Make everyday a Playday with Aura Libraries

Playday is the national day for play, celebrated each year across the UK on the first Wednesday in August.

Aura Libraries offer year-round play opportunities that don't need to involve expensive activities, costly toys, or trips to far-off destinations. Often it is the simplest ideas, the free and found opportunities, which offer the most fun, and are the most developmentally beneficial for children and young people.

Play is essential at all ages and stages of childhood, and is particularly important during times of crisis.

Play helps children and young people make sense of the world around them, deal with challenges, and build resilience.

Play is fun, enabling children and young people to make friends, blow off steam, and cope with stress and anxiety.

Play is vital for children and young people's health, happiness, and skills development including creativity, imagination, and sense of adventure.

Aura libraries offer free hot and cold drinks, board games, activities such as Lego and jigsaws for you to play with your friends and family, no need to book, just pop-in.

Summer Reading Challenge

Don't forget we have extra special activities over the summer for our Summer Reading Challenge participants. You can take part in these for free and include workshops from the Xplore! Science Discovery Centre in Wrexham, Salma's Bollywood Dance Academy - learn step by step on how to move and groove to the Bollywood beats. More science mayhem from the Mad Science team will be coming to our Libraries at the end of August.

Each week your local library will also be holding a free craft session

To join the Summer Reading Challenge and book a place on any of these events and activities, contact your local Aura Library. www.aura.wales/libraries

Aura Mobile Library Service

Aura mobile library service visits villages across Flintshire on a three weekly basis where it is difficult for residents to access our static libraries.

Residents can use their current library card or join the library on board. The mobile library carries a selection of books suitable for all ages, including large print and audio books in English and Welsh and our junior members can participate in the Summer Reading Challenge.

Any item in stock anywhere in North Wales can also be provided on request.

For further information on where the mobile visits email libraries@aura.wales or visit our website www.aura.wales

We look forward to welcoming you on board!

The Richard and Judy Book Club

Six fantastic new titles have been chosen as Richard and Judy's late summer titles:

Ruth Jones - Love Untold

Dawn O'Porter - Cat Lady

Claire Douglas - Woman who Lied

Jessie Burton - House of Fortune

BA Paris - The Prisoner

Dan Jones - Essex Dogs

The Richard and Judy Book Club podcasts returns for another series, introducing each book and hearing from the authors themselves. Episodes are available from July 20.

These are available to borrow from Aura libraries as either a book, audiobook, large print or e-book or eAudiobook. You can browse these titles and hundreds more on our online library catalogue!

Let us know what you think about the title, find us on social media - @LlyfrgelloeddAuraLibraries on Facebook and Instagram and @LibFlintshire on Twitter.

Free eBooks

Are you still paying for your eBooks? Did you know Aura Library members can download all the top e-books and audiobooks free of charge from Borrowbox and Libby to a PC, laptop or Mac. Alternatively, you can download the Borrowbox and Libby apps directly to a smartphone or tablet.

To access most online library resources you will need to enter your library membership number and pin. If you do not have this then you can join up as a member online via the Aura website for instant access. All links and further details about our digital library resources can be found here: www.aura.wales/libraries

Visit us on social media to view handy information about our services, events, and lots of book and audiobook recommendations.

From everyone here at Aura Libraries, thank you for reading and we hope to hear from you or see you soon!

• Aura is a charitable, not-for-profit, organisation responsible for managing the majority of leisure, libraries and heritage services in Flintshire. Aura is owned by its employees and operates for the benefit of local communities.