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Special events
Nature themed crafts
Join us in the Story Garden this summer to design and make our nature-themed crafts! Lots of fun for all the family.
Suitable for age 3+. Cost: 50p per child. No need to book, drop in any time during our usual opening hours.
Themes and dates:
- Peg butterfly: Saturday 19 July to Friday 25 July
- Pinecone bees: Saturday 26 July to Friday 1 August
- Design cardboard mini bugs: Saturday 2 August to Friday 8 August
- Make a birdfeeder: Saturday 9 August to Friday 15 August
- Design a suncatcher: Saturday 16 August to Friday 22 August
Creative writing competition
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge has “a Story Garden” as its central theme, and we are delighted to invited you to enter our creative writing competition!
Closing date for all entries 23 August 2025.
Theme
Please write a story using the theme “The Garden”
Age categories
There are three age categories:
- 8 to 10
- 11 to13 and
- 14 to 16
Guidelines
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked and entries will be judged by Alice Fowler, an award-winning author.
All stories must:
- Be 1000 words or less (title is not included in the number)
- Be written by an individual and not a group
- Be a child’s own original idea
- Be prose, not rap or poem
- Stories must not:
- Give any personal details (including their name)
- Recount an historical event (but they can use a real person or historical character as a source of inspiration)
- Be created, written or developed by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- If you choose to type your story, please use a standard font e.g. Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman. Use of library computers is included free in your library membership - although printing is normally charged at the library - the printing charge of your story will be waived).
Shortlisting criteria
We will consider:
- Use of language and imagery
- Engaging narrative
- Exciting characters
- Use of suspense or an unusual plot twist
- Strong opening paragraphs
Submitting your short story
- Please write or type single-sided and include your name, age and contact details of a person over 18 on the reverse of each page.
- If your story is more than 1 page please number your pages in order.
- Please submit your short story on A4 paper by handing it into the helpdesk at one of the following libraries: Addlestone, Chertsey, Knaphill, West Byfleet and Woking.
- Closing date for all entries 23 August 2025.
Prizes
Your story will be read by an award- winning author! Other prizes include book goodies, badges and certificates. Winning entries will also be displayed in the library.
About the author and judge of the competition entries
Alice Fowler is an award-winning writer of short stories, poetry and longer fiction. Her debut short story collection, The Truth Has Arms and Legs, was published in 2023. Her writing is inspired by nature and the rich but often untold stories of the past.
Summer Reading Challenge
Saturday 5 July to Saturday 13 September.
If you want to ensure your child continues their reading journey over the summer holidays then look no further than the Summer Reading Challenge.
The theme this year is ‘Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors’. This exciting new theme will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
Join the Summer Reading Challenge
Meet up and make friends for children starting Reception class in September
Starting school can be a stressful time for children (and their parents) - starting with a friend can help.
Over the summer Chertsey Library is hosting meetup and make friends sessions for children starting Reception class in September.
We will read a story, maybe sing a song, do some colouring and get to know each other.
The dates are:
- Pyrcroft Grange Primary School: Tuesday 5 August, from 11am to 12 noon.
- Stepgates Community School: Tuesday 12 August, from 11am to 12 noon.
- Meadowcroft Community Primary School: Tuesday 19 August, from 11am to 12 noon.
- St. Anne's Catholic Primary School: Tuesday 26 August, from 11am to 12 noon.
Jelly Kelly's Storytime
We are delighted to announce the return of Jelly Kelly's Storytime to Chertsey library this summer.
Join as to share stories and laughs at 11am Thursdays, on the following dates:
- 7 August
- 21 August
Sessions are free and no need to book. See you there!
Pebble rhymetime and storytime
Pebble rhymetime
- Every Tuesday from 10:30am until 11am.
- Every Saturday from 11am to 11.30am
Find out more about Pebble rhymetime in Surrey libraries.
Pebble playtime
Every Friday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
Short rhymes and short stories followed by parental free play.
Storytime
There are currently no stand alone children's Storytime sessions at Chertsey Library. See section Pebble playtime above. Occasionally we hold other sessions which will be listed under Special events.
Storytime for adults
Next session: Thursday 21 August, from 2.30pm to 3pm.
Come and join our Storytime for adults!
One of our library assistants will read a selection of short stories for you to enjoy and discuss. There is no need to read a book in advance, just turn up on the day and discuss the stories we read aloud, and share your own love of reading!
We will use books that are designed to support adults who are improving their literacy, but this group will also work well for language learners, customers with a visual impairment or anyone who finds a long book a bit daunting.
All the stories are written by popular authors, so leave with some ideas for your next read! Some hard copies will be available to use during the session if you want to read along.
Everyone welcome!
Followed by refreshments in the Library.
Find out more about storytime in Surrey libraries.
Reading groups
First Edition reading group
Every 6 weeks on a Monday from 3.30pm until 4.30pm.
If you are interested in joining, please enquire in the library
Find out more about reading groups in Surrey libraries.
Other events
Chatter and cheer
First Monday in every month from 2pm to 3.30pm. Starting 07 July.
Drop in for a friendly chat over a cup of tea.
Run in conjunction with Time to Talk and open to anyone.
Chertsey Woolcraft Guild
Every Tuesday from 2.15pm until 4pm.
If you are interested in joining or want to learn about knitting/crocheting or using a spindle, please pop down and they will show you. Everyone is welcome.
Friends of Chertsey library coffee and cake morning
Every Friday from 10am until 12 noon.
No booking required, just turn up to the library to get cake and coffee for £1.50
Please see Special events for details of guest speakers, who are arranged regularly.
Digital support volunteer
Do you want help using a computer, the internet, IT related problems or your iPad, tablet or iPhone?
Chertsey library does not currently have a Digital support volunteer.
Please see our Digital support volunteer page for more information and to find out which libraries currently offer a Digital support volunteer service.