 Changes to opening hours
Due to colleague workshops, all Wokingham Borough libraries will be closed on Friday 20 November until 1pm.
Wokingham Library will also have changes to its opening hours from Tuesday 17 November to Friday 20 November:
- Tuesday 17 November, 9:30am to 1pm
- Wednesday 18 November, closed
- Thursday 19 November, closed
- Friday 20 November, 1pm to 5pm
This is part of our ongoing effort to improve our service. Books can be renewed online. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
 Festive giving appeals
Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal
Lower Earley and Woodley Libraries are pleased to be supporting the Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal and will be collection points until 5 December. The appeal supports families in Reading who struggle to afford the extra costs of Christmas. You can donate toys and gifts at the library or support financially.
The Giving Tree Appeal
This gift giving scheme, organised by Gill McKernan, has been bringing smiles to young faces for many years, as shoppers and local businesses come together to support the borough’s children.
To take part, visit Wokingham Library and choose a gift tag from the Giving Tree, bearing a Christmas request, buy what is requested, and return the gift to the same tree, unwrapped. There are several other Giving Trees in the borough.
From there, it is collected and distributed to children by participating charities.
Cards for Good Causes
Lower Earley Library is proud to support Cards for Good Causes this festive season. Check out their range of Christmas cards, advent calendars and gifts all sold to support a wide range of charities.
 Celebrating National Tree Week
Join us for National Tree Week events throughout the borough.
Discover the stories behind our oldest trees
Join local Tree Wardens for an illustrated journey through the borough’s veteran trees:
- Learn how Tree Wardens help protect and enhance our treescape
- Explore simple ways to support nature where you live
Join us at Wokingham Library on Thursday 26 November from 6pm to 6.45pm. This is a free event, but booking is required.
Drop into a National Tree Week themed storytime
- Wokingham Library, Tuesday 24 November, 4pm
- Woodley Library, Wednesday 25 November, 10am
Self-guided tour
Earley Environmental Group will be visiting Lower Earley Library to talk about their self-guided tour of the trees on Reading Campus. It includes a question and answer session about trees and gardening.
Join us at Lower Earley Library on Saturday 21 November from 11am to 12 noon. This is a free drop-in event.
Children's Nature Art Competition
Love nature? Get creative outdoors and make a piece of art using natural materials you can find around you. The winner of each age category will win a small tree in a pot donated by Wokingham Borough Tree Wardens. Check out the poster for more information.
Take a photo of your nature artwork and email your photo to: libraryevents@wokingham.gov.uk including your name and age. The closing date is 6 December.
 Volunteer with Wokingham Libraries
Could you help bring the library to people who need it most?
The Mobile Library Service, based at Woodley Library, is looking for friendly volunteers to join the team.
Our mobile library van visits sheltered housing communities and care homes across the borough, providing books, information and a welcoming social connection for many residents who can’t get to the library themselves but love to read.
You don’t need any special skills as all training will be provided and we visit in pairs, so you will always be supported.
To apply, please fill out the online application form. To learn more about our flexible volunteering options, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jo Mason: volunteer@wokingham.gov.uk.
 PressReader Magazine Spotlight
This month’s magazine, available to all library users through PressReader, is The Simple Things.
If you are too busy to read magazines, then this magazine is perfect for you.
The Simple Things produces articles which focus on appreciating, well, the simple things. Filled with recipes, puzzles, and poems in between each article, the writers focus on the beautiful aspects of each month.
The November issue shows appreciation for autumn trees, nature’s fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night, learn important life lessons from Winnie the Pooh, and give tips on how to make your garden more welcoming to wildlife.
Read the newest issue and other previous issues on the PressReader website or on the App. All you need is your library card number and your PIN!
 Photo: Stewart Turkington
Thank you for visiting the Children's Book Festival
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the Wokingham Children’s Book Festival this year. It was lovely to see your involvement and enthusiasm.
In particular, we would like to thank Cressida Cowell, for opening the festival on the the Saturday afternoon. She set the right mood for this fantastic festival full of stories, creativity and imagination.
We hosted 12 authors over two days between Wokingham Library and Wokingham Town Hall. We had just under 1,000 visitors, who listened to poetry, took part in science experiments, autumnal illustrations and so much more.
This event provided attendees with opportunities to meet writers who share various heritages and cultures and whose works represent different genres. We are very grateful to the volunteers who helped make this event possible and thank you for visiting us.
To find out about future events, please visit the library service website.
 One Million Gifts of Reading
The National Year of Reading 2026 is ending the year with a bang by delivering One Million Gifts of Reading. We need your help to make it happen.
There are three simple ways to take part:
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Gift recommendations: turn great books into shared conversations by recommending your favourite reads.
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Gift access: help more people discover the gift of reading for free by talking about your local library. Help spread the word on what a fantastic resource libraries are. You can access free books, ebooks, eaudiobooks, newspapers and magazines. All you need is a library card.
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Give time: inspire others with a lifelong love of reading through becoming a volunteer at your local library. Email our Volunteer Coordinator for more information. Or give time to a reading charity such as ABC to Read.
This National Year of Reading campaign starts on Tuesday 17 November. Go All In with One Million Gifts of Reading.
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