Children in Carlisle are in for a treat including the chance to meet the ‘Bookstart Bear’ as Cumbria County Council Library Service launches ‘Bookcrawl’.
Carlisle Library is hosting a teddy bears picnic to celebrate the launch of Bookcrawl on Friday 1 July between 10.30am and 11.15am. There will be stories, rhymes, a visit from the Bookstart Bear and free refreshments. Parents and carers with young children are invited to bring a teddy along and join in the fun.
The library will also be holding a free baby photo-shoot on the day. If you want a photo taken please ring the library on 01228 607310 to book your place in advance.
The Bookcrawl scheme 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."