Oxfordshire County Council has moved Charlbury Public Library to this smart and much larger new venue, allowing it to offer more books, a third PC, improved WiFi connection, better disabled access and extra activities, some specifically designed for young families.
The community centre is open from 9am to at least 6pm on weekdays and from 9am to 4.30pm at weekends and Bank Holidays. The library has open access from the café and a self-service machine enables any member of the library to borrow, renew and return books whenever the centre is open, including outside library opening hours. You will need your library card to borrow books, but not to return them. The library itself will be accessible unless it has been booked for another event. Please note that the photocopier and library computers will not be available for public use outside of the staffed library hours below.
The new Charlbury Library is available for hire outside staffed hours (see below). Please contact the centre manager jenny@charlburycommunitycentre.org.uk for further details. Charges can be found here and the library space can be booked through our Booking link.
Below are the times when library staff or library volunteers are present:
Monday: 9.30am-12noon and 2-5pm
Wednesday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7pm
Friday: 9.30am-12noon and 2-5pm
Saturday: 9.30am-12.00
Further information about Charlbury library can be found here: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/charlbury-library
The library telephone number is 01608 811104. There will be an answerphone outside of the above opening hours.
To search for a book use the library catalogue: https://libcat.oxfordshire.gov.uk/web/arena. If you have your library pin number and library card you will be able to use this link to renew and reserve books as well as checking whether they are available in the Oxfordshire County library system, or in Charlbury specifically.
The library is partly staffed by volunteers; we are always ready to welcome new people to go on this rota just once or twice a month. Please contact Rosalind Scott if you may be able to help: rosalind.scott@hotmail.co.uk or you can find out more and register as a volunteer here: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/becoming-community-library-volunteer (choose Charlbury Library from the list)
The Library Manager is Julie Ward. She will be in the library on a Wednesday afternoon and evening, Friday afternoon and alternate Saturday mornings.
These free, fun sing-along sessions for babies and toddlers (0-5 years) combine music and rhymes, helping children to listen and concentrate, develop their language skills and learn to join in with others.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The next talk is by Vernica Stallwood on Wednesday 16th January. Further details can be found here.
Charlbury Art Society has completed the first phase of a Community Art Project to make and install swoops of swifts. The individual birds have been made from mosaic and the first swoop has been placed on the Nine Acres Pavilion wall in our courtyard outside the library. They look fantastic!
We now have a magnificent Christmas tree just outside the front door. Thanks to Halcyon farm discounting and delivering it, House and Carriage/MySTORE for sponsoring it and our doughty team of volunteers for erecting and decorating it. It will make a festive setting for our carol singing on Friday 14th at 8pm.
Please join us and the Charlbury School Choir to sing carols at 8pm on Friday 14th. There will be mince pies and mulled wine too - generously 
sponsored by the Font Cafe.
TG's cafe is now offering baked potatoes at lunch time, with a choice of fillings: cheese, baked beans (or both), tuna and sweetcorn with mayo. Why not stay for lunch after your sporting activities, or drop in for a tasty, warming lunch?
We'd love to reunite you with your possessions!
Most items will be kept for 14 days. Valuables such as watches, jewellery and expensive sports equipment will be kept for 28 days.
Each Wednesday between 1 - 5pm unclaimed items will be displayed in the centre and can be purchased for a nominal amount. After this, they will be given to charity.
The Christmas quiz night will be Wed 12th November, set by Tom Smith. The café and bar open at 7.30pm for a prompt start at 8pm. Priced only £5 per player, these quizzes are usually a sell-out so get your tickets soon from reception. More details here.
A big thank you to Derek Collett for hosting last month's event.
To find out about volunteering in the library please click here.
