 Get involved with Summer Reading Challenge
There is still time to join the Summer Reading Challenge and we will be holding events at our libraries across the borough to tie in with the Marvellous Makers theme.
Children taking part in the challenge can discover new stories, join in with free activities and explore their creativity. They have until Saturday 14 September to complete the challenge, which involves setting a goal and reading during the summer holidays.
Summer Reading Challenge activity sessions
Get involved at your local library and join our young volunteers for a morning of fun. Sessions will include activities, such as crafts, board games and LEGO. These are suitable for children aged four to ten and cost £1 per child. These are drop-in sessions and so there is no need to book.
These are being held at:
- Lower Earley Library, 11am to 1pm, Monday 29 July, 5 and 12 August
- Wokingham Library, 10am to 12noon, Monday 29 July, 5 and 12 August
- Woodley Library, 10am to 12noon, Wednesday 31 July, 7 and 14 August
Little Explorers Book Club
This is a great way for young children to discover their local library and is open to members aged seven and under.
To take part in the Little Explorers Book Challenge this summer, each child needs to have their own library card. They can collect a stamp each time they borrow books and will receive a certificate after collecting six stamps, with ten certificates to collect in total. Visit your local library to find out more.
 (Left) an example of a cyanotype print, (top right) author Eloise de Sousa, (bottom right) Dungeons and Dragons
Explore your creative side at our summer events
Campfire tales with Eloise de Sousa
Eloise is giving a talk at Wokingham Library on Tuesday 6 August where you can meet some of the characters from her books. She is joining us from 10am to 11am. This is a free event and no booking is required.
The P4C Club
The club will meet at Winnersh Library on Wednesday 31 July and Tuesday 6 August and you can take part in philosophical games, exercises and enquiries. The sessions will run from 3.40pm to 4.30pm and are suitable for children aged seven to 11. It is free to attend but booking is required.
Cyanotype workshops
In these hands-on workshops, children and parents will have fun printing their own cyanotypes, exploring different materials, plants and shapes to create unique designs.
These are being held:
- Lower Earley Library, Friday 16 August, 10am to 11am (children aged four to seven) and 11.30am to 12.30pm (children aged eight to ten)
- Woodley Library, Friday 2 August, 11.30am to 12.30pm (children aged eight to ten)
It costs £3 per child and booking is required.
Chris Holley
Join local artist Chris Holley as you cut, colour and collage this summer. Sessions are at Wokingham Library on Thursday 1 and 15 August, from 2pm to 3pm. These cost £3 per child and booking is required.
Smoothie bike
The team from My Journey Wokingham will be outside the Carnival Hub in Wokingham with their smoothie bike Pedalicious on Thursday 8 August from 12noon to 2pm.
Dungeons and Dragons
Learn to be a games master at Wokingham Library on Saturday 10 August. This session is aimed at teenagers who want to learn how to run a Dungeons and Dragons table. The workshop is suitable for those aged 14 to 18 and runs from 12.30pm to 3.45pm. It is free to attend, but booking is required.
To find out more and book for any of the above sessions, visit our library events website.
 Sing along and have fun at free musical sessions
Members of Berkshire Music Trust are coming to Lower Earley Library for two entertaining sessions on Thursday 15 August.
The morning event will be aimed at adults and runs from 10.30am to 11.15am, featuring a mixture of old favourites and songs you can sing along to.
There will then be an afternoon event from 3pm to 3.45pm, which is suitable for children aged four to nine.
These events are free to attend and registration is not required for the morning event, but is needed for the afternoon. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
These sessions are made possible through funding and support from Berkshire Music Trust, The Earley Charitable Trust and Casio.
 Local author unveils debut novel at book launch
Join Stephen Ross at Wokingham Library on Thursday 1 August as he talks about his debut novel, The Candlemaker's Affair.
The book follows a well respected married member of the community who has an affair. Set in Bracknell and Basingstoke, it tells the disastrous tale of a man led by passion to follow a dangerous path of destruction.
A local author, Stephen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year and hopes to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The book launch runs from 4pm to 6.45pm and it is free to attend.
 Teen creative writing group's summer workshops
Igniting Writing is a creative writing group, with two creative writing sessions held on Saturdays during term-time.
This summer, the group is running creative writing workshops for children aged 11 to 18, which will be full of fun activities and a great chance for young writers to come together and share ideas.
Both of these workshops are taking place at Wokingham Library, from 10.30am to 3pm, with booking essential.
Legends Unleashed - Saturday 27 July
Create mythical heroes, write your own adventure stories and explore how they fit into the modern world through urban legends and superheroes. Book your place online.
Utopian Worlds - Saturday 3 August
Join us to create your own utopian world, write a story set within it and consider the balances and compromises that come with chasing perfection. Book your place online.
The workshops costs £5 to attend, which is to be paid on the day. Attendees will need to bring a packed lunch, as there will be a lunch break for both workshops.
 Have your queries answered at digital skills sessions
Are you looking to boost your digital know-how? Our digital skills sessions are the perfect opportunity for you to get comfortable with technology. With the guidance of our friendly volunteers, you will gain the confidence and skills you need to tackle the digital world.
What we offer:
- Personalised help with phones, tablets, laptops and more
- Guidance on printing, scanning and using library services
- A supportive environment where no question is too small
Your digital adventure awaits at:
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Woodley Library: Every first Monday and Thursday of the month, from 10am to 11.30am.
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Lower Earley Library: Every second Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month, from 10am to 11.30am.
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Twyford Library: Every first Friday of the month, from 10am to 11.30am.
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Finchampstead Library: Every second Friday of the month, from 10am to 11.30am.
Extra support on hand:
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AbilityNet - Pop in to Lower Earley on the fourth Friday of each month, from 10am to 11.30am, for expert help from a charity with more than 20 years of experience
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NHS App Insights - Visit Wokingham Library on the fourth Monday of the month, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, to learn about the NHS app's features, including managing prescriptions and booking appointments
 Register interest for new code club coming soon
We are looking for young people aged nine to 13 who are interested in joining a code club at Wokingham and Lower Earley Library.
Sessions will be free to attend and we will provide more information nearer the time about how to get involved.
You will be able to learn more about scratch, which introduces children to coding language with a simple visual interface, allowing them to create digital stories, games and animations.
Send us an email if you would like to register your interest for the coding club.
 Help your community by volunteering at our libraries
Igniting Writing: Creative writing volunteer
This club runs two creative writing sessions on Saturdays during term-time, for children aged 11 to 18.
Volunteers can choose which session they would like to support and whether they would like to volunteer weekly or fortnightly. Volunteers involved in this writing group are required to assist with session admin as directed by the session lead. They are also able to make suggestions for session ideas and explore creative writing activities with the club lead and children.
We are looking for applicants aged 18 and over for this role. Send us an email to find out more.
Community volunteer (Spencers Wood and Arborfield)
We are looking to recruit volunteers to help run these two libraries. Volunteers would be required to open and close the site, undertake daily checks, shelve and tidy books.
You will work in teams and are expected to provide friendly customer service. Please note all applicants must be aged 21 and over to apply. Send us an email to find out more.
Rhymetime volunteer
Our team at Spencers Wood Library is looking for people to help with our popular Rhymetime sessions. Volunteers would be required to lead the session in rhyme and song. You do not need to have the voice of an angel, just some enthusiasm.
You would be given the chance to observe a session before getting started. Please note all applicants must be aged 18 and over to apply. Send us an email to find out more.
News from the world of books and award winners
Check out our Wokingham Borough Libraries blog to read articles on the latest from the world of books. This includes recommended reading and features on award nominations and winners:
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