![British flag bunting](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/04/7488840/4701921/newsletter-images-22_crop.png) Royal-themed events taking place at our libraries
To help celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, our libraries are hosting a number of themed events.
Charity coffee morning
Celebrate the Coronation by joining us at Lower Earley Library on Friday 5 May. Enjoy tea, coffee and homemade cakes from 10am to 12.30pm. This is a free event, but there will be a raffle and the event is helping to raise funds for The Hygiene Bank, which helps those who are unable to afford everyday essential products. We will also have a visit from Dr Bike.
Also included in this event is a royal reminiscence session, which runs from 10.30am to 12noon. Visitors can drop in and chat with our friendly volunteer about their memories of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and other royal events, while looking ahead to the Coronation of King Charles III.
Woodley Library celebration
Join staff from 10am on Saturday 6 May and enjoy a drink, cake and sweets as they celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. This is a free event and there is no need to book, just drop in.
Royal crafting
Explore the topic of 'What is heraldry?' and create your own coat of arms in this fun craft session for adults at Wokingham Library on Wednesday 10 May. The session runs from 2pm to 4pm. This event is free but registration is required.
Coronation seeds
Celebrate the Coronation by picking up a free packet of seeds from your local library. The seeds will be for wildflowers in red, while and blue colours and they must be sown in May. When they have flowered, email pictures to libraries@wokingham.gov.uk and we will post the results on our social media pages. There will be a small prize for the best photo.
Royal reminiscence
Do you remember the late Queen's Coronation in 1953? Come and chat with our friendly volunteers at Woodley Library on Thursday 11 May. Share your memories of past royal occasions and also the Coronation of King Charles III from 10.30am to 12noon. This is a free event and there is no need to book, just drop in.
You can find out more about all of our library events online.
![Art session](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/04/7485704/4701922/newsletter-images-17_crop.png) Activities for children to mark The King's Coronation
The Coronation is not just to be enjoyed by adults, as there are plenty of activities for children taking place across the borough.
Royal Storytime
Join us for a selection of fun stories. This is a free event, but booking is advised due to limited space. Sessions are running on Tuesday 2 May at Lower Earley Library from 10am to 10.30am and at Wokingham Library from 4pm to 4.30pm.
Get Arty
Join us for an afternoon of arts and crafts. Sessions are open to children aged four to ten and cost £2 per child. Booking is essential.
- Lower Earley Library, Tuesday 2 May from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
- Woodley Library, Wednesday 3 May from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
- Finchampstead Library, Thursday 4 May from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
LEGO Club
Design a castle fit for a king at our LEGO Club on Thursday 4 May at Finchampstead Library. The session runs from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and is free to attend, with booking required.
To find out more and to book your place for any of these activities, visit our library events website.
![Meet the authors](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/04/7487738/4701923/newsletter-images-20_crop.png) Meet the authors: Myca Palmer and Julie Cohen
Myca Palmer has recently published her memoir Pendulum, which raises awareness of and challenges current methods for diagnosing, treating and living with mental illness.
For Mental Health Awareness Week (15 to 21 May), Myca will be at Wokingham Library to share some of her transformational journey, sign copies of her book and take questions.
The talk runs from 1pm to 2pm on Friday 19 May and although this is a free event, places must be reserved in advance.
Myca’s book will be available for purchase on the day and can also be borrowed or reserved from the library.
Bestselling author Julie Cohen will also be visiting Wokingham Library this month. She is coming to talk about her latest title Summer People on Saturday 20 May from 2pm to 3pm.
She will talk about her career as a novelist and there will then be a book signing, with titles available for purchase. This is also a free event, but spaces are limited and must be reserved.
To find out more about these talks and to register, visit our library events website.
![Re-usable period products](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/04/7487876/4701924/newsletter-images-21_crop.png) Find out more about reusable period products
If you are interested in finding out more about reusable period products, there is a workshop being held at Lower Earley Library later this month.
The session will be run by All Yours, which seeks to tackle period poverty and educate people about the alternatives available.
The workshop, which will run from 2pm to 3.30pm on Tuesday 23 May, is designed to talk through the benefits and drawbacks of reusable products.
This is a free event and there will be samples available to take away, as well as the chance to ask questions. Registration is required via our library events website.
![Steve Antony](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/04/7494404/4701925/newsletter-images-23_crop.png) Drawings of Mr Panda impress popular author
It was another successful visit from author and illustrator Steve Antony, who came to our libraries in Lower Earley, Wokingham and Woodley recently.
An award winner and regular at the Wokingham Children's Book Festival, the popular children's author shared his stories The Queen's Hat and Please, Mr Panda.
This was followed by a drawing session where the children were asked to draw Mr Panda and winners were chosen from each library.
![Volunteer with us](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/04/7502041/4701926/newsletter-images-24_crop.png) Help your community by volunteering with us
Summer Reading Challenge
We are looking for volunteers aged 16 to 24 who would be interested in helping with this annual challenge. Volunteers are required to run activities as a team and help children explore a range of books. You would be offered a minimum of four hours volunteering across the summer, with sessions run at our libraries in Lower Earley, Woodley and Wokingham.
Home library service
We deliver a range of reading materials, including large print and audiobooks, to those who are unable to reach us due to ill health, disability or through caring commitments.
You can sign up to receive a delivery from our home library service, which will be delivered by a trained volunteer once every three weeks at an agreed time and is completely free of charge.
Igniting Writing
We are looking for volunteers aged 18 and over to help on the second or third Saturday of each month. This club encourages young people to get reading and develops creative writing skills. The club runs weekly from 9.45am to 1.15pm at Wokingham Library and is split into two sessions for different age groups. You would be required to help existing volunteers with admin, support chosen sessions, attend author visits and encourage creativity among attendees.
Audio resources
Lower Earley Library is looking for volunteers who would be interested in testing the audio resources. We have a large number of audiobook CDs that need to be checked to ensure discs are not damaged. You would need to collect a selection from the library and listen to them at your leisure.
Cosy coffee mornings
We host free monthly coffee mornings at our libraries in Lower Earley, Wokingham and Woodley from 10am to 11.30am.
Our next sessions are:
- Lower Earley, Monday 22 May
- Wokingham, Thursday 25 May
- Woodley, Wednesday 3 and 17 May
These coffee mornings are open to all. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served and we have volunteers on site if you would like to sit and chat.
Email us if you are interested in applying for one of these roles, or to find out more.
Hola! Develop your Spanish at conversation club
Woodley Library hosts a Spanish Conversation Club on the first and third Sunday of each month from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
The club aims to help develop the Spanish speaking skills of individuals who have a basic understanding of the language. If you are interested, just drop in.
Award winners and book news available on our blog
Don't forget to check out our Wokingham Borough Libraries Blog, which features articles from the world of books.
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