West Berkshire Libraries newsletter

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To All West Berkshire Libraries customers

Welcome to our August news!

Our annual Summer Reading Challenge for children 4-11 years starts now!

Once again, our annual Summer Reading Challenge for 4-11-year-olds is off to a fantastic start. By the end of July over 2,000 children in West Berkshire had already signed up to take part - and there is still plenty of time to join the fun!

Children are challenged to borrow and read up to six library books before 15 September. They can collect free incentives for their achievements as they read, with medals and certificates for everyone who completes the Challenge.

We also have a Mini Challenge for under 4s, encouraging them to visit the library several times over the summer break. Please ask in your local library for details about both of these Challenges.

Visit the Summer Reading Challenge website to enjoy lots of free activities, games, videos, competitions and chat about authors and books; and if you are unable to visit a library in person this year, you can still take part in the Challenge online.

Summer Reading Challenge website

Adults don't need to miss out on the fun - we also have a book challenge for everyone over the age of 12 to enjoy!

Pick up a challenge card from any West Berkshire library to get started, then complete the challenge by reading three books from our suggestions, to form a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line on your challenge card.

Return your completed card by 15 September to enter a prize draw to win a book token. We will have prizes in every library!

Planet Library is our app for children, allowing them to search the library catalogue, reserve books and renew their loans safely. The app also includes lots of games and allows users to collect digital rewards. There are virtual Planet Library characters hidden in library buildings too, which the app will help you to find.

Download Planet Library from your usual app store, log in as a West Berkshire Libraries member and start using it today.

Activities for children in August

There is so much happening in our libraries this month! Most of these activities are free. Contact your local library for full details about any of the activities listed here. Please note that adults need to stay with children under 8.

Burghfield Common Library

Ring 0118 9833632 or email burghfieldlibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Lego - Friday 8, 15, 22 and 29 August 4-5pm
Craft of the Week: Cloud Spotter - Begins Monday 4 August
Duplo Play - Monday 4, 11 and 18 August 2-3pm
Rhymetime - Thursday 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 10.30-11am
Stay & Play - Thursday 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 11am-12noon
Craft Club - Saturday 9 August 10.30am-12noon
Craft of the Week: Tetra Pak Bughouses - Begins Monday 11 August
Craft of the Week: Butterfly Suncatcher - Begins Monday 18 August
Craft of the Week: Collage - Begins Tuesday 26 August

Hungerford Library

Ring 01488 682660 or email hungerfordlibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Craft Fun! - Tuesdays 10.30am - 12pm, get creative with exciting crafts. Suggested donation £1.
Rhymetime! - Wednesdays 10am and 11am, sing along to your favourite tunes.(older siblings welcome!)
Storytime with colouring! - Fridays 2.30 - 5pm, listen to captivating stories and unleash your inner artist

Drop in to meet Ruby, a Pets As Therapy dog. She would love to listen to you read to her, or you can just say hello!

Lambourn Library

Ring 01488 71350 or email lambournlibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Visit the library to pick up your Trail Pack and start your adventure. Search for the missing characters around Lambourn, complete your pack, and return it to the library to claim a small reward!

Also....

Drop in for easy, self-guided craft activities inspired by The Story Garden! No set times—just come along when you can. A special craft table will be set up with colouring sheets, sticking materials, and more, all linked to our magical garden theme. Perfect for kids and families—let your imagination bloom! No booking needed—just drop by and get creative!

Mortimer Library

Ring 0118 933 2882 or email mortimerlibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Walter the Wobbly Man craft - Friday 8 August 2-5pm
Charlie the chain Snake craft - Saturday 9 August 10.30am-12noon
SRC Colouring - Monday 11 August 2-4.30pm
Duplo & playmat session - Tuesday 12 August 2-4.30pm
SRC Hide & Seek - Friday 15 August 2-5pm
Lisa the Ladybird craft - Saturday 16 August 10.30am-12noon
Fish puppets craft - Monday 18 August 2-4.30pm
Duplo & playmat session - Tuesday 19 August 2-4.30pm
SRC Puzzles - Friday 22 August 2-5pm
Lego Club - Saturday 23 August 10.30am-12noon
Simon the Snail craft - Tuesday 26 August 2-4.30pm
Tree in a cup craft - Friday 29 August 2-5pm
Saturday Chess Meet - Saturday 30 August 10.30am-12noon

Newbury Library

Ring 01635 519900 or email library@westberks.gov.uk

Rhymetime - Every Tuesday, 11-11.20am
Summer Lego Sessions - Every Friday in August, 10am to 12pm. Drop in to the Carnegie Lounge for FREE Lego sessions.
Story Garden Crafts - Wednesday 13 August, 10am to 12pm. For children aged 3 and over. Drop-in session, suggested donation £1
Storytime and Colouring - Wednesday 20 August, 10-10.45am. For children of all ages. Drop-in session, suggested donation £1.
Story Garden Craft - Wednesday 27 August, 10am to 12pm. For children aged 3 and over. Drop-in session, suggested donation £1.

Pangbourne Library

Ring 0118 984 4117 or email pangbournelibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Board game club - Saturday 9 August 11am-1pm
Summer Reading Challenge Paper crafts - Tuesday 12 August 2-4pm
Storytime with Debi Evans - Friday 8 August 12pm, £3 per child
Storytime with Layn Marlow - Saturday 16 August 11am, £3 per child
Summer Reading Challenge Paper crafts - Friday 22 August 11.30am-2pm
Summer Reading Challenge Paper crafts - Tuesday 26 August 2-4pm

Thatcham Library

Ring 01635 866049 or email thatchamlibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Games in the garden (weather permitting) - Every Tuesday in August, 2-4pm. Come and join us to play an assortment of garden games
Children's Craft Fun, Fridays in August (£1 per session), 11am-12pm:
- 1 August: Design your own rock monster
- 8 August: Decorate a soft ball
- 15 August: Decorate a friendly gnome wooden stake
- 22 August: Make a bug glider
Lego Sessions, Thursday 7, 14 and 21 August, 2-4pm
August Kidsfest, Thursday 28 August - Join us for a dinosaur themed day with crafts, colouring and a dinosaur hunt! Free event, but donations welcome

Theale Library

Ring 0118 930 3207 or email thealelibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Rock painting, Thursday 7 August 2pm-4pm
Lego Club, Wednesday 13 August 1-4pm - Make a cool treehouse. Suggested donation £1.
Junk modelling, Thursday 14 August 2pm - 4pm - Build an amazing scarecrow. Suggested donation £1.
Quick Craft - Paper plate goose, Wednesday 20 August 1pm
Decorate garden pot and plant a seed, Thursday 21 August 2.15 - 4.15pm. £3 per person.
Paint a bird house - Thursday 28 August 2:15 - 4.15pm. £3 per person.
Teddy Bears Picnic, Friday 29 August 1.30pm - 3pm - Bring along your teddy bear. Story and music followed by biscuit decorating - refreshments provided. £2 per person.

Find details of all events in West Berkshire libraries here

Pop-up libraries in August

Leckhampstead Village Hall: 6 August and every first Wednesday of each month, 10am to 12pm
Compton Village Hall: 14 August and every second Thursday of each month, 10.15am to 11.45am
Upper Basildon, St Stephens Church: 11 August and every second Monday of each month, 10am to 12pm

Adults and children are invited to come along to find a selection of books to borrow. New library members are especially welcome.

Activities for adults

Enjoy an evening of Italian conversation with fun games and activities, perfect for anyone who is beginning to learn Italian as well as more advanced linguists. Drinks and snacks provided. Booking essential as places are limited. Please contact the library for more information and to book.

Try something new, share your talents, or enjoy a friendly chat over tea - drop in to our Ageing Creatively Community Café for over 50s, run by Theale Library in association with the Corn Exchange, Newbury. The cafe continues to run on Mondays, 1.30 to 2.30pm, throughout the summer. This month's activities include:

Monday 11 August: craft session using air dry clay. We will be pressing flowers and other shapes with it.
Monday 18 August: art session with Kylie Wright from the Corn Exchange. Suitable for both experienced artists and anyone trying this for the first time.
Monday 25 August: library closed for Bank Holiday. The café will be open again on Monday 1 September.

Are you looking after grandchildren during the summer? Bring them along and join our family-friendly seated exercise session, led by Get Berkshire Active. This is a drop-in event, no advance booking required.

Is your child starting school this September?

We have free Storytimes designed especially for children starting Reception this autumn. Come and explore stories and activities that support early learning and boost confidence. All of these sessions last about 30 minutes; no need to book.

Thatcham Library- Tuesday 19 August at 12 noon

Hungerford Library- Tuesday 19 August at 3pm

Newbury Library- Thursday 21 August at 11am

Theale Library- Wednesday 27 August at 1pm

Burghfield Common Library- Wednesday 27 August at 2.30pm

Pangbourne Library- Friday 29 August at 2.30pm

Book now for September

Join us at Newbury Library on 4 September as we talk to bestselling author Jasper Fforde about his books and prolific writing career. Tickets £5. For more details and to book online: https://tinyurl.com/wberkslibraries11

Please note that all tickets have been sold for our August Author Chat with Ben Aaronovitch.

Volunteer with us!

We are so grateful to all the volunteers who help us in libraries, whether it be assisting people borrowing books, shelving items which are returned so that others can find them, helping to run activities such as rhymetimes or craft sessions, or encouraging youngsters who are taking part in our Summer Reading Challenge. Thank you! We couldn't do this without you.

We are currently looking for more volunteers to assist with our Ageing Creatively Community Café at Theale Library on Mondays, and our At Home Library Service on Wednesdays every three weeks. To find out more about these and other opportunities to volunteer with West Berkshire Libraries, please email Rosie at Cultureandlibrariesvolunteers@westberks.gov.uk

More to borrow . . .

Don't forget that in addition to books we have plenty of other items available for you to borrow, such as BBC Micro:bits offering fun with coding, Wellbeing Bags with a mix of books, activities and ideas to help you maintain your health and wellbeing, Reminiscence Collection boxes with nearly 40 themes to choose from, and a range of jigsaws. Members of West Berkshire Libraries can borrow all of these for free.

If you are going away this summer, why not take the library with you? We have a wide range of e-books, e-magazines, e-audiobooks and e-newspapers for you to read or listen to for free from your smartphone or tablet and you can now find them all in one place, on BorrowBox. In addition to 15 printed books or audiobooks, you can borrow up to seven e-books or e-audiobooks at a time.

Download the BorrowBox app to access our e-library, then search for West Berkshire Libraries and login with your library membership number (on your library card) and PIN. You will find thousands of titles to read or listen to online or download to read offline when you are on the go.

There are no late return fees for our e-library titles and we are always adding new stock to our collection, so keep checking to see what's new!

Please note that all West Berkshire libraries will be closed on the Bank Holiday, Monday 25 August, as usual.

Our next newsletter will be out in early September. Meanwhile don't forget that you can keep up with the daily news about everything that's happening in our libraries by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook and Instagram.