 Help shape the future of your library service
We are seeking your views on our libraries service as we look to shape the future of our offer to residents across the borough.
Libraries are an integral part of the community and it is therefore vital that we understand how we can best meet your needs.
To help us achieve this, we have launched a survey, which is available to view on Engage Wokingham Borough and runs until Tuesday 6 December.
We are keen to explore what you think our priorities should be moving forward and if there are any specific areas you would like to see changed or improved.
If you need help completing the survey, please call the council’s customer services team on (0118) 974 6000. This service is available to all residents, including those who do not have access to digital devices. Paper copies are also available at your local library.
 Lower Earley Library celebrates 35th birthday in style
A big thank you to everyone who attended one or more of our events to celebrate 35 years since the opening of Lower Earley Library.
The library celebrated its birthday on 23 November and we have had a lot of fun marking the occasion. Events have included a quiz night and a coffee morning, with both of these raising money for Wokingham Foodbank, the Borough Mayor’s chosen charity.
Here's to another 35 years of serving the community, friendly faces and making happy memories!
 Be a Gadgeteer this winter with reading challenge
The Gadgeteers are back for the Winter Mini-Challenge, which encourages children to read books throughout the winter.
Following the success of the Summer Reading Challenge, The Reading Agency and the Science Museum Group are teaming up again for the latest challenge, which launches on Thursday (1 December).
It encourages children to keep up their reading during the winter holidays, with the website offering access to rewards for reading and reviewing books.
To take part, they must read at least three books of their choice by Monday 20 February and add them to their online profile. Collect virtual badges and rewards along the way and you can also print off a special Winter Mini-Challenge certificate.
The Little Explorers Book Club Library Challenge is another great way for young children to discover their local library and is open to library members aged seven and under.
Each child needs to have their own library card to take part and they can collect a stamp each time they borrow books. They must collect six stamps to get a certificate, with ten certificates to collect in total. Contact your local library branch for more information.
Christmas and New Year opening times
All of our libraries will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve. All branches will then be closed on Sunday 25, Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 December, as well as Sunday 1 and Monday 2 January.
At all other times, normal opening hours will apply. However, Finchampstead Library will be closed between Friday 23 December and Monday 2 January, re-opening on 3 January.
A warm welcome at your local library this winter
Our libraries will operate as warm spaces where you can go if you’re cold this winter. They will be places for people to come together to feel connected and supported.
All our libraries are places you can go to stay warm during their current opening hours. You can visit one near you now, check their opening times.
We are supporting partners across the borough to run warm spaces this winter. If you are part of an organisation running a space, or wanting to open one, contact our warm space team.
 Highlights for children and young people
Join local author Fiona Barker for a festive storytime session, suitable for children aged two to five. Each session runs for half an hour.
Sessions are being held at:
- Finchampstead Library, Wednesday 21 December at 10.30am
- Wokingham Library, Wednesday 21 December at 2.30pm
- Lower Earley Library, Thursday 22 December at 10.30am
- Woodley Library, Thursday 22 December at 2.30pm
Places must be reserved and you can visit our events pages for more information.
A LEGO Club will be held on the first Thursday of each month at Finchampstead Library, from 3.30pm to 4.15pm. The first session is on Thursday 1 December.
Code Club is returning to Wokingham Library in January and will be running on the first and fourth Saturday of each month.
Scratch sessions run from 10.30am to 11.30am and are open to children aged nine and ten. Our Python sessions run from 11.45am to 12.45pm, for ages ten to 13. Limited places are available.
Give generously to brighten someone's Christmas
At Lower Earley Library, donations can be made throughout November to the Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal, where good quality toys and other items are sent to disadvantaged children and teens in the wider Reading area, including Wokingham Borough.
We are also collecting for the NHS Christmas Gift Giving Tree, which provides gifts for patients who are lonely and in hospital over Christmas. Toiletries, puzzles, books and jigsaws are some of the items you may wish to donate.
 Tackling gender-based violence across the borough
We have reaffirmed our commitment to tackling all forms of gender-based violence and supported domestic abuse charity Kaleidoscopic UK as they marked White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November.
This day also marked the beginning of 16 days of action against gender-based violence, an international campaign which runs until Human Rights Day on 10 December.
There are lots of events taking place during the 16 days at our libraries, including a drop-in session for anyone in need of help and advice from the council's domestic abuse support service, Cranstoun. This is being held at Woodley Library on Friday 2 December, from 10am to 1pm.
On Thursday 8 December, there will be another drop-in session to highlight how domestic abuse affects older people, with a presentation being delivered by Hourglass. These sessions are taking place at Lower Earley Library from 10am to 12.30pm and at Wokingham Library from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
A full list of events can be found here, along with more information about our efforts to tackle gender-based violence.
 Help people in need by volunteering at our libraries
Our libraries will become a vital resource to many residents this winter, providing a warm and safe space to visit. We are looking to find volunteers for Woodley, Lower Earley and Wokingham libraries to support coffee mornings, which will be held once a month at these sites.
These coffee mornings are set to start from January. If you are able to spare two hours of your time at one of these sites, you can contact us to find out more.
We are also looking for volunteers to support our Home Library service. We aim to deliver reading materials to residents who are unable to get to our libraries in person. This service is completely free and offers a lifeline to those who are elderly or housebound. It can also be used on a short-term basis following illness or a stay at hospital.
Volunteers can choose the number of readers they wish to visit and deliver reading materials to. Training is provided and volunteers can claim expenses. If you are interested, contact us to find out more.
Winter reads and award winners on our blog
We have put together a helpful list of suggested reads for children to enjoy this winter.
You can read all about it on our blog, where we also have an article with useful websites providing information and advice on a wide range of topics. You will find links to pages on the Government website, covering topics like benefits, tax and childcare.
We also have blog articles on:
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