 Milestones reached for new Twyford Library
The new Twyford Library has taken another step forward after we entered into a lease agreement with The Polehampton Trust for its new home.
We have leased the Grade II listed Old Polehampton Boys' School, in Polehampton Close, at a peppercorn (very low) rent for 99 years. This will bring the former school building back into community use for generations to come.
It was originally built to serve the village with money left by Edward Polehampton, a local man who made his fortune through portraiture and coach painting, and is now owned by educational and community charity The Polehampton Trust.
We've also appointed local firm Contract Trading Services to carry out a single-storey extension and accessible entrance, with further changes to make it as energy efficient as possible while preserving its historic character. We will be making the building as energy efficient as possible given the constraints of the listed building and the site.
We're delighted to have reached two significant milestones in this scheme and look forward to sharing more news in due course.
 Author Anita Frank among highlights for adults
There are lots of events happening in our libraries in the coming weeks, including an opportunity to meet author Anita Frank.
The local bestselling writer will be visiting Wokingham Library on Saturday 25 February to talk about her career as a novelist and read from her books. This is a free event and will run from 2pm to 3pm.
Frank writes historical fiction and her highly-praised work includes The Lost Ones and The Return. Her third novel, The Good Liars, is due out later this year.
The session includes a book signing, with her titles available for purchase. Places must be booked in advance.
Cosy Coffee Mornings and Reminiscence at Wokingham Library
All of our Libraries are warm spaces for you to use. Warm spaces are safe and welcoming environments where members of the community can come to if they want to keep warm, have a chat and access support.
Wokingham Library is hosting a free coffee morning on the fourth Thursday of each month between 10am and 12noon. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served and volunteers are on site for anyone who wants to chat. Our Reminiscence Club will also be running at the same time in the library. The next session is on Thursday 23 February.
Poetry Reading Group at Lower Earley Library
Do you enjoy reading poetry or listening to verse being read aloud? Or would you like to find out more about poetry? Our Poetry Reading Group is looking for new members. Current members say that listening to some well-loved poetry is a fantastic way to start the week, very therapeutic and improves their mental health. The group meets on the last Monday of each month from 10.30am to 11.30am at Lower Earley Library. The next session is on Monday 27 February. For more information email us.
Cribbage Club
Our friendly Cribbage Club meets at Wokingham Library on the first and third Friday of each month, running from 10.30am to 12noon. All abilities are welcome and there is no need to book. The next session will be on Friday 17 February.
Book Chat
Come and find out what's new in the world of books by joining us for a chat at Wokingham Library on Tuesday 7 February, from 10.30am to 11.30am. Swap recommendations and discuss your favourites. This is a free event and coffee is provided. No need to book, just drop-in.
Visit our events website for more information about all of our events and how to book.
 Successful start for storytime sessions at Dinton
The first Storytime at Dinton Activity Centre was a great success. More than 20 parents and young children had a wonderful time listening to stories and poetry read by Tony Knight and our libraries team, as well as enjoying the colouring activities that followed.
Tony, who was a platform announcer at Wokingham Station, was famous with commuters for his poetry readings. He brought along a green poetry folder that he used on the platform and A A Milne’s book Winnie-the-Pooh: The Complete Collection of Stories and Poems.
Storytime is now a regular feature at Dinton Activity Centre, with free entrance and no booking needed.
Dates for this month include Tuesday 7 February and Tuesday 21 February and future sessions are running on Tuesday 7 March and Tuesday 21 March.
These are generally designed for young children aged two to five, providing them with a fun and enjoyable introduction to books and libraries. We hope sharing books and stories with young children will help build good language and listening skills and give them a head start when they begin school.
We also have storytime sessions running at Wokingham Library on Tuesday 14 February at 4pm and at Finchampstead Library on Friday 17 February at 10.30am.
 Local author G.L Stone to give special storytime
Join us for a very special edition of storytime at Wokingham Library on Friday 17 February as we welcome G.L Stone.
She will be sharing her stories from 2.30pm and will be a familiar face to some, as she lives in Lower Earley.
Stone has been an author since 2020, but says her career was elevated when her son Archie arrived. He was born with a visual impairment and so she decided to write a book for him, called Herb, to let him know that he will shine bright regardless of his differences.
She was very proud to learn that a copy of her book is owned by The Prince and Princess of Wales.
During the session, children will be able to take part in a decorating activity and take home their own Herb. This is a free event but booking is required via the library events website.
 Creative ways to be entertained during half-term
If you are looking for fun activities for your children during February half-term, visit our libraries and create something to take home.
Sand Art
Create your very own sand picture at one of our sessions with Kids Bee Happy. These are suitable for children aged three to ten. Although no booking is needed, you will need to pay £4 per item of sand art to Maddi on the day.
Sessions are running at:
- Lower Earley Library, Monday 13 February, 10am to 12noon
- Woodley Library, Tuesday 14 February, 10am to 12noon
- Wokingham Library, Wednesday 15 February, 10am to 12noon
- Spencers Wood Library, Thursday 16 February, 10am to 12noon
Get Arty
Join us for a fun morning of arts and crafts at Wokingham Library on Friday 17 February. The event is suitable for children aged four to ten. It costs £1 and booking is required.
Valentine's Crafts
These crafting sessions are suitable for children aged five to 12 and cost £1 per child, with booking required.
Sessions are running at:
- Lower Earley Library, Tuesday 14 February, 11am to 12noon
- Woodley Library, Friday 17 February, 10am to 12noon
Visit our events website for more information about all of our events and how to book.
Reading Sparks
Head to Wokingham Library from Saturday 11 February to borrow one of our activity boxes and explore the experiments we have put together for you. Reading Sparks brings together science, technology, engineering, and Maths themes with creative arts and reading.
There are four different themes of box to choose from, including space, machines, invisible nature and animals. Once you have completed the experiment, just return the box to the library with the completed evaluations to receive a CREST Award.
 Free books and storytimes to pick award winner
Bookstart Baby is a universal book gifting programme in England and Wales provided by BookTrust. Every child aged up to 12 months is eligible for a free pack of books and resources, designed to support and encourage families to read with their child as early as possible. Bookstart Baby is gifted by libraries, health professionals and children’s centres in Wokingham Borough.
You can pick up your own pack at:
- Shinfield Micro Library, Monday 20 February, 10.30am to 12noon
- Spencers Wood Library, Thursday 23 February, 11am to 12noon
- Twyford Library, Tuesday 28 February, 11am to 12 noon
- Finchampstead Library, Wednesday 1 March, 10am to 12noon
- Arborfield Pop-up Library, Monday 6 March, 11am to 12.30pm
- Lower Earley Library, Thursday 9 March, 10am to 12noon
By attending storytime sessions, you can help to decide the winner of this year’s BookTrust Storytime Prize. Now in its fourth year, the competition aims to find the best book for sharing with children up to the age of five. An expert panel chose a shortlist of books, which will now face a public vote for a prize of £5,000.
Storytime sessions featuring the shortlisted books are taking place at:
- Lower Earley Library, Tuesday 7 February, 10am to 10.30am
- Woodley Library, Wednesday 15 February, 10am to 10.30am
- Finchampstead Library, Friday 17 February, 10.30am to 11am
- Shinfield Micro Library, Monday 20 February, 10am to 10.30am
- Spencers Wood Library, Thursday 23 February, 10.30am to 11am
- Twyford Library, Tuesday 28 February, 10.30am to 11am
- Arborfield Pop-up Library, Monday 6 March, 10.30am to 11am
Free books available to groups through Tall Tales
The Tall Tales service is available to local organisations to provide bag books, which are multi-sensory story books for people with severe or profound learning disabilities. The Tall Tales service has been developed in partnership with the Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board.
Bag books are unique, handmade multi-sensory resources aimed at developing communication skills. They are a hugely beneficial to those with autistic spectrum disorders and visual and hearing impairments.
The Tall Tales service is available free to local organisations and the bags will be delivered by a volunteer on a regular basis throughout the year as required. You can email us to find out more.
 Make a difference by volunteering with us
Home Library service
We are looking for volunteers to support our Home Library services in Lower Earley and Spencer’s Wood. We aim to deliver reading materials to readers who are unable to get to our libraries across the borough. This service is completely free of charge to customers. Volunteers can choose the number of readers they wish to visit and deliver reading materials to readers once every three weeks.
Coffee morning volunteers
Woodley and Lower Earley Libraries are looking for volunteers to support coffee mornings held once a month at these sites. We are looking for volunteers who may be interested in giving us some time once a month to help us support our communities.
Storytime volunteer and helper
Our team at Woodley Library are looking for a storytime volunteer and a helper. Storytime is held on the third Wednesday of the month from 10am to 10.30am. The volunteer will be required to lead the session, while the helper is there to assist with the set-up and check-in attendees.
Adult learning volunteer
Our adult learning team are looking for support at Wokingham Library. Digital Skills sessions are held from 2pm to 4pm every Tuesday. We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in coming along to help provide attendees with the skills and confidence they need to use the internet and computers.
If you are interested in volunteering with us, you can get in touch with us at volunteer@wokingham.gov.uk
What you might have missed
More in our blog
Find out what has made The Lollies (The Laugh out Loud Book Awards) shortlist for 2023 in our blog. Selected titles available from our libraries.
Drop-off old laptop to us
Donating your old laptop could help someone in need. Our libraries are ready to receive used laptops donations. These will then be completely cleaned, refurbished and tested, before being loaded with basic applications. Even laptops that are too old or broken could still be used for parts. Donations will be used to help families in need, Ukrainian refugees, charities, schools and local non-profit organisations. Libraries where donations can be made are:
- Wokingham
- Lower Earley
- Woodley
- Finchampstead
- Winnersh
- Twyford
- Wargrave
- Spencers Wood
As well as laptops, you are also welcome to donate power supplies, mice and bags.
Take part in survey
The Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group, comprising all six Berkshire councils, are carrying out a survey. They want to better understand how residents use and access the Internet, what online services are used most often and what if any are the barriers preventing people accessing digital services. The survey closes at 12midnight on Sunday, 19 February.
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