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Battle Library |
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Battle Library Manager: Marjorie McClure
About the Library
Battle was the first library to be built by
Reading Borough Council. A striking structure, funded in part by
Andrew Carnegie, Battle has provided a unique landmark for the
local community since 1908 and is a Grade II listed building. It
has always played an important part in the lives of local
residents, serving as a hospital in WWI and as an air raid depot
in WWII. Battle Library reopened in June 2009 after being closed
for refurbishment, made possible by a £1.46 million grant from
the BIG Lottery Fund. Today Battle Library provides a stylish
venue for various activities and organisations such as a Baby
Clinic and Breastfeeding Advice Clinic run in partnership with
Reading Primary Care Trust, ESOL classes run by WEA and job
seeking advice run by Next Step Berkshire. We have also enhanced
the services to the library user by including a word processing
computer, a Reading caravan and a community garden.
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Services we provide
- Books Fiction and non-fiction books for both adults and children
- Community room (including a SMART board)
- Community garden
- Storytelling tree
- Under 5's PC with games
- Teen area with Wii
- Space for local artists to display their work
- Reading caravan
- Public toilets
- Spoken word cassettes for adults and children
- DVDS & music CDs
- Large print books
- Back to Basics section with books to help adult learners with Maths and English
- Books in other languages - Bengali, Hindi, Polish and Urdu
- National and local newspapers
- Selection of magazines.
- Free Internet access - 8 public terminals available
- Word processing computer
- Photocopier
- Fax machine
- Study space
- Parents and carers can join the Toy Library and reserve and collect toys at
Battle Library
Events
Storytime : Tuesday and Thursday,
2:30-3.00 a free event
Rhymetime : Tuesday and Friday,
10.30-11.00 a free event
Battle Baby Clinic Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons from 2.15 4.15pm This is open to
all. Health Visitors are there to offer advice, and babies
can be weighed. Books and toys are available to keep
older siblings amused while you wait.
Breastfeeding Drop-in Thursday
11.15-1.00pm PCT
Health Visitors are available to offer advice and Mums can
enjoy a cup of coffee and have an opportunity to meet
other Mums, offering support to one another.
Job Seeking advice
Monday afternoon 2.00 4.00pm run by Nextstep
advice on learning and work for the over 20s Improve
your skills, your job, your future.
ESOL classes, Monday
and Thursday morning 9.15 11.15am Run by WEA This is
an opportunity to work toward an accredited qualification
in English for people from other countries.
Warhammer Fantasy Battle and
Warhammer 40,000 Club.
Assemble and paint your very own army, then lead it into
battle!
We will meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10.15
- 12.15pm starting on the 10th April.
Homework Club, Tuesday afternoon 3.30
4.45pm Children from Year 6 from the 3 local Primary
schools are helped with literacy, science and maths.
Craft and messy play sessions for the
under fives are held monthly on a fourth Monday afternoon
2.30 3.30pm
Thames Valley Police hold monthly
surgeries on the last Saturday of the month from 10.30
12.00 noon. Advice available in Polish and English.
The Ward Councillors hold their monthly
surgeries on the first and second Saturdays 10.30-12.00
noon and the third Tuesday of each month 6.00-7.00pm.
Access
By BUS:
Battle Library can be visited using bus numbers 17, 18 & 31
There is a easy disabled access at the front entrance.
Contact details
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Write to us at:
420 Oxford Road
Reading
RG30 1EE
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Telephone: 0118 901 5100
Fax: 0118 901 5101
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To contact us by email, please fill in the form on the
Contact page.
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