West Berkshire Libraries newsletter

Read the latest issue of our monthly newsletter.

To All West Berkshire Libraries customers

Welcome to our December news!

There's such a lot happening in December at our libraries!

Many of our regular activities, such as rhymetimes and craft clubs, have a Christmas theme this month.

In addition, we have some extra, seasonal events for you:

Friday 5 December, 4-5pm at Thatcham Library - get ready for the town's Christmas lights switch on by joining us to make festive decorations to take home. All materials provided free but donations welcome.
Friday 5 December, 5.30-6.30pm: An Italian Christmas at Hungerford Library - traditional, fun session for anyone learning Italian. Tickets £5, refreshments included. Advance booking essential.
Tuesdays 9 and 16 December, 4-5pm at Pangbourne Library - Christmas crafts for children under 10. All materials provided. This drop-in event is free.

Friday 12 December, 10am-6.45pm: Victorian photobooth at Hungerford Library - take a photo using our props and backdrop to get in the spirit of Hungerford's Victoria Extravaganza. This drop-in event is free.
Friday 19 December, 11am-1pm: a special Christmas LEGO Club session for children at Pangbourne Library. This drop-in event is free.
Saturday 20 December, 10am-12pm at Thatcham Library - enjoy a festive morning with activities for all. Carols from the Thatcham U3A Choir Songsters and refreshments provided free.
Saturday 20 December, 10.30am-12pm, and Monday 22 December and Tuesday 23 December, both at 2-4.30pm at Mortimer Library - additional craft activities for children. Drop in to have fun.
Saturday 23 December, 10.15am-12.15pm, needle felting workshop at Hungerford Library - an opportunity for beginners and more experienced crafters. Tickets £7, all materials provided. Advance booking essential.

Festive Treasure Hunts

Join the fun this December with our free festive hunts for children:

Pangbourne Library - Christmas Treasure Hunt
Running until 23 December. Hunt for hidden festive pictures among the bookshelves - every participant wins a prize!
Hungerford Library - Festive Treasure Hunt
From 5-24 December. Discover festive traditions from around the world and pick up details of the town's Gingerbread Folk Trail for a chance to enter a prize draw.
Theale Library - Christmas Elf Picture Hunt
Starting 8 December. Find 12 cheeky elves hiding in the library and claim your prize!

All activities are free and available during library opening times. Perfect for family fun this festive season!

Please note that Educafe at Newbury Library is now taking a seasonal break and will return on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

Find a full list of events and activities in libraries this month on our website at www.westberks.gov.uk/library-events. Facebook users can also see what's coming up by following @WBerksLibraries and going to our Events listing.

Events in West Berkshire

Why not make your Christmas shopping count for more this year? Cards For Good Causes are available at Thatcham Library, offering you the chance to support both charities and your local community with every purchase you make. Come and browse a wonderful selection of Christmas cards supporting a wide range of UK charities.

Meet children's author Debi Evans

Children aged 6 and over are invited to meet Debi Evans at Theale Library on Saturday 13 December, 10.30-11.30am. Debi is the author of the book series The Secret Adventures of Rolo, about a time-travelling Jack Russell terrier who has some amazing adventures.

This session includes a craft activity, with materials and refreshments provided free but there is a suggested donation of £1. Advance booking is required. For more information and to book,please contact the library.

Sing Along with Berkshire Music Trust!

Enjoy a mixture of old favourites and songs you'll want to sing along to with Berkshire Music Trust. No experience necessary - just join in or sit and watch on the following dates:

Newbury Library - sessions for adults on Monday 8 December, 10.45-11.45am
Newbury Library - sessions for children on Monday 8 December, 9.45-10.30am
Hungerford Library on Tuesday 9 December, 4-5pm
Theale Library on Wednesday 10 December, 2-3pm

Pop-up Libraries in December

Leckhampstead Village Hall: First Wednesday of each month, 10am to 12pm.
Upper Basildon, St Stephens Church: 8 December and every second Monday of each month, 10am to 12pm. West Berkshire Council is working with Upper Basildon Parish Council to provide this service.
Compton Village Hall: 11 December and every second Thursday of each month, 10.15am to 11.45am. West Berkshire Council is working with Compton Parish Council to provide this service.

Studying for British citizenship

If you are applying for British citizenship or settlement in the UK, you will need to take the Life in the UK Test and we can help.

Take a look at our new online resource, GoCitizen, where you will find all the latest official study materials licensed by the UK Home Office, along with hundreds of practice test questions. Members of West Berkshire Libraries can access GoCitizen for free, either in a library or from home.

Temporary library closures in December

Please be aware that Burghfield Common Librarywill be closed on Monday 8 December through to Friday 19 December. This is to enable essential maintenance to take place safely. The library will reopen on Saturday 20 December.

During this period, library members are welcome to use Mortimer Library, where opening hours will be extended as follows:

Monday: 1pm-5pm
Tuesday: 9.30am-5pm
Wednesday: 2pm -5pm
Thursday: 10am-5pm
Friday: 1pm-6pm
Saturday: 10am-12.30pm

All books due for return to Burghfield Common Library during the closure period will have their return dates automatically extended until the library reopens.

May we remind you that Newbury Librarywill be closed for stocktaking on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 December. No items will be due for return on these dates.

We apologise for any inconvenience that these closures may cause.

You can continue to borrow, renew and reserve items online via the library catalogue or by using the West Berkshire Libraries app

Our e-library is always open!

Are you still paying for e-audiobooks? Don't forget that all members of West Berkshire Libraries can borrow e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and e-newspapers from us free of charge, any time of day or night, every day of the year; and it's easier than ever to borrow them, now that all of our e-library items are available from a single source, BorrowBox.

Visit our website to find out more, or download the BorrowBox app to get started.

Free digital loans available to all library members!

Let's Talk with West Berkshire Council

Speak face-to-face with West Berkshire Council officers and volunteers at one of the Let's Talk drop-in sessions in libraries:

Newbury Library - Friday 12 December and Friday 9 January, 9.30-11am
Compton Village Hall - Thursday 8 January, 10.30-11.30am at the Compton Pop-up Library
Leckhampstead Village Hall - Wednesday 7 January, 10.30-11.45am at the Leckhampstead Pop-up Library
Theale Library - Monday 19 January, 3.30-4.30pm
Thatcham Library - Thursday 15 January, 9.30-11am
Mortimer Library - Tuesday 16 December and Friday 30 January, 1-2.30pm

Council staff will be happy to answer your questions and provide some guidance about benefits, housing, forms or technology. For more information and other dates and venues across the district, visit Let's Talk - West Berkshire Council

Author Chat with Judith Heneghan

Book now to join us at Newbury Library for an inspiring talk with novelist Judith Heneghan on Friday 23 January 2026, 1-2pm.

Judith will share how real-life experiences shape her fiction, why setting matters for suspense, and what it takes to write a novel. This will be followed by an audience Q&A and the opportunity to buy signed copies of the books.

Tickets £5, advance booking essential.

Holiday Opening Hours

All West Berkshire libraries will be closed from 1pm on Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) through to Thursday 1 January (New Year's Day) inclusive, apart from Newbury Library.

Newbury Library will close at1pm on Wednesday 24 December and remain closed on 25 and 26 December. Regular opening hours will apply on Saturday 27, Monday 29, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 December. The library will be closed on Thursday, 1 January.

Regular opening hours will resume in all libraries on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Our next newsletter will be out in early January.

Meanwhile you will find a full list of events and activities in libraries on our website.

Keep up with the latest news about everything that's happening by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook and Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you again soon!