Services for families

Middlesbrough Libraries work in partnership with health visitors to distribute Bookstart Baby packs to all children in their first year.

Bag Books are multi-sensory story packs which offer accessible stories for those who cannot benefit from mainstream books. These can be borrowed by parents. Please contact Central Library on 01642 729002 for further information.

Bookstart gifts free books to all children at two key ages before they start school to help families read together every day and inspire children with a rewarding love of books.

Weekly craft activities take place at Acklam Community Hub. Discover a different story each week and get involved with fun-filled activities. Open to all children who can sit, listen, and participate. Recommended age: 5 to 12 years.

Please contact Acklam Community Hub on 01642 817810 for more information.

The Summer Reading Challenge takes place across libraries every year with a different theme and name.

Children aged 4 to 11 who sign up will have to read at least six books during the summer holidays. They'll get a folder and collect gifts along the way, and can also attend workshops throughout the holidays.

After completing the challenge, children will get a medal and certificate at the annual award ceremony.

Children who take part are more enthusiastic about reading and maintain their reading levels over the holidays.

Every three year old child accessing a school nursery, a private nursery (a nursery not linked to a school), or childminder will get their treasure pack via Middlesbrough Libraries.

Time to Read promotes reading for pleasure with the gift of a book pack, including a guidance booklet for parents and carers on shared reading.

The book pack is gifted to reception-aged children, usually through a class visit to the library, as part of a scheme funded by Pearson Publishing and Booktrust.

Contact

If you have any questions or comments about any of our services that we provide to families and young people, please contact Central Library (01642 729002) or one of the Community Hubs.

We welcome class visits, and schools are invited to contact their local branch to book a session. We offer introductory library skills sessions and themed story times.

We also offer class visits linked to the curriculum, which let children find out more about a particular subject, for example Ancient Greeks, people who help us, Chinese New Year, and pirates. These sessions are aimed at children in KS1 and KS2.

Contact

If you're a teacher and would like to organise a class visit or speak to a member of staff regarding our services to schools, please get in touch. You can email classvisits@middlesbrough.gov.uk or phone the Community Hub Officers on 01642 729419 or 01642 729421.