Children in and around Workington and Maryport will be offered free books and the chance to meet the ‘Bookstart Bear’ as Cumbria County Council Library Service launches ‘Book Crawl’.
On Tuesday 28th June (10.30 - 11.30) the Bookstart Bear will visit Workington’s Minto Centre onboard the Mobile Library. The visit will involve stories, free gifts, and a tour of the mobile van.
At 14.00 on the same day Book Crawl launches in Maryport Library with stories, gifts and light refreshments on offer. Parents with young children are very welcome to turn up on the day - no tickets or booking necessary!
The scheme is an extension of Bookstart and is aimed at promoting library membership and use to children aged 6 and under. Children who take part collect ‘smiley face’ stamps on their Book Crawl card with every visit. They can then collect rewards as they go and when their card is full they will get a Book Crawl ball and certificate.
Bookstart is a national initiative that aims to provide every baby in the country with a Bookstart pack, which contains free books and information for parents on how to get the most from reading with their child.
A competition to find the youngest baby to join a library also starts on the 1st July. Every three months, the youngest baby to have joined a library in the county will win a supply of nappies worth £150. There will be runners-up awards worth £25 for the youngest babies in each of the remaining five library groups.
Councillor Roger Bingham, spokesman for the library service says:
"It is crucial to encourage children to enjoy books. All children, no matter what their age, can really benefit from reading with their parents. I hope these events and competitions will encourage more people to come along and join a library."