Wokingham Borough Council is pleased to announce that library buildings in the borough will be reopening from Monday 19 July, in line with the easing of national restrictions.
Wokingham, Lower Earley, Spencers Wood, Twyford, Wargrave, Finchampstead and Winnersh libraries will all open on their full operating hours and resume all services from Monday 19 July.
Woodley library will be open for its full hours, apart from Sundays which will start again later in the summer. The Arborfield pop-up library is implementing a staggered re-opening approach from Monday 2 August. Full details will be available on the council’s website.
All library buildings have remained closed since the start of the pandemic, with only Wokingham, Woodley and Lower Earley opening in between lockdowns for book browsing and borrowing; as well as the council’s popular digital library service, providing a range of ebooks and virtual events.
Please note that while cases are high and rising, the council feels it is important to maintain all social distancing measures and one-way systems in public buildings beyond Monday 19 July. Therefore, screens will remain in place in library receptions, hand sanitiser will be available, and visitors are encouraged to continue wearing face coverings and keeping their distance from others to protect themselves and staff.
Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for Neighbourhood and Communities said: “I am excited that we can finally reopen the many libraries we have in Wokingham borough. These are community hubs for our residents, offering useful learning resources and helpful services for all, so we look forward to welcoming people back.”
To encourage the community to get back out utilising these services, the council has replaced all public computers and upgraded them with new software; there will also be a programme of activities in place throughout July and August, particularly focusing on supporting children’s literacy development.
These programmes include the Annual Summer Reading Challenge, the Teen Writing Group, and some themed Storytime Sessions planned for later in the summer. These activities are specifically aimed at children and young people, who have had a challenging experience this past year and a half; with the programmes designed to get them inspired through reading during the summer holidays.
Cllr Bill Soane continues: “With the plethora of programmes scheduled for this summer, I am hoping our residents can take advantage and get involved in the activities created for them.”
To find out more about the library programme of activities this summer, visit the council’s website: www.wokingham.gov.uk.
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