Facilities for Children and Young People

Every library has a children's area with:

• books, including books in community languages
• story CDs
• music
• magazines and comics
• games and toys to play with in the library
  

Other resources available for children include:

• DVDs - which can be borrowed at all libraries
• PlayStation to use in the library
• Toy libraries at Mildmay, North and West libraries

 

 

Become an Ambassador for Reading in 2012

Professionals working with families and members of the public are being recruited across the capital to become London Literacy Ambassadors to introduce families they know to reading activities such as story and rhyme times in libraries.

The idea, the brainchild of the National Literacy Trust and supported by the Mayor of London, is to get more parents involved in their child’s reading and learning and recognises that the best way to get families to read more is by getting people they know to nominate them. Look at the poster under Downloadable Documents below.

If you’re interested in doing this in Islington, you can apply either at www.literacytrust.org.uk/volunteer or by contacting

geoff.james@islington.gov.uk

 

Sat Dads

Dads - share some quality time with your kids with staff from the Mildmay Library at New River Green Children's Centre

• Staff led story and rhyme
• Ideas for books to share with your child
• Meet other dads
• Find out about what else the library has to offer

Drop-in and informal - no booking, no charge, no fuss First Saturday in the month in term time from 10am – 12.30pm for dads and male carers including uncles and grandads with young children up to around 6. New River Green Children's Centre is in Ramsey Walk on the Marquess Estate off Essex Road.

 

Children's, Teens and Parenting Magazines

Click on The link under Downloadable Documents below for a printable list of the magazines we take and where they can be found.

 

Under Fives

Baby Bounce action rhyme times (0 - 18 months) and Under 5s story and rhyme times (18 – 48 months) run in all Islington libraries. Find out more by clicking on the link to the 'Under-Fives Leaflet' under Downloadable Documents below

Pick up your two free Bookstart packs from your health visitor (0-12 months) or Children’s Centre, nursery or playgroup (36-48 months) and get your child into the reading and learning habit early!

Nappy changing facilities are also available at all libraries. Contact your local library for more details.

 

Toy Libraries

In partnership with Sure Start, we operate three Toy Libraries at the Mildmay, West and North Libraries.

These fun, strong, and safe toys will help young children learn all sorts of skills such as improving concentration, discovering shapes, colours and sizes, developing language and dexterity skills, creating imaginative stories and forming social skills such as becoming independent, sharing and learning from others. Parents can borrow up to three toys for three weeks, free of charge.

The toys can be borrowed at the following times:

• Mildmay Library: Mondays 11.30am - 1pm
• North Library: Tuesdays 11.30am - 1pm
• West Library: Wednesdays 11.30am - 1pm (term time only)

Click on the Toy Libraries link below for more information.

You can also contact Geoff James regarding the Toy Libraries.
Tel: 020 7527 6997

Homework Clubs

Need help with your homework or would like someone listen to you read? There are ten Homework Clubs, based at  Archway, Finsbury, Mildmay,North, John Barnes, N4, South, Central, West and Lewis Carroll Libraries. Homework Club staff are on hand to help with homework and topic problems, give advice and help you access support websites and book collections. We also set aside time to listen to children read to help them gain confidence. The clubs run in term-time only. You don't have to pay and there is no need to book.

For details of the times, click on the Homework Clubs link below.

 

Parents and Special Needs Collections

The parents information collections cover everything from advice on bringing up your child to choosing a name for your newborn baby. Special needs information is aimed at children dealing with challenging concepts or moments in their lives, such as divorce, death, disability, or starting school.

Local Information

There is a section in all adult and children's libraries with advice and information on everyday issues, often in the form of leaflets which can be taken away. Information for children and young people ranges from advice on health, education and child abuse to activities and events. We can also refer you to local groups and services.

Membership

Children can join the children's library on the day they are born! Parents or guardians just need to fill out and sign the membership card and the best thing is, of course, it's free to join. Children and young people can borrow:

• seven books and four music items if you are 0-12 years
• ten books and six music items if you are 13-17 years

Books can be borrowed for three weeks, music for two weeks.

If you have any comments or suggestions to make on the service we provide, please get in touch with your local library, (click on the link to the right, under Related Information, to find details of your nearest library).