Skip to content

Children, schools and families - library services

> Back to top

Membership

Joining the library is free and children can join at any age. A parent or guardian must give signed permission for under 16s.

Join the library

> Back to top

What can you borrow?

  • children's CDs and DVDs;
  • books including parent and toddler collections;
  • a wide range of information books.
  • spoken word CDs or talking books including stories, songs and nursery rhymes.

> Back to top

Activities

Activities for children are held in most libraries e.g. story times and special events during the holidays.

Search for Rhyme Times - for 0 to 2 year-olds

Search for Story Stomps - for 2 to 4 year-olds

Fantastic Fun With Words 2012

Sally's Back ... with the story YOU helped to write - and there's a brand new competition as well!

Following on from the success of last year's Fantastic Fun With Words "Story On Demand" event, author Sally Tonge is back with the story YOU helped to write - and there's a brand new competition as well!

 

Listen to the story here:

Pinky the dog's magic surprise (mp3, 27.7 Mb)

 

Illustration Competition

 After you've enjoyed listening to the story illustrate a character or part of the story and submit it to us.

Competition full entry rules & extra information (pdf, 79 Kb)


> Back to top

Early years - reading schemes and events for the pre-school generation

What can the library offer under fives?

  • lots of lovely board and picture books to share with your child
  • books on a range of issues for carers to share with children (Children and Family Matters collections)
  • loan of DVDs for a charge
  • help with choosing books for leisure reading and information
  • information about local events
  • Rhyme Time and Story Stomp sessions
  • special events and activities
  • we welcome visits from pre-school settings to share books

Babies and books

It's never too early or too late to start sharing books with your baby. Sharing books from an early age helps your child to develop...and it's fun!

At your baby's seven to nine month developmental check, your health visitor will give you a free bag with a free picture book and lots of reading tips. Enjoy listening and talking, loving and sharing books!

For more details contact Warwickshire Bookstart:

Pre-school year

Every child aged three to four years old should receive a Treasure Bag of books at their Nursery School or other Pre-School setting.

Bookstart Bear Club

Children under five, in any part of the county, can join this fun club:

  • when you register, your child will be given a membership pack with certificate, door hanger and passport
  • visit the library six times with your child and borrow books or attend an activity session
  • each visit get a paw-print stamp in the passport – remember to bring this with you on every visit
  • every time you reach six new paw-print stamps, your child will receive a colourful certificate to keep
  • there are 10 certificates to collect!

Rhyme Time

Most of our libraries hold Rhyme Time sessions for 0 to 2 year olds and their carers. Why not join us for half an hour of singing and rhymes?

Each fortnight we choose a different theme and include rhymes related to it. So whether it is 'creepy crawlies', ‘teddies’ or ‘journeys’ there should be something to get everyone’s toes tapping.

Anyone can join in, but it's a good opportunity to choose books to take home and enjoy. Remember you can join our libraries and borrow from the day you are born!

Ask in your local library about the next session or try the Events Database - search for Rhyme Times near you

Story Stomp

A free, fun session for 2 - 4 year-olds and their parents and carers to follow on from Rhyme Time. A mix of stories and rhymes to help children's speech and language development and introduce new books and rhymes to families.

Ask in your local library about their next session or try the Events Database - Search for Story Stomps

> Back to top

Switched on to reading for looked after children and foster families

Borrowing from libraries is great – until the books are overdue or the DVD has disappeared when it needs to go back. Many foster families find it particularly difficult – more children to keep track of, young people moving on unexpectedly - and opt out of the chance to use libraries, because they are worried about owing money in fines or lost books. We want to make it easier for you to use us with Switched on to Reading

Join and borrow

Looked after children and foster carers can join any Warwickshire library and enjoy extra benefits including:

  • more books;
  • some free DVD loans;
  • no parental guarantor for under-16s.

Book collections

You can find ‘children and family matters’ collections at Atherstone, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stratford and Warwick libraries. All are available for loan and can be requested at any library.

The books include stories for all ages, books to share about issues of being fostered and information books for carers.

Switched onto reading - being looked after booklist (pdf, 2.123Mb)

Switched onto Reading - children and family matters (pdf, 141Kb)

Switched onto Reading - Warwick Collection (pdf, 83.9Kb)

Switched on to reading report (pdf, 5.8Mb)

> Back to top

Hop, skip and race into reading!

Don’t miss these fun collections for young readers. If you are learning to read - you will find lots of cool stories just right for you.

If you are a parent you will enjoy sharing these books with your child and know you are helping them learn new words and become more confident at reading.

You can find the collections at all of our libraries.

  • Hop - fun picture books with very simple storylines, with a few clear words to a page and great pictures to give children visual clues, lots of colour and rhythm and rhyme to help children just starting to learn to read but who are still happy with picture stories;
  • Skip - entertaining first stories, with large well-spaced type and colour illustrations on every page, they will help children develop their reading skills, whilst reading aloud to parents and friends or starting to read on their own.
  • Race - irresistible stories for children who are beginning to read alone and want to practise their new skills.

> Back to top

Reading with your child

Sharing books is a vital part of learning to read:

  • You can share at any time - not just at bedtime;
  • Your child may want to read to you;
  • Read aloud together - allow your child to lead the speed of reading;
  • Take turns - you read a section, your child reads a section. With young children it is a good idea to follow the writing with your finger ensuring that no words are hidden.

Help your child when they get stuck.

  • Always be positive;
  • Don't rush your child;
  • The pictures will help;
  • Reading the rest of the sentence may help;
  • It is important to keep the flow, so help your child, then move on;
  • If there are too many difficult words, read the book to your child yourself.

Helpful hints

  • Encourage your child to choose his or her own books;
  • Don't worry if they keep choosing the same favourites;
  • Don't put pressure on your child to get "harder" books or say "that's too easy". Reading should be fun.
  • Find a quiet, comfortable place with no distractions. You can't compete with the television!;
  • Reading at bedtime is a pleasant way to end the day but only for as long as your child wants;
  • Encourage your child to guess what's going to happen next;
  • Set a good example by reading yourself, and by choosing books at the library!

> Back to top