Wokingham

The Manga workshops held at Wokingham Library last week proved a huge success.

Organised as part of Wokingham Borough Council’s Big Wild Read summer reading challenge, the Manga workshops, on August 16, were run by professional Manga artists Sonia Leong and Emma Vieceli, who have recently been involved in a project to produce Manga versions of Shakespeare plays. Manga is a style of cartoon drawing that originated in Japan and has become popular in the UK in recent years.

On feedback forms filled in after the sessions, all the teenagers attending rated the workshops as very good – and half of them were new library members.

Wokingham Borough Council reader development officer for young people and families, Elizabeth McDonald said: “Teenage boys are notoriously difficult to get into libraries so events such as this are really important. It was fantastic to see 35 of them enjoying themselves in Wokingham Library – the Manga artwork that was produced looked great and we have lots of new library members who will hopefully be back again.”

Joining Wokingham borough libraries is free and easy and anybody who lives, studies or works in the borough or holds a valid membership for any other Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire or Surrey library can join. To join, residents need to fill in an application form and produce one form of identification showing name and current address - a driving licence or bank statement accompanied by a bank card would be appropriate. Those under 18 will also need a signature from a parent or guardian or any other adult member of the library to join.

The Big Wild Read is free to join at all the Wokingham borough’s libraries and, on joining, children receive a free Big Wild Read pack including tips on which books to read and advice on how to help protect the environment. Those taking part will also be given stickers for each book they read so they can track their progress through the reading challenge. If they read six books, participants will get a medal, a certificate and a prize.

The Big Wild Read will run until Sunday September 16 and is open to library members aged five to 12.

Wokingham Borough Council