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.
Do you enjoy a game of Scrabble? Would you like some new people to play with? We have an afternoon once a month where people can come and play.
The next session is on Tuesday 10th Dec 2.30-5pm. Cost only £2.
In the meantime there are two Scrabble sets at the Centre, which you can use at any time for a game with friends.
The gym now opens at 8.30am, rather than 9am on weekdays. The rest of the centre won't be open until 
9am. Remember also that on Wednesday mornings there is a class in the gym between 9 and10am, so it's best to avoid that time. Weekend opening remains 9am-1pm.
Thanks to our staff (espeically Jenny and Jason) for getting in extra early to do this - it takes quite a while to get the gym set up.
Once again we will have live French cafe style guingette music on offer over lunchtime on Sunday 24th November. Please join us for a relaxing Sunday lunchtime.
As part of our Local Author Talks series , Andrew Lawson, will tell the unexpected story of how he first became involved in producing books based on his photography. Wed 4th December at 7.30pm. See events page for details.
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 next monthly quiz night is on Wed 27th November, set by James Whitehead. The café and bar open at 7.15pm for a prompt start at 7.45pm. Price £5 per player. More details here. Many thanks to Clive Gibson-Leitch for doing us an excellent quiz in October!
To find out about volunteering in the library please click here.
