West Berkshire Libraries

20/06/2026

Did you know that the popular database Find My Past is available using the computers in our libraries to help you with your family and local history research?
Find My Past is an archive of over 10 billion searchable records, such as birth, marriage, death and parish records and census information, including the 1921 Census of England and Wales.

Drop in to your local West Berkshire library to take a look at it and find out where your past will take you. https://www.westberks.gov.uk/family-history

19/06/2026

We have a fantastic team of volunteers across our libraries assisting staff with the day to day running of the library service. We are currently recruiting for a number of roles across all of our libraries, could you join the team?

• Hungerford Volunteer Organiser – managing volunteer rotas and acting as the main point of contact.
• Ageing Creatively Organiser – supporting book artists and leading sessions when no artist or visitor is present.
• Lambourn Volunteer Support – assisting over the lunch period, with the potential to become Spydus-trained.
• Pangbourne Rhyme Time Support (Ad hoc) – supporting sessions locally and potentially providing cover at short notice across other locations.
• General Ad Hoc Volunteers – providing flexible support across all libraries and lunchtime cover at Burghfield, Mortimer, and Lambourn.

If you think you could help with any of these roles, you can apply
here: www.westberks.gov.uk/volunteer or call 01635
503905

19/06/2026

Join us for a fantastic live online event with the multi-million copy bestselling author, David Baldacci!

Taking place on Tuesday 21 July 2026 at 10am, this completely free event is open to everyone. It offers an exciting opportunity for you to ask David your questions, which he will be answering live during the stream.

Register your place here: https://bolinda.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KphbXa9qS9KpvV67FCs5yA #/registration

18/06/2026

The Berkshire Healthcare team will be visiting Newbury Library to host an Immunisation Team Information Session on Monday 29 June, 10am -12pm.

Members of the community are invited to drop by for an informal chat regarding local immunisation programmes. Free drop in event, no booking needed.

For more information: 01635 519900, email [email protected]

18/06/2026

Join us at Theale Library this summer for Lego Club with an exciting musical twist! To celebrate the Summer Reading Challenge 'Read to the Beat', we are running themed Lego challenges on Saturdays 4 July, 8 August, and 29 August, 10.15am-12.15pm.

Each session features a different music-themed challenge, giving you the chance to make an instrument, build a stage, and have plenty of creative fun.

The sessions are free to attend, though a £1 donation each is kindly suggested. For more information: 0118 930 3207 | [email protected]

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

What are you reading at the moment? Don't forget to join West Berks Reads, our Facebook group, to share your thoughts about books with others and pick up some great ideas for what to read next: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wberksreads

17/06/2026

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 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.

https://www.westberks.gov.uk/elibrary-theory-test-pro-go-citizen

16/06/2026

West Berkshire Libraries offer an extensive range of local history resources, including free access to Ancestry Institution Edition, Find My Past, and the British Newspaper Archive. Additionally, Family Help sessions are run across the authority – ask in your local library for details.

Newbury Library holds a significant microfilm collection, focusing on local history and genealogy, including microfilm of the Newbury Weekly News from 1867, with recent newspapers available in paper format. You can also view the West Berkshire census returns from 1841–1901 on microfilm, and the 1891 census on microfiche.

https://www.westberks.gov.uk/libraries

16/06/2026

Join us at Newbury Library on Saturday 27 June, 11am-12pm for an exciting Author Chat with August Bloom.

Hear about their writing life and their enchantingly cosy novel, 'The Tiny Magic Bookshop,' followed by an audience Q&A and a chance to purchase signed copies.

Tickets are £5 and can be booked online at https://tinyurl.com/wberkslibraries33.

For more information: 01635 519900 | www.westberks.gov.uk/libraries