Bookstart is a national scheme, which gives out free books to children. These packs are distributed through health visitors, libraries and early year’s settings. Usually your Health Visitor will give your child their first two bookpacks at 7-9 months and 18 months – 2 years. Then they receive their third bookpack usually through an Early Years Setting at around 3 years. All of the packs are available from your local library.

Bookstart packs

0 - 12 months (pack 1)	18 - 30 months (pack 2)	36 - 48 months (pack 3)

Bookstart also encourages families to use the library and borrow books for your baby - there is no age limit to join, and it's free. Even tiny babies can have their own library ticket! Our youngest members are just a few weeks old.

All our lending libraries have special collections of books and magazines for children - these include:

• Board books for babies and toddlers
• Picture books
• Books for children who are learning to read
• Audiobooks on tape and CD

All of these are free to borrow.
We understand that little hands (and teeth!) can be rough on our books, and so there is no charge for damage to books borrowed on a child's own library ticket - up to their 12th birthday.

All our libraries - except the Local Studies and City Mobile Libraries - hold regular storytimes for babies and children under 5. You can spend a pleasant half-hour with your child, enjoying the stories and finding out about the benefits of sharing books with babies and toddlers.

For more information contact your nearest library. Find your nearest library

Our specialist team of Bookstart Project Officers has close links with Sure Start and holds special events for families with children under 4.  We also have a specialist team of Children's Librarians who select our children's books and organise children's activities and events.

The Bookstart Team and our Children's Librarians can visit nurseries and playgroups by arrangement, to hold storytimes and to talk to staff and children about books. See Library Visits.

Our special services for babies and children under-5 include:

• Advice on children's books and reading
• Regular storytimes for under-5's.  Children's Storytime
• Visits to nurseries and playgroups by our Children's Librarians or our Bookstart Team. See Library Visits

For further details contact the Children's Services Resource Centre:

01332 255411

01332 380712 (Minicom)

 childrens.services@derby.gov.uk    

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