Darlington Libraries will once again be returning to the town centre for a fun-filled family day as part of this year’s amazing summer of events. The Library Takeover Day will be in the Market Square on Wednesday 5th August, 11am to 3pm, with a host of interactive performances from Imagine Me Storytelling, Darlington Academy of Performing Arts and a special KPOP party! Meet some fantastic local authors and take part in a host of free activities throughout the day.
The fun doesn’t stop there, however, as both Darlington Library and the Cockerton Library will be hosting a packed programme of summer events weekdays and Saturdays, which will include slime making workshops, Big Science workshops, comic book masterclasses, summer tote bag making, Rhymetime adventure play sessions for babies and toddlers and more.
There are also some longer workshops including the Scene Makers – Film Club, a 6-week course for just £12.50, aimed at 11–16 year olds where they can discover screenwriting, film theory, film production concluding with them making their own film.
To celebrate the National Year of Reading, the annual Summer Reading Challenge will also return encouraging children and young people (age 0 – 16) to rediscover the joy of reading and make it a part of everyday life – as well as earn the chance to win some fabulous prizes.
To take part, simply borrow books from Darlington or Cockerton Library and you can enter a maximum of once per day into a free prize draw. The top prize is an Apple iPad and Apple Pencil bundle, with others including Lego sets, pantomime tickets for Darlington Hippodrome, swim, soft play and bowling vouchers, Jellycat bunny, a Fortnite gift card and more!
Cllr Libby McCollom, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for local services, said: “Summer is always an exciting time for our libraries and this year’s programme is packed with creative, fun and educational activities for families to enjoy. Library Takeover Day is a fantastic opportunity to bring the magic of our libraries into the heart of the town centre, with storytelling, performances, authors and hands-on activities for all ages.
“The Summer Reading Challenge is also a brilliant way to encourage children and young people to develop a lifelong love of reading during the holidays, with the added incentive of some fantastic prizes. I’d encourage everyone to come along, get involved and make the most of everything Darlington Libraries have to offer this summer.”
To find out more about Darlington Libraries, the fantastic range of resources it offers and details of events/activities log onto the website at www.darlington.gov.uk/library or download the Darlington Library App. You can also find them on Facebook @DarlingtonLibraries
Details of summer events in Darlington can be found on the Enjoy Darlington website www.enjoydarlington.co.uk or follow our social media channels.
