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 >>
Socials: 
CSLibraryPartnership 
@southgloslibs
Address: High Street, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AH
Phone: 01454 868006
Email:
Website: www.sodburytowncouncil.gov.uk/library, www.librarieswest.org.uk or www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries
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.
Did you know you don’t have to go to Yate to borrow books, DVDs, audio books?
You can also have your reservations sent to Chipping Sodbury and collect local information leaflets.
You can do all of this locally. We have quite a lot of new books including lots of picture books for the children.
Do come and support your local library as our friendly volunteers would love to see you.
We are open:
Tuesday, Wednesday: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Friday: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Although South Gloucestershire Council provide our books etc. it is up to the Friends of Chipping Sodbury Library to raise funds for other items such as cushions for our children's reading area.
The library has enlarged and improved the children’s area to include a magnetic chalkboard, table and chairs and a reading bench. This area is used regularly for story time and craft activities.
The Friends hold book sales to help raise funds, and would be grateful for donations of children's books to sell.
Please note these books cannot be added to library stock.
Following a campaign by local residents, who formed a Friends of Chipping Sodbury Library group, South Gloucestershire Council agreed not to close Chipping Sodbury Library as part of their 2017 savings measures.
With the help of the Gruffalo, Chipping Sodbury library was successfully relaunched in October 2017 as a Community Library run by volunteers.
South Glos Libraries continue to provide books, CDs, DVDs and IT support for the three computers, along with a self-service machine.
A call for volunteers resulted in over forty people coming forward to help and, with support from Sodbury Town Council, they now staff the library so users can continue to enjoy it.
It continues to offer the same services as it did before and, in addition, is open all day on Wednesday when Yate library is shut.
The large team of volunteers are enthusiastically learning the ropes and are very grateful for the patience being shown by users.
They are more than happy to give their time to keep the library open and enjoy helping people get the most out of it.
A lot of effort went into persuading South Glos Council not to close the library, so please come in and use it so that we can prove to them that they made the right decision.
