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Services

For children

Children's Library Services

Where are we?

In the Central Library, Halifax – just ask at the Lending Library Enquiry Desk or ring 01422 392619 (csls@calderdale.gov.uk or fax: 01422 392615)

What do we do?

Co-ordinate and plan activities for children in Calderdale Libraries to make books and reading come alive!

Come and join us!

You can join the library at any age, it's free!

Just come along with a parent or carer or fill in an application form. No id is needed.

You'll be able to borrow books straight away!

There are no fines on children's tickets and we don't charge for damage to children's books on under-5s tickets.

Are you a private day nursery or a childminder?

You could have a Pre-School Ticket, up to 25 books for 6 weeks, fine free, to use in your setting or home

Whatever your age, there's something for you!

• Bright board books, sturdy enough for the toughest baby's teeth!
• Picture books for sharing stories, clear and colourful, fun and educational
• Nursery rhymes and finger rhymes, let Incy Wincy Spider introduce your child to the rhythms of language!
• Books introducing numbers, colours, shapes, first events
• Books about the world around us, expanding your child' knowledge and understanding
• Parents Collections, in bigger branches, with examples of all the above, plus some help with toddler taming!
• Learning to read, make it more fun with our Starters 1,2,3 collections: a bit more interesting than reading schemes
• 8 or older? Huge range of stories and information books, not just for homework, but for fun too. Do you know who holds the record for the most Smarties eaten in 3 minutes using chopsticks? Or the most expensive burger ever made? Or the most baked beans flicked? Down at the library we do!
• Stories on CDs and on tape, listen to Harry Potter on long car journeys or thrill to Horrid Henry's escapades with a drink and a rest in the afternoon
• Stories to help children cope with the sadder side of life, death, divorce, bullying
• Are you a family living with a disability? We have Access Collections at Halifax and Todmorden which have information on and stories about different disabilities, if you can't find what you need, tell us, we will happily buy material to demand
• What next? Ask our staff for suggestions, they have booklists and ideas to help you if you just don't know what to read after Harry Potter or Tracey Beaker or Alex Rider or Lemony Snicket!

  Computers! Our computers are free to use, and most branches have some computers just for children to use. In bigger branches, there are PCs just for teenagers too.

  • Time is limited to 1 hour a day so that there's a chance for everyone to have a go
  • The computers are linked to the internet and you can have 4 free print outs for homework searches
  • We hope to have MS Office available on some computers soon, at the moment this is only available in the Central Reference library in Halifax, and you'll need to book if you'd like to use the word processors (01422 392631)

Stuff to do

Do you like Reading?

• Are you a Ravenous Reader?!

  Our reading game for 5 to 11 year olds, ask for a game card, read two books each month, and collect a different prize each month. It's easy and fun to do, and if you collect 9 game cards, you can be entered for a prize draw for a bigger prize! It's free!

• Summer Reading Challenge

  Every summer we join in the national reading challenge, sign up at any library, collect your log book and start reading 6 books over the summer holidays. For every book you read, you'll get a prize of some kind. If you read all 6, you get to enter a draw to come to a big show where a famous author will present you with your golden Olympic-style medal (and make you laugh and laugh). It's free!

• Chatterbooks

  Reading clubs for 9-11 year olds. We have 16 Chatterbooks Clubs which meet once a month after school to chat about books, do activities and meet authors and poets. Most groups are already full, but you could ask at your local library after checking the links below to our groups:

  • Elland
  • Stainland
  • Rastrick
  • Todmorden
  • Beechwood Road
  • Jubilee
  • Hipperholme
  • Mixenden
  • Southowram
  • Bailiff Bridge
  • Brighouse
  • Skircoat
  • Northowram
  • Hebden Bridge
  • Ripponden
  • Shelf

Do you like joining in?

• Are you a Busy Baby?

  Busy Babies meet every week in the Central Children's Library during term, and occasionally at other libraries throughout Calderdale.

• Messy Monkeys and Jolly Tots

  Educational and craft programmes aimed at 2-3 year olds and their parents/carers. The programme run in several Calderdale libraries and registration is essential to secure a place. Messy Monkeys is run in partnership with the WEA.

• During holidays a Rhyme Time (up to 2 years) and Storytots (2-5 years) programme operates throughout Calderdale. Ring the Early Years Team for further details on 01422 392638

• TellTales

  Storytimes for 4-7 years. They usually last for 1 hour and run during the holiday periods.

• Reel Adventure Film Club

  See films for free for 12-15 year olds. You must be a library member to come to Reel Adventures but there are no charges. We often show DVDs before their release in the UK, and you can write film reviews for the website and Calderdale Call. Quizzes and prizes too.

Bookstart

All Calderdale Libraries offer Bookstart packs to babies and toddlers at 7 months, 18 months and 3 years. Calderdale residents just need to bring along their child's Red Book to collect beautiful packs full of books, activities and ideas, and it's all free! Further information may be obtained from our Bookstart Officer on 01422 392638.

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