Libraries love babies and children…

• You are never too young to have your own library card and parents are encouraged to get cards for their babies.  There are no fines for over due children’s books taken out on a child’s ticket so if you are a few days late returning them – no worries!  And remember you can always renew books over the phone or internet.
• Libraries really are friendly places to go, and there is always a children’s area where nobody minds of your child makes noise or wants to look at lots of books.
• Books are for using and understandably accidents happen, allowances are made for damage as long as it does not happen too often.
• Most libraries have story times or rhyme times
• All libraries are in the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Scheme.
• The Bookstart Bear Club is a fun and engaging free membership club for all babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.  Collect paw print stamps, certificates and eventually your own Bookstart Bear.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services to find your local library service

Useful links

• Bookstart for families | BookTrust
• Resources and tools for early language development and parental engagement | National Literacy Trust
• Importance of Early Literacy for Ages 0 – 5 | Little By Little Readers (lblreaders.org)