Library services for children and families

Starting the reading journey

Give your child the best start in life by bringing them to the library to join and borrow books. You’re never too young to join the library, you can be a member from when you’re born and it’s free!

Did you know that reading for pleasure is more important to children’s success than education or background? Libraries are passionate about helping children become lifelong readers - you will find a great stock of books, to suit every age, interest and reading ability including:

books for babies
picture books to share
books to help with learning to read
stories, poems and information books to enjoy
books to help with learning and school
books to help with feelings and challenging situations
dyslexia-friendly books
books for teens and young adults
E-Audiobooks and E-books for children of all ages

Help you children develop a habit of borrowing and returning library books. Don’t worry if you’re a bit late bringing books back – there are no charges for books borrowed by children.

Bookstart

Denbighshire Bookstart gives every baby the opportunity to develop an early love of sharing books and reading, and to become members of their local library by:

giving each baby and toddler a free gift of a bilingual Bookstart bag
offering advice to parents and carers on the benefits of giving books to babies
encouraging library membership
running Rhymetimes in libraries
working in partnership with other early years agencies

Libraries love babies and toddlers, and young children will be given a great welcome. Children under 5 don’t have to pay fines if books are returned late or charges for damaged books. We also know that children can be noisy at times - that's no problem!

Summer Reading Challenge

This is the highlight of the library as thousands of children take part in the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s great for helping your child read for pleasure outside school and helps maintain their reading skills over the summer break. Tracking down alien book thieves? Helping Dennis and Gnasher make mischief in Beanotown? All no problem for our summer readers! Children can take part in a new and exciting challenge every summer, and even earn a medal and certificate for their reading efforts!

Children's Groups

Bookstart RhymeTime

There are regular Bookstart Rhymetimes in most libraries in Denbighshire. These sessions aim to make books fun for babies and children, by using songs, rhymes and movement, to develop language and social skills. Parents will also from the opportunity to make new friends to come to a welcoming and social sessions. The sessions are free of charge but need to be pre-booked on the Denbighshire Bookstart website (external website).

Follow our Denbighshire Bookstart Facebook page (external website) for all the latest news.

Denbighshire Bookstart is part-funded by the Flying Start programme.

Cymraeg i Blant

Cymraeg i Blant Denbighshire hold a number of different children’s groups designed to promote learning and use of the Welsh language between parents and children. Each one has a different theme and rotates between library locations- please phone your local library or check the Cymraeg i Blant Facebook page (external website) to find your next session.

Baby Yoga
Story and Rhyme
Baby Massage

Class visits

Your child may visit the local library with their school to find out what’s available at the library, to browse and borrow the books, look for information and enjoy a story. These visits can be tailored to suit any special requirements.

Special Events

Each Denbighshire library holds a wide range of events throughout the year- these can be anything from Christmas or Halloween themed craft sessions to World book day storytimes. These events are aimed at children and their accompanying families. More information can be found by contacting your local library or checking our libraries Twitter (external website) or libraries Facebook (external website) pages.