courses for beginners to more advanced courses, such as GCSE Maths, Functional Skills Qualifications or equivalent, so you will be able to learn at a pace that suits you. Find more details on the West Berkshire Council website.
 Bookings are open now for an exciting half-term activity for children 7-11 years: achieve your ‘Discover’ Arts Award in a morning in three fun-filled sessions at central Newbury venues on Tuesday 24 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.
Advance booking is essential for this event. Tickets: £5. For more details and to book, please contact the Corn Exchange, Newbury
 Meet author Astrid Lindgren’s popular character Pippi Longstocking in a performance by Sophie Miller at Newbury Library on Sunday 29 October, 11:30am-12:15pm.
Nine-year-old Pippi is strong, brave and fearless. When she moves to her new home with no parents and no rules, she brings mischief, chaos and confusion to the folk of this ordinary and traditional town!
Watch the story come to life in this exciting new show especially suitable for children aged 4-10 and their families. The story has been adapted by Danyah Miller, directed by Helena Middleton, with original music by Brook Tate. This event includes an optional post-show craft activity.
Advance booking is essential, adults: £10 and children: £7. For further information and to book please contact Newbury Library on 01635 519900 / library@westberks.gov.uk
Look out for lots of other extra activities taking place in libraries across the district over half term. The following events are FREE but in some cases numbers are limited and you will need to book a place with the library concerned. For full details – including recommended age ranges – for these and other half term events and activities, please check with your local library.
Also, in addition to the library’s regular Monday afternoon session, Theale Library will be running a second Duplo session for young children during half term, on Wednesday 25 October, 10.45am-12.15pm.
Check with your local library to see what’s on offer near you or visit our Events website. Facebook users can also see what’s coming up by following @WBerksLibraries and going to our Events listing.
 If your children enjoyed taking part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, they might like to become library stars!
Younger readers can choose from one of our five character bookmarks when they borrow a book from any West Berkshire library. Collect a 'star' for your bookmark with every book you return to the library and a certificate when you have collected ten stars. Audiobooks count too. It’s a great way to encourage reading and the joy of sharing books with family and friends. Please ask in your local library for more details.
Thatcham Library
 Thatcham Library will be closed for one week from 30 October to 4 November while building work takes place. This project will see the installation of an accessible toilet, and the canopy above the current doorway removed to create a more modern and visible entrance. The improvements will make the library, and the many events that are run there, easier for all to access and enjoy.
Any loans due for return during this week will be automatically extended. The library will reopen on Monday 6 November but some areas will be screened off for a further period while building work behind the scenes is completed. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
 The Culture and Libraries Service are working in partnership with Oxford University to host Their Finest Hour Digital Collection Day events. If you have any WW2 stories or objects relating to WW2 with a story, and would like these digitally preserved, then please come along to a Digital Collection Day where your items and stories will be recorded, photographed or scanned and then uploaded to a free-to-use online archive.
- Theale Library: Tuesday 14 November 2023, 10am-2pm
- Hungerford Library: Thursday 30 November 2023, 10am-2pm
- West Berkshire Museum: Wednesday 17 January 2024, 10am-2pm
If you would like to help with the project, please email gemma.taylor@westberks.gov.uk or call 01635 519533.
Next month, Newbury Library will be hosting a second showcase for local authors to promote their books. If you have had a book published recently and are interested in taking part, please email library@westberks.gov.uk.
Look out for more details about this event and other autumn activities coming soon
Our next newsletter will be out in early November. But don’t forget that you can keep up with the daily news about everything that’s happening in our libraries by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
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