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To All West Berkshire Libraries customers
Welcome to our April news!
Extended opening hours at Pangbourne Library
From 1 April, Pangbourne Library will stay open on Saturdays until 2pm, with thanks to the generous support of Pangbourne Parish Council which has provided funding for these additional hours.
Whether it's borrowing a book or enjoying our peaceful reading space, these extended hours mean more opportunities for the whole community. Families can explore our children's section and even participate in weekend activities. Visit us during our new hours and make full use of the library's facilities!
Goodbye to our Mobile Library
There has been a mobile library service in this district for at least the past 40 years and at the height of its popularity there were three library vehicles operating in West Berkshire. Over the years our staff have been there for residents in rural areas, offering books, advice and friendly words to their customers who waited regularly for the Mobile Library to arrive throughout all seasons.
Due to diminishing numbers of customers using this service in recent years and the fact that our one remaining vehicle had reached the end of its working life, we said goodbye to our Mobile Library at the end of March 2025. Without doubt, fond memories of the service will remain for many years to come.
Looking Forward
Although our Mobile Library will be missed, West Berkshire Libraries will continue to work hard to bring books to those who can't get to their local library and serve customers in rural and isolated areas.
At Home Library Service
For instance, for residents who find it difficult to visit their local library because of age, disability, lack of access to transport or caring responsibilities, we will bring the library service to them. We match each person with a DBS-checked library volunteer, who will find out about their reading tastes and then choose and deliver books to them at their home every three weeks at a pre-arranged time. Favourite authors or particular titles can be requested. Please ring 01635 519827 or email library@westberks.gov.uk to find out more.
Watch our At Home Library Service in action.
Pop-up Libraries and Community Bookshelves
We are also working with town and parish councils to set up regular pop-up libraries and community bookshelves at locations of their choice, according to local need; and we are delighted when we can link in with existing events such as village hall coffee mornings and community cafes. Pre-ordered book reservations can be dropped off to residents at these locations at a time to suit your local community.
Pop-up Libraries in April
- Compton Village Hall: Thursday 10 April, 10am to 12pm
- Upper Basildon, St Stephens Church: Monday 14 April, 10am to 12pm
Come along to find a selection of books for you to borrow. New library members are especially welcome.
A new Pop-up Library will run at Leckhampstead Village Hall on the first Wednesday in each month, starting 7 May.
- Saturday 5 April, 11 to 11.45am - Easter storytime and crafts at Newbury Library
- From 5 to 22 April - Easter egg picture hunt at Newbury Library throughout opening hours
- From 7 to 19 April - Picture hunt at Theale Library throughout opening hours, with Easter prizes for everyone who completes the hunt
- From 7 to 22 April - Easter treasure hunt at Pangbourne Library throughout opening hours, with prizes for every successful find
- Tuesday 8 April, 10-11am - Storytelling, singing and crafts at Hungerford Library
- Tuesday 8 and Tuesday 15 April, 2-3pm - Easter craft activities at Pangbourne Library
- Tuesdays 8, 15 and 22 April, 2-4pm - Easter LEGO fun at Thatcham Library
- From 9 to 16 April - Easter craft activities at Theale Library throughout opening hours
- Friday 11 April, 10.30am-11.30am - Spring craft activities at Lambourn Library
- Friday 11 April, 10.30am to 12pm - Treasure hunt workshop for children 7-11 years, run by Explore Learning at Newbury Library. Places must be booked in advance.
- Friday 11 April, 11am to 12pm, and Thursday 17 April, 2.30 to 3.30pm - Easter crafts at Thatcham Library
- Friday 11 April, 11am to 12pm - Easter crafts at Pangbourne Library
- Wednesday 16 April, 2 to 3pm - The Very Hungry Caterpillar storytime and crafts at Newbury Library
Children aged 4 to 11 years are invited to enter the art competition now running at Theale Library, closing date Saturday 31 May. Entrants need to create a picture of their favourite book character. This can be in any style, such as drawing, painting or a collage, either colourful or black and white. Prizes will be awarded in two categories, 4 to 7 years and 8 to 11 years.
For more information and to submit your entry, please contact Theale Library.
World Book Night takes place every year on 23 April and celebrates books and reading for adults, offering you a chance to share books with your family, friends and community. This year's event includes a special 'reading hour' from 7 to 8pm, and you are invited to join in. You can read a printed book, e-book or listen to an audiobook, either alone, with a group, or perhaps with children at bedtime. It doesn't matter what, how or where you read, as long as you enjoy it!
Why should you read? National charity The Reading Agency reports that regular readers for pleasure claim fewer feelings of stress and depression than non-readers, and stronger feelings of relaxation from reading than from watching television or engaging with technology-intensive activities. Adults who read for just 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to report greater life satisfaction.
Even if you can't spare a full hour, try to read on 23 April if you can and join many other people across the UK in this fantastic celebration of books!
In connection with World Book Night, Newbury Library will have a limited number of free books for adults to give away on 23 and 30 April. Collect your copy from the library while stocks last.
News for book group members
The Reading Agency has created a new online space for UK book groups called The Book Club Hub. If you are a book group member, sign up for the Hub newsletter to learn about exclusive Book Club Hub offers, including free books in exchange for reviews and free resources such as discussion guides, author news, reviews and recommendations.
The Hub is open to all members of UK book groups and clubs, from adult fiction lovers to children's and young people's reading groups.
SELMS reservation charges
If the book you want isn't stocked by West Berkshire Libraries, you may be able to find it by widening your catalogue search to the whole of SELMS. SELMS is a consortium of library services in the south east of England, offering you over 6 million titles to choose from. If you find a book there, you can usually reserve it and have it delivered to you at any library in West Berkshire. From 1 April, the non-refundable charge for this service will be £4.
Pianos in libraries
Look out for pianos, now in Newbury, Theale and Hungerford libraries! These have been supplied by Berkshire Music Trust as part of their Musical Communities work to give individuals an opportunity to practise and explore music, particularly those who may not have access to a piano of their own. Additionally, the Trust is providing a selection of sheet music for visitors to use.
All welcome to come along and play, on a first-come, first-served basis. The digital pianos must be used with headphones so that other visitors are not disturbed.
West Berkshire's e-Library
We are pleased to tell you that from 9 April you will be able to access e-books and e-audiobooks all in one place, from a single supplier, BorrowBox.
Please be aware that existing loans and reservations on Libby will not be available after Tuesday 8 April. PressReader access will continue until 31 July, after which date e-magazines and e-newspapers will also be available on BorrowBox.
We are confident that our future service will make it easier for library members to find and read the titles you want, and apologise for any immediate inconvenience while we make this change.
Study spaces in libraries
We have study spaces in all West Berkshire libraries where you can enjoy free WiFi, use library computers or bring your own laptop or other device. (We have charging points too.) Study spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, no need to book, but please be aware that places may be limited and there may be background noise at times when a library is hosting an activity. For example, this is usually the case on Wednesday mornings at Newbury Library, when Educafe takes place. Please check with your local library to see when activities are held.
For students who would prefer to study at home, don't forget that many of our e-resources are available to library members remotely, 24/7. This includes resources which are great for revision and homework help, such as Brillder and Britannica Student Edition.
Find a guide to using Britannica for 11 to 16 year olds on the West Berkshire Libraries YouTube channel.
West Berkshire Libraries e-resources.
The Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG), comprising all six Berkshire local authorities, are carrying out a survey of residents to better understand how people use and access the Internet, what online services are used most often and what, if any, are the barriers preventing some people accessing digital services.
The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and your responses will help DIG to understand how digital technology is being used and identify ways to improve digital inclusion in Berkshire. The survey is open until midnight on Wednesday, 16 April.
Please note that all West Berkshire libraries are closed on Bank Holidays, including Good Friday. Libraries will be open as usual on Saturday 19 April.
Meanwhile our e-library lending service and access to online resources for all library members continues to be available 24/7.
Library locations, contact details and opening times.
Our next newsletter will be out in early May. 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).
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