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To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers
Welcome to our July news!
As regular readers will know, along with a number of other library authorities across the South East we recently made some improvements to our library management system. Although this work was completed successfully, we still have a few issues remaining, particularly with reservations. Thank you for your patience as we endeavour to resolve these as soon as possible.
Please note that other library authorities are still working on this and that it will therefore not be possible to reserve books from other library authorities in the South East (SELMS) before 29 July
 Our annual Summer Reading Challenge for children aged 4-11 years has begun!
Once again, West Berkshire Libraries are challenging primary age children to read up to six library books between now and 15 September and collect FREE incentives for their achievements as they read, with medals and certificates for everyone who completes the Challenge.
Developed by national charity The Reading Agency, the theme of this year’s Challenge is ‘Marvellous Makers’, which is all about creativity. It aims to fire up children's imaginations, unleash storytelling and inspire their own creativity through the power of reading.
But there is no need to wait until the school holidays begin – drop in to your local library to find out more and start now. We have a mini-challenge for pre-school children too.
 We have a challenge for everyone 12 years and over as well: pick up a Book Challenge card when you next visit a library to find suggestions of different types of books to read. Choose three of these and read your books before 15 September. If the suggestions you select are in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on your card, you can enter a prize draw in your local library.
Please ask in the library for more details and start your challenge now.
 Many of our regular activities for children pause during the school holidays but some continue. For instance, this summer you will find weekly Rhymetimes in Burghfield Common, Hungerford and Lambourn libraries.
The All Sorts Club at Lambourn Library, the Pot-luck Club at Hungerford Library and the regular children’s craft clubs at Burghfield Common, Hungerford, Mortimer Thatcham and Theale libraries are all continuing, along with Theale Library’s Duplo Play sessions, with extra sessions taking place every Wednesday, 10.45am-2.15pm.
Check with your local library to find out what is happening to the weekly and monthly events near you
But also look out for additional activities for children taking place everywhere!
For instance, as well as our usual monthly LEGO sessions at Burghfield Common, Mortimer, Pangbourne and Thatcham libraries, we have additional sessions at Pangbourne Library on Fridays 16 and 30 August, 11am-1pm, at Thatcham Library every Tuesday in August, 2-4pm, and at Theale Library on Wednesdays 31 July and 21 August, 1-5pm.
Here are some of the things planned so far:
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MONDAY 12 August at 11am: summer Storytime followed by colouring activities at Newbury Library
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TUESDAY 20 August, workshops at 2-3pm and at 3.30-4.30pm: coding with LEGO (for children over 8) at Newbury Library
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TUESDAYS throughout August, 2-4pm: board games or crafts (for 4-11 year olds) at Pangbourne Library
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WEDNESDAY 7 August, 11am-12.30pm: create your own story activity (for 6-12 year olds) at Newbury Library
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THURSDAYS 1 to 22 August at 2.15pm: craft sessions at Theale Library, making items to take away
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FRIDAY 6 July, 4-5pm: special Storytime and games with an Italian holiday theme at Hungerford Library
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FRIDAYS 26 July, 9 August and 23 August, 11-11.30am: special Storytimes with varied themes at Theale Library
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FRIDAYS 9 and 23 August, 11am-1pm: crafts sessions at Pangbourne Library
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FRIDAY 23 August, 11am-12pm: family workshop run by the Dogs Trust at Newbury Library
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FRIDAYS throughout August, 11am-12pm: weekly craft sessions at Thatcham Library
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SATURDAY 27 July, 10.30am-12pm: archaeology-themed craft activity at Burghfield Common Library
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SATURDAYS 13 and 27 July and 10 August, 10.30am-12pm: craft sessions at Mortimer Library
All of these events are FREE but in some cases numbers are limited and you will need to book a place in advance. For full details of these and other summer events and activities, please check with your local library.
Many of our regular activities for adults continue throughout the summer, including the new, weekly community café hosted by Theale Library in association with the Corn Exchange, Newbury, which offers a changing programme of activities tailored to the over 55s. Drop in any Monday, 1-4pm, no need to book.
The community café at Newbury Library takes a break over the summer but volunteers from Educafe will still be running relaxed, chair-based wellbeing sessions on Wednesdays, 2.15-2.45pm. These are drop-in sessions, no need to book. All welcome to come along and join us!
Don’t forget that you can keep up with the latest news about everything that’s happening in our libraries this summer by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook, Instagram and X (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 visit our Events website
The recent system ‘downtime’ resulting from our library management system being upgraded highlighted the fact that some of our borrowers are not sure when their library books are due for return.
Remember that most items can be borrowed for 3 weeks at a time, with bestsellers loaned for 2 weeks. Although the management system usually generates courtesy emails to remind you to return items or renew them (if possible) when the last loan day approaches, we do advise you not to rely on this. Systems and networks may be disrupted temporarily for a variety of reasons beyond our control. Whenever you borrow a book from the library, please make a note of the date by when you need to return it, so that you don’t incur any fines. If you are borrowing something at one of the self-service kiosks, you will have an option to print a receipt which includes the return date.
 Of course, if you are borrowing anything from our e-library you don’t need to worry about return dates or fines. The system will automatically return your item at the end of any loan period.
This summer, whether you will be travelling far or having fun at home, anyone with a West Berkshire Libraries card will find plenty of fantastic e-books to enjoy, including all the latest bestsellers. These include thousands of e-books and e-audiobooks from our suppliers BorrowBox and Libby which you can borrow for FREE. Remember that e-books and e-audiobooks count towards your reading challenges too.
Download the West Berkshire Libraries app to see what’s available or visit our website. You will find hundreds of e-magazines and e-newspapers to read for free too! Take our e-library with you wherever you go and enjoy a wonderful summer of reading.
Our next newsletter will be out in early August. 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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