 Libraries show pride for White Ribbon accreditation
We were recently awarded White Ribbon accreditation, which demonstrates our commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
Libraries across the borough are a gateway to accessing information if you are looking for advice, with lots of books covering this particular topic. Our staff are always happy to help where they can and will signpost or refer you to the best possible service.
The library service is free and you can use it even, if you don't have a library card, or live in the borough.
White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. You can find out more by reading our blog article on White Ribbon Day, which contains recommended reading and useful links.
 Our library opening times during the festive period
Wokingham, Lower Earley and Twyford libraries will be closed on bank holidays during the festive period.
Woodley Library will also be closed on bank holidays, as well as Sunday 24 and Sunday 31 December.
All other libraries will be closed from Sunday 24 December to Monday 1 January, except for Finchampstead Library, which will be closed from Saturday 23 December to Monday 1 January.
During the rest of the festive period, libraries will be open during normal branch hours.
Ebooks, newspapers, magazines and music streaming will be available via the council’s website. Further details on opening times and other library services can be found on the council’s website.
 Dance and craft activities for children at our libraries
Ready, Set, Dance at Christmas
Enjoy a variety of festive dances, with sessions suitable for children aged four to nine. It costs £1 to take part and places must be reserved. These are being held at:
- Wokingham Library, Saturday 16 December, 2pm to 3pm
- Lower Earley Library, Monday 18 December, 10am to 11am
- Woodley Library, Friday 22 December, 10am to 11am
Get Arty
Join us for festive crafts at Wargrave Library on Friday 15 December. The event is open to children aged four to ten and runs from 3.45pm to 4.45pm. It costs £2 to take part and places must be reserved.
To find out more and book places, visit our library events website.
 Bidding a fond farewell to the dedicated Philippa
One of the more familiar faces in our libraries, Philippa Tegg, decided to retire recently after 30 years of service.
Her colleagues at Lower Earley Library held a birthday party for her in the summer when she turned 70. She will be known to many people, as she has worked in all libraries across the borough in her life.
She has lived in Earley since 1982 and started working for Berkshire County Council in 1992, six years before Wokingham Borough Council was formed.
Philippa said she will miss the conversations with residents and colleagues and that the value of the local library for our health and wellbeing should never be underestimated.
From everyone at the council, we would like to wish Philippa all the best in her retirement and thank her for serving the community with a smile for all those years.
 Author talk, fascinating art and more for adults
Art history talks
Dalila Castelijn returns to Wokingham Library with four new talks relating to exhibitions that will be held in London next year. Talks will be held weekly on a Wednesday:
- The Art of Vincent Van Gogh - 10 January
- 14th Century Siena: Masterpieces of Art and Architecture - 17 January
- Expressionism - 24 January
- The Art of Angelica Kauffman - 31 January
All sessions run 1.30pm to 3.30pm and places must be booked.
Meet the author
Come and meet author Alice Fowler and hear about her life as a writer and how she found the inspiration for her prize-winning short story collection. She will be giving a talk at Wokingham Library on Tuesday 30 January from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Her book will be available to purchase at the event. It is free to attend but places must be booked.
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz
Historian Lucy Adlington from The History Wardrobe is giving a virtual talk to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
At the height of the Holocaust, 25 young Jewish inmates of Auschwitz-Birkenau were selected to create beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon established by the camp commandant’s wife.
Lucy Adlington has researched their lives and fates to write a powerful chronicle 'The Dressmakers of Auschwitz' now a New York Times bestseller.
This virtual presentation starts at 7pm on Thursday 25 January. Register for the event via our library events website and you will be sent a link to Microsoft Teams prior to the event.
Shared Reading
Sit back, relax and enjoy hearing great stories and poems read aloud.
Shared Reading is coming to Wokingham Library every Tuesday from 12.15pm to 1.45pm, starting on 9 January.
There is no pressure at all to read aloud yourself, or to share your thoughts, but you are welcome do both or just ponder privately.
Whichever it is, you will certainly receive a warm welcome at this Shared Reading group, so why not come along and try it out.
If you would like any more information, send us an email.
Festive Cosy Coffee Morning
Join us at Lower Earley Library on Friday 22 December from 10am to 11.30am. Drop in for tea, coffee, mince pies and gingerbread biscuits.
To find out more and book places for the above events, visit our library events website.
 Competition for children to design a climate poster
We are inviting young people in the borough to design a footprint poster to inspire the community and highlight ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint to help tackle climate change. The winner for each age category will win a £20 book voucher.
The age categories include:
- Four to seven
- Eight to 11
- 12 and above
You can be as creative as you like. For example, you could draw around the biggest foot in your household and design a poster to show the different ways we can all play our part.
To take part, you will need to design your poster on an A4 piece of paper and drop it off at your local library by Friday 22 December, providing your name, age and parent’s email address.
 Remember to get involved with Winter Mini Challenge
The Winter Mini Challenge is underway, giving young readers the chance to earn prizes for reading at least three books.
Organised by The Reading Agency, the challenge runs until Monday 19 February and is a bitesize version of the Summer Reading Challenge.
There is a sporty theme of 'Ready, Set, Read!’ theme, as The Reading Agency has continued to partner with the Youth Sport Trust to keep minds and bodies active.
It is free, entirely online and children can unlock rewards as they progress, with lots of fun activities available on the dedicated children’s website.
Once your child has finished a book, get them to add it to their online profile. Reaching their reading goal will allow them unlock a limited-edition virtual badge and a special Winter Mini Challenge certificate to print off and keep.
Children can access games, book reviews, activities and content from top children’s authors and illustrators. For parents, there is also a Home Zone and Library Zone, which has more information and top tips.
 Help your community by volunteering at our libraries
Digital skills volunteers
Woodley and Lower Earley libraries are looking for digital skills volunteers to support residents with basic digital queries. Volunteers will be trained by our digital skills team to assist with:
- Using a computer, tablet or mobile phone
- How to find and use information on the internet
- How to access and use email
- How to communicate socially and professionally using email, messaging and social media
Volunteers need to be able to give two hours a month at their chosen library. We can schedule sessions to suit your availability. You must be 21 and over to apply for this role.
Local community library volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to help at our libraries in Arborfield and Spencers Wood. You would be required to open and close the library, undertake daily checks, shelve books and tidy. Volunteers, providing a friendly and helpful service to visitors, work in teams and are able to commit to hours that suit them. Applicants must be aged 21 and over to apply for this role.
If you are interested in any of the above opportunities, send us an email.
 Get copies of the latest titles for your book group
Do you belong to a private book group? Do you find it difficult to get hold of copies of the books you want to read?
If you sign up for our book groups loan service, you will be able to borrow books for your group throughout the year for a small subscription fee.
You can borrow up to 15 copies of each title and the collections will be issued to your group for six weeks.
We have comprehensive collections, including some of the latest popular fiction titles, classics and some non-fiction. For more information email us or call (0118) 9781368.
Book awards and news from the world of books
Check out our Wokingham Borough Libraries blog to read our articles on the latest from the world of books. This includes recommended reading and features on award nominations and winners:
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