...parents, carers, childminders and playgroup leaders.
Information for parents and carers
- What's the children's library service?
- Need some help?
- What about the computers in the library?
- What else is available?
Information for under fives groups and childminders
What's the children's library service?
- It's free to join the library service
- Children don't pay fines on overdue items
- Books can be reserved by children free of charge
- Each library has a range of books and audio CDs
- There is material for children and young people of all ages and abilities
- Some libraries also have music CDs and DVDs. These can be borrowed for a small charge
- Large print and clear vision books are available for children with visual impairment
- Some books are available in dual language and community languages.
Need some help?
- Children's librarians are happy to offer advice on new titles and books to stretch committed and to tempt reluctant readers
- Homework help is available and most libraries have a homework collection for use in the library.
What about computers?
- Library PCs are free to use for homework, fun or pursuing their own hobbies, there's a small charge for printing
- Children can use CDRoms and word processing as well as accessing the internet, NeLib - the online library catalogue, and Pinpoint - the list of groups and societies
- The children's PCs are filtered
- To make it easier for children to find interesting sites we have created the children's gateway to the internet. It also includes links to recommended parenting sites
- Before using the internet children need to have a form signed by a parent or guardian.
What else is available?
- Regular rhyme times and story times are held in many libraries
- Summer activities
- Summer reading challenge
- Summer holiday mobile takes books to children who don't live near a library
- Every three years we run a survey to seek the opinions of children and young people.
Are you the leader of a playgroup or a parent and toddler group?
- You can borrow up to 20 items, there are no fines or charges for damaged items
- Books can be borrowed on long-term loan (up to 52 weeks) if rerquired.
- To arrange for your group to visit the library for a special storytime with a children's and youth librarian. contact your local library
- Children's co-ordinators can also visit groups to talk to parents and play leaders about sharing books and developing early literacy.
Are you a childminder?
- You can borrow up to 20 items for use by children in your care. There are no charges for damaged books or fines.
- Books can be borrowed on long-term loan (up to 52 weeks) if rerquired.
- To start using the service please bring your registered childminder card to the library
- Children's co-ordinators can visit childminder groups to talk about sharing books and developing early literacy
- Staff can offer advice or help in your choice of books.
