We're open for Order and Collect

Did you know that all of our library buildings are open for an Order and Collect service? You can email us details of books you would like us to gather for you or you can phone your local library or complete an online order form. You will only be able to return, order and collect stock from your local library. We will do our best to get the books you want to you as quickly as we can. The safety of our staff and customers is our priority and we are following Welsh Government guidance on how to handle library books. Please note all books returned to the library will be quarantined for 72 hours. When your books are ready, we will contact you to arrange an appointment for you to come and collect them. You can return books at the same appointment if you are collecting books. If you only want to return books, you will need to contact us by email and telephone to arrange an appointment. All books you currently have on loan and any you borrow via Order and Collect Service will be automatically renewed so you do not need to worry about returning them on time and you will not incur any fines. For contact details and to access the order and collect form please visit www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries. We look forward to seeing you again!

Join us for National Playday...online

Playday is the national day for play in the UK, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. Playday 2020 will be celebrated tomorrow (August 5). The theme this year is Everyday Freedoms Everyday Adventures, which aims to highlight the importance of giving children and teenagers the freedom to play and have everyday adventures. So join us online as we celebrate this special day. At noon we will have a special online story time with Liz from Chirk Library. This will be followed at 1pm with a special edition of Countdown the letters game. From 2pm you can join in the fun of scavenger hunts, which will be followed at 3pm by a great activity where we will join forces with this year's Summer Reading Challenge. To access and be part of all of this fun you will need to follow us on our social media channels and for the full programme of activities please visit http://www.playday.org.uk/

Summer Reading Challenge

Knock knock! Who's there? It's the Silly Squad from the Summer Reading Challenge for children. Join the Silly Squad, an adventurous team of animals who love to have a laugh and get stuck into all sorts of funny books. This week the theme is Jokes and Magic, so why not share your best joke with us on our social media channels? The Challenge will run until mid-September. The website is free to access and features games, quizzes and downloadable activities that incentivise and encourage children to take part in reading related activities. For more details go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk Dare you sign up for this year's Summer Reading Challenge?

Free Audio Books

Are you fed up with watching the TV? Or do you like whiling away the time whilst walking the dog? Whatever your preference, your local library will have a wide variety of audio books to keep you occupied. You can download them to your device for free using our special Borrowbox app which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android. For more details visit www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries

New books to the library

Did you know we are still receiving new books on a weekly basis? If you would like to read any of them please add them to your order and collect list. Titles include All My Lies Are True by Dorothy Koomson, Quiet Acts of Violence by Cath Staincliffe, Lancaster by John Nichol, How to Crochet, Tre Terfyn by Aled Lewis Evans, Pobl fel ni by Cynan Lloyd and much more.

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Meet the team

Carolyn is a library assistant with Wrexham Libraries Service and works at Chirk library.

What do you love about your job? I have been at Chirk library for over 20 years and love my job today as much as when I started the post. I love reading and meeting people and so this is the perfect job for me.

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than recommending or choosing books for customers and having them come back in and tell me how much they enjoyed them, then I know I have done my job well.

How can the service help those in our communities? I feel we as a library service provide communities with not just books but spaces to hold groups, to meet other people. There is always help and advice from outside of the library services as well as ourselves. There are online resources, computer access and so much more. At Chirk I feel like we go the extra mile if we can to keep our customers happy, from providing jigsaw swaps to treasure hunts for all the family. There is something at a library for everyone, and all you have to do is come in.

Favourite Childhood Book: Black Beauty, although Enid Blyton's books come a close second.

Book you could read over and over? I enjoy all sorts of books such as thrillers, supernatural, 'nice' uplifting books, a touch of romance (who doesn't).

Favourite author? I found Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series brilliant and was completely hooked after five chapters in book one. The history and research is done so well could read these over and over. However Carole Matthews' books are so uplifting, in particular The Difference a Day Makes. I always look forward to her books coming out.

Last book you read? Island by Victoria Hislop

Any reading recommendations? All of the above – no need to say anymore!