Children in and around Barrow will be offered free books and the chance to meet the ‘Bookstart Bear’ as Cumbria County Council Library Service launches ‘Bookstart’.
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.
On Monday 27th June the Bookstart Bear will visit two playgroups onboard the Mobile Library. The visits will involve stories, colouring in, and a tour of the mobile van. The venues are:-
- Askam Kid’s Zone from 10.45 to 11.30am
- Hindpool Nursery School from 1.45 to 2.30 pm.
On Friday 1st July an "Amazing Maisy" event will launch Bookstart in Barrow Library (starting 10.45am) with Maisy Mouse stories, storysacks, toys and colouring in. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits will be available. Parents with young children are very welcome to turn up on the day - no tickets or booking necessary!
The same event also marks the countywide launch of "Bookcrawl". The scheme is an extension of Bookstart and is aimed at promoting library membership and use to children under 6. Children who take part collect ‘smiley face’ stamps on their Bookcrawl card with every visit. They can then collect prizes as they go and when their card is full they will get a Bookcrawl ball and certificate.
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."