Children's Library Services

Bookstart is a national programme that encourages a lifelong love of stories, songs and rhymes by providing free packs for babies and pre-schoolers.

Sharing books with your child is a wonderful way to build a loving relationship, increase their language skills and help them have a lifelong love of books.

The Bookstart Bag for babies under one (see below) will be given to you when you register your baby's birth.  My Bookstart Treasure Chest for three-year-olds (above) is gifted through school nursery classes and other early years settings. Booktouch Packs for visually impaired children (under the age of five) and Bookshine Packs for hearing impaired children (under the age of five) are available on request from the Manchester Bookstart.

And Bookstart's just the start! Babies can join the library from the day they're born.

• It's free for everyone to join
  
• Every library has bright board books and picture books for sharing.
  
• There are no fines to pay for late or damaged children's books
  
• Tiny Tots and Toddler Times- free sessions for babies, toddlers and their carers in many libraries. Stories, songs, rhymes, listening, singing, joining in and sharing...
• Parent and Carer Information Points in all libraries offer books and information about all aspects of parenting
• Story bags for fun and play in most libraries
• CD's and DVD's  for early years

Call into your local library or contact Manchester Bookstart at bookstart@manchester.gov.uk to find out more and get your child Bookstarted!