Summer Reading Challenge
Join the Summer Reading Challenge 6 July to 14 September!
Open to all primary school aged children, it’s free and fun.
Read any books you like (yes we really mean any books) and collect stickers and rewards. Some of the stickers are even stinky!
Join at your local library during staffed hours and pick up your free activity bag.
Free activities include:
Mystery Makers: Step into a world of mystery with these clued-up crafts and activities.
Story Crafters: Fun crafts inspired by some of your favourite stories.
Junk Box Builders: Get creative in this junk box challenge. What will you build?
Puppetry Workshop with Tiny and Tall Productions: Award-winning theatre company Tiny and Tall Productions (The Detective Dog, The Anarchist’s... Read more >>
Address: St Mary Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AA
Phone: 01454 868006
Fax: 01454 865657
Email:
Website: www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries or www.librarieswest.org.uk
Socials: 
sgloslibraries 
@southgloslibs
Photos of Thornbury Library are kindly supplied by RichMcD Photography.
Keeping warm and well:
Come and relax with a free warm drink in the library, available Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9.30am-4pm.
Use the computers or use your own iPad, phone etc. (wifi available), read a book, a newspaper, browse the shelves, enjoy a communal puzzle or just relax.
Ukrainian Storytime:
Please tell your Ukrainian family, friends, and colleagues, about Zoya, a Ukrainian teacher, who will be in the library every Monday at 4pm to share stories, reading, etc, from the Ukraine
“Have You Read…?”
Come and enjoy an open book group with a difference. No set novel to read. Just drop in for an hour on the first Friday of every month 2pm-3pm.
Rhymetime:
Rhymes and songs for parents and babies/toddlers to enjoy together, every Monday and Friday 9.30am-10am.
Pop in or email to book a family space.
Lego Club:
Listen to a story or some poems, then create your own LEGO masterpieces and display them in the library for your family and friends to see.
Every Saturday 9.30am, no booking required.
Free Computer Support 1-1:
Book a session with our computer volunteer for IT and digital support every Thursday 9.30am, 10.30am or 11.30am.
Pop in or email to book a space.
Click here to see more events.
South Gloucestershire Council Library service is inviting all primary school aged children to visit their local library this summer and take part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Libraries and The Reading Agency have partnered with leading arts charity ‘Create’ for this year's challenge, named ‘Marvellous Makers’, to celebrate kids' creativity and storytelling abilities. Children will be encouraged to explore new books, stories and complete the creative activities provided.
The free challenge runs from 6 July to 14 September and supports children to become more independent readers, improving reading confidence over the summer break from school. It also supports positive mental wellbeing and boosts self-esteem.
Children aged between four and 11, sign-up at their local library during staffed opening hours and collect a free activity bag to get them started. They then read books of their choice over the summer holidays and collect stickers to complete a collectors’ poster. Craft activities are also provided to keep the children entertained. Those who complete the Challenge will receive a medal and certificate along with a voucher for a free swim at their local Active Lifestyle Centre, provided by Circadian Trust.
Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, councillor Franklin Owusu-Antwi, said: “I’m delighted this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is now underway as it’s such a popular, annual event that is enjoyed by thousands of local children. Over 6,300 children took part in South Gloucestershire last year which is incredible as it supports their literacy and helps them to develop a love of reading from a young age.
“It’s a fabulous way to maintain children’s reading over the school, summer holidays when reading levels can sometimes dip. I’m sure everyone who takes part will have great fun this summer as they develop their reading skills and enjoy in some of the fantastic, free activities on offer.”
Families who have taken part in the Summer Reading Challenge have seen the positive difference it has made to their children’s reading. A parent of a children who participated in last year’s challenge said: “I thought the challenge was brilliant and so did my children. It was a fantastic way to get them excited about reading over the summer. The craft activities were very clever and engaging. My eldest’s reading fluency noticeably increased during the challenge.”
Alongside the Summer Reading Challenge, South Gloucestershire libraries are holding free, fun activities throughout the summer. See the events listed at the bottom of this page.
Find out more at www.southglos.gov.uk/holiday-activities or like us on www.facebook.com/sgloslibraries for the latest updates.
If you register your card for our new Open Access System, and attend an induction, you’ll be able to access library facilities any day throughout the week.
You can borrow and return books and use the computers.
Please speak to a member of staff for more details.
Do you, or anyone you know, find it difficult to get to the library for books? If the answer is yes, please contact us to ask about our Home Library Service
as we have volunteers happy to help.
Our free online library is always open 24/7: eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, digital magazines and newspapers continue to be available for library members to download anytime - www.southglos.gov.uk/eresources has all the details.
It now also includes Who Else Writes Like?, and for children, Who Next? where you can find authors who write in a similar way to those you have already enjoyed reading. Simply log in with your library card number and select South Gloucestershire.
If you are not already a library member you can join online at bit.ly/joinLW - membership is free. You will receive an Online Membership number which will work for our digital services right away. Please enter an email address when you register for greater control of your account.
A pop-up library open two days a week; use your Active Library card to borrow from a changing collection of books, audio books and DVDs. Click here to find details, including days/times.
