Summer library fun for all the family

Oldham Libraries are sure to keep you busy during the six week holidays, with activities for all ages and interests taking place throughout the summer months.

Theatre-lovers shouldn’t miss The Soap Myth - playing on July 31 at 7pm at Oldham Library - which tells the story of a young investigative reporter whose journalistic integrity comes into question when faced with the desperate urging of a World War Two survivor.

If it is the written word that you find more intriguing, award winning writer Cathy Crabb is holding a free workshop on August 1 at Oldham Library to celebrate the return of The Rumba Bar as part of the Open Space Festival.

This gives budding writers the opportunity to write about the places that mean the most to them.

For those who would rather read the books than write them, Oldham and Failsworth Readers groups meet on August 1 in their local libraries, with the Royton group meeting on August 2.

These monthly meetings are for everyone from avid readers to those who wish they could find the time! 

There are also writing groups and genre-based meetups such as the Dead Good Book Club, who meet to discuss crime titles. 

Wondering about the basics of using computers, or looking for more complex support with managing money or applying for jobs online?

Online Basics sessions are available at local libraries in the Oldham borough throughout the summer – it's the perfect chance to brush up on skills or learn some new ones.

For the little ones, there are still a few chances to join in with the live@thelibrary events held in Oldham Library that have been running since May.

On Saturday (July 28), join Jackson and Squiggle in their interactive hunt for the lost giggle at 12noon and 2:30pm.

Then, the final event of the campaign will be an autism-friendly screening of the Lego Ninjago Movie (U) at 1pm on August 2.

That doesn’t mean that the fun stops though, as Toddler Time, where children from 18 months to 4 years can share songs, stories and rhymes, props, pop-ups and musical instruments, continues throughout the summer months, with the next event tomorrow (Friday).

There are also Stories and Rhymes sessions from 10:30am for children under five which aim to develop language and communication skills and instil a love of books from an early age.

Just for the babies (pre-natal to 18 months) Bumps and Babies Rhymetime is a weekly session of sensory play at 11am, starting tomorrow (Friday).

These are all held in local libraries across the Oldham area and are a great opportunity to introduce little ones to the library.

For families wanting to get hands-on with the exhibitions, Gallery Oldham is also hosting a range of themed arts and craft activities for children aged four to ten.

These are held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1-4pm, and include making nature boxes, stained glass bottles and hand print art. The sessions are free and there is no need to book.

Finally, the summer reading challenge returns this year with a mischievous twist.

A great opportunity to get kids to keep up with their reading over the summer, the challenge involves reading any six library books of your choice in order to collect Mischief Maker rewards.

The final prize will be a certificate and medal, and you won’t be short of mischievous events to take part in along the way!

A slime workshop from July 30 to August 2 and a celebration of National Menace Day on August 7 are just a few of the sessions that will be touring libraries in the Oldham area as the challenge continues.

For more information, visit: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk, and for a guide to what’s on in the library go to: www.oldham.gov.uk/libraries.

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