Sunningdale Container Library is parked in the car park at the Broomhall Recreation Ground on Fridays

A new Library has opened at Charters School, providing a much larger facility for the pupils at the school.  An additional floor has been added to the original building, doubling its size.  The new top floor, which has been named “The Durning Room”, has been designated for use as a study area with extensive IT facilities exclusively for Sixth Form students, while the remodelled ground floor will provide improved library facilities for pupils in Years 7 to 11.

The Opening Ceremony of the new Library was held at the school on Wednesday 17 September, when Catherine Stevenson, Chair of The Durning Trust, unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.  The Ceremony was attended by the Trustees of The Durning Trust, local Councillors and Governors, staff and pupils of the school.  

The Durning Trust, together with the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, made a generous donation to the funding of this project and the school is delighted to perpetuate the name of Jemina Durning Smith, the local benefactor who originally financed The Durning Library in Ascot, in their new building.

Marcia Twelftree, Headteacher of Charters, said, “We are absolutely delighted with this fantastic new facility for the students at Charters School and would like to express our immense gratitude to the Trustees of The Durning Trust, along with the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, for their generosity in allowing us to realise our plans in this way”.

Catherine Stevenson, Chair of The Durning Trust, said: “The trust is delighted that they are able to assist the school by providing money for the new library”

The Ascot Durning Library (in upper Ascot High Street) will now be open on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 2 - 5pm.  These additional opening times have been funded by the Durning Trust.   The library is now open Monday and Tuesday 10am -1pm and 2pm -5pm, Wednesday 2pm -5pm, Thursday 10am- 1pm and 2pm- 7pm, Friday 2pm -5pm and Saturday 10am- 1pm.

The library visits the Ascot area on alternate Fridays. Watch this space for the 2009 dates. The library route is currently under review. Visit http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries.htm

Village Post Office, Windsor Great Park   09.00 - 09.20
Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park   09.25 - 09.45
55, Cheapside Road, Cheapside   10.10 - 10.25
Imperial College, Silwood Park   10.30 - 10.50
Llanvair Drive, South Ascot   11.00 - 11.20
Bouldish Farm, South Asctot   11.55 - 12.15

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This state-of-the-art mobile library, a  new addition to the Royal Borough’s library fleet, was launched on  November 12  2008 .

The brightly decorated 7.5 tonne vehicle – designed by award-winning vehicle branding company Racoon together with library staff , has an impressive exterior, emblazoned with blue sky, green grass, books and a map of the borough, is complemented by a fresh, modern internal design housing up to 3,000 new books, large print and audio books.

At first the vehicle, which replaces a rented unit, will visit residential homes and supply books to volunteers working with housebound people. Eventually the vehicle will also join the borough’s other mobile library on the general public route.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for adult and community services, said: “The Royal Borough is successfully bucking the national trend of dwindling numbers of borrowers choosing from a diminishing selection of items.

“Our libraries remain as important to us as they do to our residents. This mobile library is a major investment in a service that is helpful to those with limited transport and invaluable to the housebound.”

This  year the vehicle will be taken to the annual Mobilemeet, a nationwide gathering of mobile library vehicles, where it will compete in a national design competition.

  Ascot Heath Library in Fernbank Road is open on Mondays (9.30am - 1pm + 2-7pm), Tuesdays (2-5pm), Wednesdays (closed) Thursdays ( 9.30am -1pm + 2-7pm) Fridays (2-5pm), Saturday (9.30am -12.30pm) . The  library holds Storytimes, Bounce and Rhyme for children under two, craft activities, talks for adults and reading initiatives. Call 01344 884030.