 Events to help you and your family to stay healthy
Health Talk
Join nutritionist Joanne Hart at Wokingham Library as she shares tips that can help the whole family stay healthy. This free talk is taking place on Tuesday 25 July from 10am to 11am and booking is required.
This event is part of the Youth Sport Trust's partnership with The Reading Agency for this year's Summer Reading Challenge to keep children's minds and bodies active during the summer break.
Smoothie Bike
Use your pedal power to make your own refreshing and healthy smoothie on My Journey Wokingham's "smoothie bike" outside the Carnival Hub in Wokingham. Join the team from 1pm to 3pm on Monday 7 August to take your turn on the bike, which has been named Pedalicious following a competition among residents.
Ready, Set, Dance!
A fun session for children where they can learn a variety of dance moves from many different cultures. Sessions are taking place at:
- Lower Earley Library, Thursday 10 August, 11am to 12noon
- Woodley Library, Tuesday 15 August, 2pm to 3pm
- Wokingham Library, Saturday 26 August, 11am to 12noon
It costs £1 to take part. Places must also be registered in advance.
To find out more and to book for any of these events where appropriate, visit our library events website.
 Meet dogs making a huge difference to people's lives
Come and meet guide dogs and their owners at Wokingham Library on 15 and 31 August.
Drop-in events are being held from 10am to 12noon to give you the chance to find out more about the work of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which is the world's largest breeder and trainer of working dogs.
There is no need to book and all ages are welcome, so just come along and meet some wonderful dogs and find out how they help their owners.
 Remember to get involved with reading challenge
There is still time to sign up for this year's Summer Reading Challenge, where children can earn rewards for keeping their minds active.
Visit your local library and ask a member of staff for more information on this year's challenge, which is themed around the power of play, sport, games and physical activity.
Children can navigate a fictional obstacle course and track their reading as they go, rewarded by free incentives, including stickers and a certificate when they have read six books.
As well as getting inspiration from the Summer Reading Challenge Book Collection, children can download e-books and e-audiobooks from the Libby app, which also count towards overall progress.
You can register by visiting your nearest library, or by signing up online. There will be lots of events for children taking place this summer and you can find out all you need to know on our events website.
Children who complete the Summer Reading Challenge will have the opportunity to win a free swimming session. Dates and times of these sessions will be sent to parents during the Autumn term.
Teen Reading Challenge
Can you read six books before the end of the summer? Pick up one of our Teenage Reading Challenge bookmarks from your local library and work your way through the tasks for a chance to be entered into a prize draw.
Email us when you have completed the challenge and let us know which books you have read. Please include your name and library card number before Friday 1 September to be eligible.
Little Explorers
The Little Explorers Book Club Library Challenge is a great way for young children to discover their local library and is open to library members aged five and under.
Little Explorers Book Club Library Challenge
To take part, each child must have their own library card. They can collect a stamp each time they borrow books and will receive a limited edition certificate when they get to six stamps. There are ten certificates to collect.
For more information, email us or visit your local library.
 Activities for children taking place at our libraries
Minecraft Activities
Join us for a Minecraft event full of crafting and quizzes. Sessions are being held at Finchampstead Library from 2pm to 3pm on Tuesday 4 August and Wokingham Library from 10am to 11am on Wednesday 9 August. The activity sessions are suitable for children aged seven to 11. Places must be booked in advance and the session costs £2, which is payable on the day.
Ready, Set, Read
Activity sessions for children aged four to ten where they can enjoy crafting and tell us how they have been getting on with the Summer Reading Challenge.
Sessions cost £1 per child and are being held at:
- Wokingham Library on Mondays from 11am to 12noon (24 and 31 July, 7, 14 and 21 August)
- Woodley Library on Tuesdays from 11am to 12noon (25 July, 1, 15 and 22 August)
- Lower Earley Library on Thursdays from 3pm to 4pm (3, 10 and 17 August)
Dinosaur Storytimes
Themed Storytime sessions are being held at libraries across the borough. These are free to attend but registration is required. Sessions are being held on:
- Wednesday 2 August, 10am to 11am, Wargrave Library
- Friday 4 August, 10am to 11am, Finchampstead Library
- Monday 7 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Arborfield Library
- Friday 11 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Winnersh Library
- Wednesday 16 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Woodley Library
- Thursday 17 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Wokingham Library
- Tuesday 22 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Twyford Library
- Thursday 24 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Spencers Wood Library
Let's Colour In
Calling all seven to ten-year-olds to a fun art session where they can colour in, cut, collage and paste with artist Chris Holley. The session, which costs £3, is being held at Wokingham Library on Tuesday 8 August from 11am to 12noon and registration is required.
Explore Learning: The Explorers Quest
Designed for children aged five to 11, they will embark on a thrilling quest that will put their skills in maths and English to the test. These sessions are free, but booking is required. They are being held on:
- Thursday 3 August, 1pm to 2pm, Woodley Library
- Tuesday 8 August, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Lower Earley Library
- Thursday 10 August, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Wokingham Library
Get Arty
Arts and crafts sessions suitable for children aged four to ten. Booking is required and cost £2 per child. Sessions are being held on:
- Wednesday 2 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, at Winnersh Library
- Friday 4 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, at Wokingham Library
- Wednesday 23 August, 10.30am to 11.30am, at Woodley Library
- Thursday 24 August, 10am to 11am, Lower Earley Library
- Friday 25 August, 10am to 11am, Finchampstead Library
- Tuesday 29 August, 11am to 12noon, Twyford Library
To find out more and to book for any of these events, visit our library events website.
 Libraries hosting friendly chats to help you connect
Our libraries in Wokingham and Woodley are hosting Friendship Tables to help you meet new people and enjoy a friendly chat.
Friendship Tables are safe community spaces where you will receive a warm welcome and there is always someone to talk to.
All sessions run between 10am and 11am and the next ones are being held at Woodley Library on Wednesday 2 August and at Wokingham Library on Thursday 24 August.
 Help your community by volunteering with us
Arborfield Local Community Library Volunteer
A flexible role that allows you to connect with your local community, Arborfield Library is looking for helpers. You would be required to unpack deliveries, shelve books and tidy.
Volunteers work in teams and are expected to provide friendly customer service at the library, which is open on a Monday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
There will always be more than one volunteer on site to ensure you are supported, but you must be at least 21 to apply. Enquiries can be made by emailing us.
Igniting Writing Volunteer
This creative writing group for children and young people is looking for support. The club runs every Saturday with sessions at 9.45am to 11.30am and 11.45am to 1.15pm.
We are looking for volunteers aged 18 and over who are interested in helping out on the second or third Saturday of each month. You would be required to assist existing club volunteers with session admin, attend author visits and encourage creativity among attendees. All applicants are given the opportunity to observe a session and meet the team before getting started. Enquiries can be made by emailing us.
Spencers Wood Library Rhymetime Volunteer
Rhymetime is held at this library on the first Thursday of the month from 10.30am to 11am and our team at Spencers Wood would like to find someone with enthusiasm to lead the audience in rhyme and song. You do not have to have the voice of an angel and you can observe other sessions until you feel comfortable. Enquiries can be made by emailing us.
Chess Club Volunteer
Do you enjoy playing chess? Lower Earley Library is looking for volunteers to support and run a chess club, which is held on the second Thursday of each month from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. The group is aimed at children aged eight to 16.
Volunteers are not currently required to teach chess, but would be needed to supervise, co-ordinate matches and help engage the local community with this club. Enquiries can be made by emailing us.
Have books and more delivered to your home for free
Are you unable to reach your local library due to ill health, disability or because you are caring for someone? Our Home Library Service can deliver to you free of charge.
We offer a range of reading materials, including large print and audiobooks. These
are delivered by a trained volunteer, who will bring items to match your reading tastes once every three weeks at an agreed time. Enquiries can be made by emailing us.
Award winners and much more available on our blog
Our blog features lots of articles on book awards and recommendations for your reading list:
Selected titles from the posts mentioned above are available to borrow or reserve from our libraries.
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