Scheme offering free books to children staring school launched at Bishopstown library

The latest edition of a national initiative offering free books to children starting school this September was launched this week in Bishopstown Library.

The My Little Library Bag initiative is free to every child aged from four to six across Ireland. Each bag contains a library card and books to help children prepare for starting school, along with supporting resources for parents.

Bags and their contents are available in both Irish and English and can be picked up from any public library.

Since the My Little Library Bag initiative was rolled out for the first time in 2022, tens of thousands of young children have picked up their book bags and joined their local library.

Last year alone, 20,000 young children benefited from the initiative and became library members.

This year, the initiative was launched by Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and minister of state at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaelteacht.

Joining Mr Buttimer was Michelle Lynch from the Cork City Childcare Committee, along with children and teachers from local pre-school Cheeky Cherubs.

Connecting

Mr Buttimer said he had visited many libraries around the country in the last year, and public library staff nationwide shared his enthusiasm for connecting young families with the national library service.

“We are very lucky in Ireland that every child has access to books and stories through their local library,” he said.

“This initiative is a lovely way of helping parents support their children with their transition to primary school and their learning and development.” 

Yvonne Moloney, executive librarian at Bishopstown Library, said the initiative has proven to be a very successful and important resource for children and their parents in the run up to starting primary school.

“It can be a very exciting time for many children and their parents, but it can also be a very daunting time. The Little Library bag has become an invaluable support to help them prepare for this next stage in their learning journey,” said Ms Moloney.

Dr Stuart Hamilton, head of libraries development at the Local Government Management Agency, said the initiative introduces young children to the joy of reading, supports early language and literacy development, and helps them feel at home in their library from an early age.

“Libraries are welcoming, community spaces, and this initiative is a wonderful first step in building a lifelong relationship with reading and learning,” he said.

The My Little Library initiative is a collaboration between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and Local Government Ireland.