Party to Mark 100th Birthday of Battle Library - 16-05-2008

Battle Library is to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a special birthday party for staff, residents and library users.

A party to mark the milestone event is to take place at the library in Oxford Road, on Tuesday, June 3.

Library staff are hoping that lots of residents, mums, dads and their children will turn out to the party and reminisce about everything the popular library has offered the West Reading community over the last Century.

The birthday fun begins at 10.30am with a coffee morning and celebration cake especially for local residents in the Oxford Road area.

At 11am there will be a talk to pupils from local Primary Schools about The History of Battle Library and Benefactor, Andrew Carnegie which will be done by Marjorie McClure, branch manager at Battle Library.

At 2.45pm the party continues with the ceremonial cutting of the Battle Library birthday cake by an invited guest.

At 3pm a children's party with games and music from Teddies Music Club and a celebration Sing-a-long will be the focus for younger members of the community.

Around 5pm, the birthday celebrations will be rounded off with live music.

Anita Cacchioli, Director of Environment, Culture and Sport, said: "Battle Library is steeped in history and is a very important fixture for people living in the Oxford Road community. It is a great community hub for everyone and it is wonderful that it is to celebrate its 100th birthday with so many people. It should be a very memorable occasion."

A range of artefacts and displays will be on show throughout the day including photographs past and present of Battle Library illustrating library users' and residents' memories.

Drawings by residents and local primary school children will also be up on display.

Regular library goers have also been busy working on a community quilt over the last few months and a sample created especially for the 100th birthday will be on show.

The community quilt project is ongoing and is being undertaken by members of the community.

It will eventually go up on display in Battle Library.

If you would like more information on the birthday party, call (0118) 901 5100.

If you have a local Reading event or local Reading news you wish to promote, please send the details via e-mail to: