Cambridgeshire Libraries offer a wide range of services for children of all ages.
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For the latest news and children events visit www.cambridgeshire.net or register to receive our e-newsletter.
Babies and toddlers
Libraries have a wide range of books available for babies and young children to borrow for free. For more details download What’s in your local library for babies and toddlers.
We also provide regular activities, such as Rhymetimes and Storytimes.
Bookstart
Bookstart supports parents to enjoy books with their child from an early age. It aims to provide free packs of books for all babies and preschoolers. You can ask at your local library if you have difficulty getting hold of your pack. We offer:
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Bookstart Baby Pack - you'll get your Bookstart pack in your baby's first year, usually from your health visitor or other health professional.
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Bookstart Treasure Pack - your child will get their pack when they are 3–4 years old, usually from their nursery or playgroup.
The following packs are also available to order:
The Bookstart Bear Club is a fun and free library membership reward scheme for all babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
- Get your free membership pack from your local library.
- Share books and attend Rhymetimes or Storytimes
- Get rewards and collect certificates
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5-11 years old
All libraries have books, graphic novels, CDs and DVDs catering for children of this age range. For more details, download What's in your local library for children.
In our children’s libraries you will also find children’s PCs with fun, book-related and useful websites for homework. They are free to use for 1 hour at a time.We have put together some safe surfing guidelines for children and parents.
Each year, thousands of children take part in the annual Summer Reading Challenge, a great way to encourage them to keep reading over the long summer holidays.
We also offer a variety of other holiday activities. Please check www.cambridgeshire.net for details.
If you need help finding good books to read with your children, ask the library staff. You can also look at the websites below for recommended reads, information on favourite children's authors and the latest children's book reviews.
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Stories in other languages
Several of our libraries, especially Central Library Cambridge, Huntingdon and Wisbech, have picture books and storybooks in a wide variety of languages for children whose first language is not English. Many of the books are bilingual.
- The books have a sticker on the spine which has JFL + the first three letters of the language (e.g. JFL BEN for books in Bengali, JFL SPA for Spanish books).
- To search the library catalogue for these books, click on 'Advanced' search, and in the Dewey Class box, type JFL + the first three letters of the language e.g. JFL CHI for children's books in Chinese.
- You can request any of the books free of charge.
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Special educational needs
We are committed to providing a service to children with special needs and their families, so that they can enjoy the pleasure of stories. Our service includes:
- Bag Book packs (multi-sensory kits)
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Barrington Stoke - fiction for dyslexic children
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Bookshine and Booktouch
- ClearVision braille books
- Giant print and large print books
- New Experience books
- Stories on CD
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11-16 years old
Whether you are looking for a great read, help with coursework or advice on what to do after your GCSEs, we can help. And don't forget: all Cambridgeshire Libraries have PCs you can use for free. You simply need a library card and PIN to log on.
- Find great fiction, Manga, graphic novels, and CDs. Download What’s in your local library for young people.
- Through our online resources you can access dictionaries, encyclopedias and business information to help with homework and coursework, all on websites you can trust.
Remember: never give out personal details and don't believe everything you read on the Internet! For some really useful advice on staying safe online take a look at Think U Know and Chatdanger.
- Revision guides are shelved with the adult books on particular subjects. There's a wide range of non-fiction books and popular biographies and leisure interest titles.
- We take on volunteers aged 12-15 in the summer term to help with our annual Summer Reading Challenge. Ask at your local library for details.
Your school will give you advice on what to do after your GCSEs. There are also some really useful websites you can check out for yourself:
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Youthoria is the Youth Support Service (formerly Connexions) website for young people in Cambridgeshire. Here you'll find information and advice, entertainment and activities.
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UCAS Progress is the website for 14-19 year olds to find courses and training in Cambridgeshire.
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Read it Again! (children’s picture book award)
In addition to the services listed above, we organise Read It Again! (the Cambridgeshire Libraries children’s picture book award), and various services to early years providers and schools, for professionals working with children and their families.
Use the contact details on the right of this page, for more details.
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