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Find out about the exciting events happening at libraries near you

Summer Reading Challenge events across ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ Libraries

The Summer Reading Challenge launched in July in all our 52 libraries and continues until 13 September. So, plenty of time to still sign up your child! The Challenge encourages children to read up to six books. They will receive rewards along the way including stickers, a bookmark, seed pack, certificate and a colourful wristband. The theme is Story Garden, and our libraries are hosting many garden-themed events in August. Here are a few to inspire you:

• Get involved in Ashtead Library’s Summer Reading Challenge Book Bugs reading sessions
• Camberley Library has an event on every Saturday during August, and Explore Learning will be holding an engaging workshop on Monday 15 August. If you can’t make this date, why not visit Lightwater Library where Explore Learning will be hosting four workshops on 5, 12, 19 and 26 August
• Egham Library’s Lego Club sessions will involve designing gardens and tree houses
• The whole family can join in at Godalming Library for a Shakespeare Drama workshop on 21 August
• Guildford Library hosts weekly events, including a special workshop with our partner ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ Wildlife Trust on 12 August
• Oxted Library are hosting plenty of thrilling craft events including Crazy Cress Creatures and Clothes Peg Dragonflies, and Explore Learning will provide Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related events

To find out more, visit our Summer Reading Challenge webpage.

To find out what our other libraries are offering this summer, please check out your local library’s webpage.

Author and illustrator events

• Local author Helen Taylor will talk about her adult detective series, their locations and inspiration behind them. Woking Library on Thursday 14 August from 6pm to 7pm. Tickets are free, but need to be booked via Eventbrite.
• Join illustrator Sharon Davey with your creative little ones in this dragon drawing author workshop! This event is aimed at children aged 4+ and their families. Woking Library on Saturday 9 August from 2pm to 2.45pm. Tickets £4 per child, adults go free.
• Creative garden-themed writing workshop for adults with author Alice Fowler. Woking Library on Thursday 21 August from 5:30pm to 7pm. Tickets £5.
• Bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch will be discussing his latest Rivers of London book with fellow bestselling author Mark Stay. Suitable for young people aged 16+ and adults. Staines Library Hub on Saturday 23 August from 6pm to 7pm. Tickets £7.

Please book your tickets via page.

The Story Detectives dance performances

Are you brave? Ready for adventure? Fabulous at finding letters? You are invited to join Made by Katie Green, a contemporary dance company, for an adventure. Join Story Detectives Playful and Particular as they journey round the library collecting letters, solving clues, and building an adventure story.

• Esher Library on Thursday 14 August from 10:30am to 11:30am
• Dittons Library on Thursday 14 August from 2pm to 3pm
• Staines Library on Saturday 16 August from 11am to 12pm
• Staines Library on Saturday 16 August from 2pm to 3pm

Performances are aimed at families, especially with children aged 3 to 8 years old, but all children are welcome!. Tickets are available with a donation. Please book your tickets via page to secure your place.

Living Knowledge Network exhibition at Farnham Library

ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ Libraries are proud to be one of the Living Knowledge Network Libraries across the UK that will be hosting the inspiring Unearthed: The Power of Gardening exhibition. This exhibition focuses on gardens, plants and sustainability. The next library where this exhibition will be hosted is Farnham Library, until 30 August.

Farnham Library will be holding a programme of events to support the exhibition.  A special book collection which supports the exhibition will be on display as well. To find out more about this exhibition and events organised, please visit our Living Knowledge Network webpage.

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation events at Horley Library

Come to Horley Library for two crafty workshops to find out about endangered animals with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

• Get craft and create a 3D habitat of an endangered animal. Tuesday 5 August from 10:30am to 11:30am.
• Are Elephants afraid of Mice? Thursday 7 August from 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Aimed at children aged 4 to10 years olds. Workshops are free, but you need to book a ticket via page.

Free photography talks at Woking Library

Woking Library proudly presents two photography talks by the Woking Photographic Society. Whether you are a budding photographer, seasoned enthusiast, or just curious, these talks offer unique insight into levelling up your photography.

• The Highs and Lows of Drone Photography. Tuesday 5 August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
• The Art of Travel Photography. Tuesday 12 August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
• From Snapshots to Standouts. Tuesday 19 August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
• A Journey into Wildlife Photography. Tuesday 26 August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm

The talks are free, but booking your place is essential via page.

New Special Educational Needs (SEN) stay and play sessions at Merstham Library

Join us for a Stay and Play session for families with Special Educational Needs (SEN) children and their siblings. Along with books we have games and toys to play with or borrow. Saturday afternoon is our quiet time; low noise, low light, low footfall.

Every Saturday at Merstham Library from 2pm to 3pm. Suitable for ages 0 to 11.

The event is free and no booking is necessary, just drop in.

Some other libraries also offer fun and all-inclusive events aimed at SEN families including:

• Addlestone Library. Sensory Tray Play, incorporating toys, books and activities to simulate the senses and can aid sensory regulation. Ask in branch for more details.
• Cranleigh Library. Rhymetime session last Thursday of the month at 10:30am
• Horley Library. Autism friendly Lego Club on Saturday 9 August at 2:30pm and Saturday 16 August at 2:20pm.
• Horley Library. Sensory Rhymetime sessions on selected Saturdays including on Saturday 23 August. From 10:30am to 10:50am for 0 to 4 year olds, and from 11:10am to 11:30am for 5 to 9 years olds.

In the Margin art exhibition at Dorking Library

Artist Jon Adams and several members of Disability Arts in ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ (DAiSY) have created an empowering art exhibition called In the Margins. The project tells the life story of several disabled artists, exploring their passions and highlighting places where they feel a sense of belonging. You can now visit this successful exhibition in Dorking Library until 8 August . The exhibition will then move on to Staines Library.

'Meet up and make friends’ sessions for new reception children at Addlestone Library

Starting school is an exciting time but is a big step for your little ones! Over the summer Addlestone Library is hosting meetup and make friends sessions for children starting Reception class in September. We invite you to come and join us for a special story time, followed by fun activities and the chance to get to know one another.

• Ongar Place Primary School students on Friday 1 August from 11am to 12 noon
• St. Paul's Church of England of Primary School students on Friday 8 August from 11am to 12pm
• Ottershaw Christchurch Church of England School students on Thursday 14 August from 2:30pm to 3:30pm
• Holy Family Catholic Primary students on Friday 15 August, from 11am to 12pm
• Darley Dene Primary School students on Friday 22 August, from 11am to 12 noon
• Sayes Court Primary School students on Friday 29 August, from 11am to 12 noon

No need to book, everyone welcome.

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• Libraries Connected South East Data Collection Project
• Embracing diversity at ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ libraries
• Transforming ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ Libraries
• Health and activity trackers
• Super Access extends to four locations
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