THE Summer Reading Challenge is nearly here. This will be the first time for a few years now that Tenby Library will be running events alongside the Summer Reading Challenge, so library staff are excited to be hosting their younger friends again.

The theme this year is ‘Gadgeteers’ to celebrate science and innovation and the power of imagination. During the craft sessions children will be building gadgets and devices that put the ‘fun’ in ‘fundamental science’. Some of the sessions will use clean recyclable materials such as 1 and 2 litre drinks and milk bottles, so if you would like to donate some, please do so.

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by The Reading Agency, a national organisation, and delivered in partnership with libraries across the country to encourage children to continue to read for pleasure during the summer holidays. Children need to be members of the library to take part, but joining is free, and so are borrowing books and taking part in the craft activities. If your children are not members of the library then joining forms are available in branches or online but a parent’s or guardian’s ID is required to be shown to a member of staff for membership.

The challenge for the children is to visit the library at least three times during the summer, each time borrowing at least two books. Rewards along the way include stickers, a bookmark and a fridge magnet, with a certificate and medal for those who complete the challenge.

There are also online extras at www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.

The first craft event will be on Thursday, July 28 at 3pm. Booking is essential as places are limited. Please phone the day before to book your places. All the rest of the craft sessions will be on Tuesday afternoons and again, booking the day before is essential.

The Summer Reading Challenge begins on Saturday, July 9 and runs until Saturday, September 17.

Baby Rhyme Time is still on Monday mornings on July 4 and 11, from 10.30 to 11am, although it will be suspended during the school holidays. It is a drop-in event, no booking required.

Tenby Learning Centre is running an IT support event in the Hall on Thursday, July 14, from 9am to 12 noon, to support Digital Inclusion. If you have any computer-related enquiries then take them along and have a chat with Simon. It is a drop in event so no booking is needed. There will also be a selection of related books on display in the library and available for borrowing.

Food waste bags are freely available at the library; there is also a supply of the recycling boxes and bags, but the library no longer stocks orange bags for mixed recycling. If you need more grey bags, please contact the Council on 01437 764551 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.