West Berkshire Libraries newsletter
Read the latest issue of our monthly newsletter.
Sign up to receive future issues straight to your inbox
To All West Berkshire Libraries customers
Welcome to our September news!
If your children enjoyed taking part in this year's Summer Reading Challenge, they may like to become a library star!
Younger readers can choose from one of our five character bookmarks when they borrow a book from any West Berkshire library. Collect a 'star' for your bookmark with every book you return to the library and a certificate when you have collected ten stars. Audiobooks count too. It's a great way to encourage reading and the joy of sharing books with family and friends. Please ask in your local library for more details
Summer Reading Challenge
Have your children signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge? Don't forget to come in and complete the challenge and collect the Marvellous Makers medal and certificate.
We've also got different challenges for younger children under 4 and anyone over 12, so the whole family can take part.
If you are unable to visit a library in person before 15 September, you can still take part in the Challenge online. Visit the Summer Reading Challenge website to take part and enjoy lots of free activities, games, videos, competitions and chat about authors and books.
Summer Reading Challenge website
Have you ever thought about joining a reading group or book club?
On 12 September we'll be celebrating National Reading Group Day, run by national charity The Reading Agency. 94% of people feel more connected to other people because of being part of a reading group.
If you want to discover and talk about new books and meet new people, you can find details of our book groups on our library events webpage.
We also have Book Group Sets to borrow for private book groups. For an annual subscription charge you can choose from over 200 titles. Find more details here: Book Group Sets
Did you know we also have an online book chat on Facebook? Our lovely group West Berks Reads is open to all who want to share their recent reads and talk about books.
Read and Learn Bags for School Readiness
You can now collect a free Read and Learn Bag from any West Berkshire Library to support your child starting school and preparing your child for learning!
Each bag contains three books that focus on a different aspect of starting school. Books can be a great starting point to explore school readiness topics with your preschooler and can help prepare your child for starting school. The bags also contain an activity to hone those school readiness skills, a reward chart to encourage positive behaviours, and information on low and no cost activities to support your child's development.
To borrow a bag from one of our libraries, simply ask a member of staff.
Code Club
We're excited to be restarting our popular Library Code Club for 9-11 year olds on 16 September. This 12 week course introduces children to coding with Scratch.
Each week we will email all participants with a fun project to try at home, with full instructions and a step-by-step video guide. If you don't have a computer at home, you can use one in any West Berkshire library. (We recommend that you book a time for this.)
You can also book sessions with members of our Code Club Team at Newbury Library, Thursdays 4-5pm, or Hungerford Library, Fridays 4-5pm. We can help you with individual projects or throughout the whole course. Please sign up by emailing: library@westberks.gov.uk.
What's On: September
- Monday 2 September, 2pm to 4.30pm: Make your own jigsaw at Mortimer Library
- Tuesday 3 September, from 2pm: Summer Storytime at Mortimer Library
- Wednesday 4 September: Seated Exercise group resumes, 1pm to 1.30pm at Hungerford Library
- Saturday 7 September,10.30am to 12 noon: Lego club at Mortimer Library
- Monday 9 September, 2.30pm to 3pm: Monday Afternoon Book Group at Theale Library
- Friday 13 September, 2.30pm to 5pm: Marvellous Makers Grand Finale at Hungerford Library
Check with your local library to see what's on offer near you or visit our Events website. Facebook users can also see what's coming up by following @WBerksLibraries and going to our Events listing.
Events in West Berkshire Libraries
Educafe makes a welcome return to Newbury Library on Wednesday 11 September.
Everyone is welcome at our friendly community café between 11am and 2pm, to meet and make new friends and to learn new things, with refreshments provided.
A wonderful programme of activities is planned for September, so please visit the Educafe weblinks below to find out what's happening:
Parent Village weekly programme of experts
Seated Wellbeing programme this runs weekly in the Carnegie room from 2.15 - 2.45
Coming soon
Join us on Friday 18 October from 1-2pm at Newbury Library as we interview Eve Smith, author of three speculative, dystopian thrillers. Tickets £5.
Eve will discuss the ideas behind her dystopian novels and the research that inspired them. This will be followed by an audience Q & A and the opportunity to buy signed copies of her books.
Bookings are open now for an exciting half-term activity for children 7-11 years: achieve your'Discover' Arts Award in a morning in three fun-filled sessions at central Newbury venues on Tuesday 29 October. Participants will start with a drama session at the Corn Exchange, then move to Newbury Library for a story-based session and on to the West Berkshire Museum for a craft activity. For more details and to book, please contact the Corn Exchange, Newbury.
More details about other half-term events for children coming soon!
Our next newsletter will be out in early October. But 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, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Share this page
