Library Service starts new chapter
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The Royal Borough’s libraries are starting an exciting new chapter this month – thanks to closer partnership working between the council and communities to deliver sustainable and accessible services that meet residents’ needs.
All 11 permanent library buildings are staying open under revised operating times agreed with parishes which came into effect from Monday 27 September 2021. Accessibility of the service is further bolstered by an expanded Select and Deliver/Home Library Service, which enables customers to reserve their books over the phone, email or online, which are then delivered by a team of dedicated volunteers.
The council is working with parish councils, community groups, trusts and volunteers to deliver the service in a more resilient and viable way, retaining a strong physical library provision, supported by a digital offer including e-books, magazines, newspapers, films, music and training courses.
Councillor Samantha Rayner, Deputy Leader of the council and cabinet member for Corporate and Resident Services, Culture and Heritage, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for the Library Service and one that’s been written in closer partnership with our communities, including our many dedicated volunteers".
More information can be found here.
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Visit us at Windsor library to see our new layout including comfy chairs to sit and read.
We also have plenty of desks and laptop tables for studying.
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Weekly Story Times
Please join us for our weekly story time, every Thursday morning at 10.30am.
At our half term story time on Thursday 28 October 2021 at 2.30pm, we will be joined by our local friendly PCSO David Bullock who has written a series of children’s books about a police constable called Ben.
David will be reading from his books and will have craft activity sheets for the children afterwards.
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IT Help
Need help with your tablet, phone or other device? Confused by emails, shopping and banking online?
Windsor Library - Wednesdays - midday to 2pm.
Eton Wick Library - Thursdays - 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
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Protect yourself from Fraud and Cybercrime
The local Windsor PCSO, David Bullock, will be at Windsor Library on
Tuesdays 5 and 26 October, 2pm to 3pm.
He will be giving advice on how to protect yourself from fraud and how to be safe online.
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Big Girl Small Town by Michelle Gallen
This book blew me away, it was completely unexpected and very different from a lot of the things I have read. It is a great story, but also fascinating within the context of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The book is darkly comic, I wasn’t prepared for quite how dark the humour would be! The book’s style increased my sympathy to the central character Majella. Her lack of self-worth, I found at times difficult to read but we learn how strong and fearless she is despite what she goes through. I would recommend this as something different, but you certainly will not regret reading it. Emilie
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Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers
It’s 1957 and Jean Swinney is a 40-year-old spinster living with her difficult widowed mother. Her pleasures in life are small, but at her job on a London newspaper she comes across a unique news story about a virgin birth which she investigates. This leads to new friendships, surprising revelations and more. Clare Chambers’ descriptions of life in the 1950s really come alive, and her characters, despite their ordinary lives, are sympathetic and intriguing. A very readable and moving novel, long-listed for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Rebecca
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The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
This is the story of Lenni aged 17 and Margot aged 83 and their project to celebrate their shared 100 years of living. This heartfelt and tender story made me both laugh and shed a few tears as both characters are facing the end of their lives. It is not a maudlin book but a celebration of the gift of life and how important love and friendship are to us all. This is Marianne Cronin’s first book and I hope she will be writing more. Vicki
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Early Riser by Jasper Fforde
A fantastic, fun introduction to the genre of Sci-Fi for those curious to try it.
In the not-so distant future, humans hibernate during winter, and a select few remain awake to keep everyone else alive. All is not as it seems; with mythical sightings of the Gronk and two companies at each other’s throats to create the next best hibernation drug, one man is stuck in between. Just beware, as long as you have ample supply of Snickers bars and Tunnock’s Teacakes with you, you will be safe against the Nightwalkers. Rachel
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Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
If you enjoyed “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” and “Normal People” or if you’re a fan of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character in the TV series “Fleabag”, then you should put “Sorrow and Bliss” by Meg Mason on your reading list. It’s an honest and emotional portrayal of mental illness and self-sabotage set within a rather dysfunctional family, but don’t allow the potential bleakness of those topics to put you off. The book is a brilliant combination of dark humour and distress filled with witty banter and keen observations that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Gabriella
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Learn new skills, meet new people and create a habit of repairing and re-using things with the Repair Café at Maidenhead Library.
This month we’re celebrating International Repair Day on Saturday 16 October, 10am - 3pm.
Pre-book a free ticket for the event via Eventbrite.
Get more involved
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October Half Term Events
We have a whole host of exciting activities taking place in our libraries in the coming half term.
From LEGO animation workshops to spooky Halloween crafts, make sure you regularly check our website and social media pages below for booking info and dates.
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Cox Green Library Reading Group |
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One Saturday in the month, starting on 2 October 2021, 11am - midday.
For more information please call 01628 683876.
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Black History Month October
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The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is co-ordinating the local response to support households being relocated as part of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
We are looking for volunteers who would like to help with the sorting and categorising of the thousands of generous donations received to ensure that these can be quickly dispatched to households in need.
Are you:
- Able to commit to 2-4 hours volunteering sessions at a central location in Maidenhead between 9:30am and 4pm, Monday - Friday.
- Willing to sort and categorise items including clothing, toys and household items
- Happy to work as part of a team with the support of a volunteer coordinator
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Volunteer for Story and Rhyme Time |
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Do you like reading stories to little children, watch them giggle when you do funny voices as you become a character in the story?
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A new Youth Council, helping to give a stronger voice to children and young people in the Royal Borough, met for the first time on 20 September and elected 17-year-old Robert Jansen-Spence as their first chairperson. More than 30 young people applied to be representatives, with the Royal Borough working with children’s services partner Achieving for Children to establish the new Youth Council.
The forum supports young people to get involved in their communities, playing an active role in shaping and informing local decisions as the first port of call for councillors and local businesses wanting to hear the voice of local young people. Youth Councillors will also have the opportunity to discuss and address important issues that matter to young residents and affect their lives, as well as work on positive projects and campaigns to make changes for the better.
Chairperson Robert Jansen-Spence, of The Windsor Boys’ School, said: “It’s a real honour to be elected as the first chairperson. We had a fantastic first meeting as a Youth Council and it has been really exciting to meet with the others and make a start.
“Young people are really interested in what happens in our community. The Youth Council will give us a stronger voice and enable us to get more involved in decisions that will affect us and champion issues we care about. We already have a number of ideas we’re looking at.
“We are still open to welcoming new members from schools and young groups across the borough, so if you’re aged between 14 and 19 and either live, or go to school, within the borough, then please apply through the website.” Details are below.
Councillor Carroll, cabinet member for children’s services said: “The Youth Council is a fantastic platform, empowering young people to highlight, discuss and collaborate around issues that matter to them, whether local or national, and play a meaningful role in shaping and informing local decision-making.”
Youth Councillors are asked to commit to serving a minimum of one year and participate in at least two meetings per month.
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A new Family Hub Service, re-focussing support on the most vulnerable children, young people and families, was officially launched this week in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
The hubs integrate early help support and enable staff to work more intensively with referred families which need that tailored help, improving children’s life chances while reducing the need for statutory intervention.
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Changes to waste collections |
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From Monday 18 October 2021, waste (black bins) will be collected fortnightly.
Most homes in the borough will see a change to the day their waste is collected.
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Fairmont Windsor Park Hotel - Recruitment Open Day |
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Opens soon and are recruiting extraordinary people to join their team at their recruitment Open Day.
Wednesday 6 October 2021, 10am - 4pm
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