Read all about a host of activities at your local library this May

Wolverhampton's libraries are hosting a wide range of activities this May, with something for book lovers of all ages.

Penn Library's new Adult Reading Groups are now up and running. A Crime Club meets on the first Friday of the month from 10.30-11.30am, with the next gathering this Friday (6 May), while a general reading group meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 2.15-3.15pm, with the next session today (Tuesday 3 May).

A Parent Friendly Reading Group, aimed at parents and carers who have just dropped their children off at school or nursery, takes place at the same venue on Friday 20 May at 10am, and younger children are welcome. For details call Penn Library on 01902 556281.

Book lovers can enjoy a Knit and Natter at Bilston Library every Friday from 2-4pm, Spring Vale Library every Tuesday from 10am-noon, and Long Knowle Library every other Monday from 10am-noon; the next sessions at Long Knowle take place on 16 and 30 May.

People can understand how to unlock more of the power of their mobile phones and tablets by joining Getting The Most From Your Digital Device sessions at Bilston Library from 2-4pm on Tuesdays and 10.30-12.30pm on Fridays until 24 and 27 May respectively, and at Whitmore Reans Library from 2-4pm on Wednesdays until 25 May. Contact Bilston library on 01902 556253 or Whitmore Reans Library on 01902 556269 for more details.

As part of the StoryTrails initiative, people will be able to experience immersive storytelling technologies and try out augmented reality and virtual reality at a special session taking place at Central Library from 5-7pm on 30 May. Feedback from the session will help to develop these experiences before they go live to the public later this year. Sign up at Central Library or online at http://bit.ly/story-trailsWolverhampton.

Starfish Social Group is meeting at Penn Library from 10-11.30am and at Warstones Library from 2-3.30pm on Thursday 12 May to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, while Central Library will be hosting a Scrabble and Chess session on Friday 13 May from 2-3.30pm.

And to mark Dementia Awareness Week, there will be a Memory Matters exhibition at Central Library in collaboration with Wolverhampton's Carer Support Team and the Alzheimer’s Society from 10-11.30am on 17 May.

Meanwhile, the city's libraries are marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a wide range of activities over the coming weeks.

Libraries are participating in the National Big Jubilee Read between now and 5 June, while the regular Story and Rhyme time sessions taking place between 23 May and 6 June will have a Jubilee theme. School children are being invited to write congratulatory letters to the Queen which will be made into a book and sent to her.

A special display at Central Library from 23 May to 6 June will look at the Queen's life through the decades, while from 23 May to 10 June the Bob Jones Community Hub will display a timeline of the Queen's life.

Wednesfield History Society presents a display of the Queen's life and times, from her coronation to the present day at Ashmore Park Library on 30 May and Long Knowle Library on 31 May, while there will be Jubilee activities at Warstones Library on 30 May, including a Teddy Bears Picnic, Punch & Judy, face painting and magic.

Children will even be able to have a "selfie" taken with the Queen thanks to the latest green screen technology which will be visiting selected libraries from 30 May to 1 June.

Regular term time sessions for youngsters are continuing, with Baby Booktimes for 0-3-year-olds at Central Library on Tuesdays from 10.30-11.30am, Long Knowle Library on Fridays from 2-2.30pm, Penn Library on Thursdays from 2.15-3pm, Spring Vale Library on Fridays from 10-10.45am and Whitmore Reans Library on Tuesdays from 10.30-11am.

Rhyme Time sessions for under fours take place at Bilston Library on Wednesdays from 11-11.30am, Low Hill Library on Fridays from 12.45-1.15pm, Pendeford Library on Tuesdays from 2.30-3pm and Tettenhall Library on Fridays from 10.30-11am.

There are also a number of storytime sessions, one for under fours at Ashmore Park Library on Mondays from 11-11.30am, one for under fives at Warstones Library on Tuesdays from 2.30-3pm, and those for over fours on Saturdays at East Park Library from 11.30am-noon and Central Library from 12.15-1pm.

Robert Johnson, City Librarian, said: "Our libraries are back open for business and we're delighted to be able to host such a wide range of in-person events once more, for both adults and children, and to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a range of activities over the coming weeks."

It's free to join Wolverhampton's libraries – to find out more, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries, call 01902 552025 or follow the library service on social media at www.facebook.com/wolveslibraries and www.twitter.com/wolveslibraries.