Babies get their books early
Released: 24 June 2008
A city council initiative is making sure that Wolverhampton’s youngest residents do not miss out on the joy of reading.
The council’s Library and Registrars Services have teamed up to ensure that every new baby in the city is given a library ticket when their birth is registered. The innovative scheme coincides with celebrations and events to mark 2008 as The National Year of Reading.
More than 3,000 congratulations cards showing a teddy bear holding a library card have been provided to the Registrar team - which should be enough for every new baby born in Wolverhampton for the next 12 months.
Sharron Harrison, Wolverhampton Library Service’s Audience Development Manager said: “We came up with the idea when we were thinking of ways to make sure that everyone was involved during The National Year of Reading. Babies are never too young to use a library and we encourage membership from birth.
“Parents can sometimes be worried that young children might damage library books and this might stop them from using a library. We realise that accidents happen and so we don’t make any charge if books get damaged.”
Supported by all libraries across England, The National Year of Reading is a campaign to encourage adults, children and young people to join their local library and enjoy the events, activities and fun taking place.
Sharron added: “We have baby clubs, family activities, story-time sessions for children, visits by famous authors and lots more planned to take us through to the end of December.
“It’s free to join the library, to borrow books, to use the internet and to take part in our events and activity sessions. If you visit your local library, staff there will be happy to give you your library card so that you can start to enjoy the benefits straight away too.
“We’re so pleased that Superintendent Registrar Holly Holdsworth and her team are helping us to reach parents of new babies and to encourage them to use their local library.”
More details can be found by visiting www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries or www.yearofreading.org.uk.
Issue by the press office.