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What we have for children in libraries

We have a wide range of services for children and young people. You are never too young to use your library, everyone is welcome.

Information for children under 5 and babies

Children of any age can join the library starting from the day they are born!

Books are free to borrow and there are no overdue charges for children.

Share a story

Babies love bright colourful pictures and the sound of your voice so what better way to spend time with your baby than to share a story together. The library has lots of different stories to choose from. Don’t worry about enthusiastic little fingers or dribble as library staff are understanding – we just want you to have fun with books!

The library has all sorts of items such as:

  • board books for babies
  • picture books for all ages
  • nursery rhyme books
  • stories for beginners learning to read
  • caring for children collections. Offering support in helping children or their carers cope with new or worrying situations or experiences
  • books, rhymes and songs to borrow from our e-library including e-audiobooks

Free fun at the library

We have lots of activities on offer for young children at your local library. Come join us for:

  • Rhyme times: fun, free and interactive 30 minute sessions for babies and toddlers. Clap, tap, sing, wiggle and jiggle together
  • Story times: a great way to support attention and listening skills as well as speech and language development
  • Library gets lively: lively sessions of stories, rhymes and a quick craft or colouring

Bookstart packs

Has your child had a Bookstart baby pack?

Dorset Library Service works with Bookstart gifting free books to young children.

Bookstart Baby Pack

This is a universal gifting programme for all babies. Bookstart packs contain books, resources, tips, and guidance to help families enjoy and share stories together.

In Dorset babies usually receive these packs at their 4-month development check through their Health Visitor. If you registered your child elsewhere and/or haven't received a pack, you can pick one up from your local Dorset library.

Bookstart for children with additional needs

Bookstart is for every child. Families are entitled to any of these packs in addition to the standard Bookstart packs. You can request packs via your:

  • health visitor
  • health centre
  • early years setting
  • local library

Packs include:

  • Booktouch: for children who are blind or partially sighted. Specially created for babies and children aged 1 to 4 years old. Packs contain two specially chosen touch and feel books
  • Bookshine: for children who are deaf. Specially created for babies and young children aged 1 to 4 years old. Packs contain two specially chosen books designed to stimulate children's senses, including a touch and feel book and a nursery rhyme book featuring British Sign Language signs
  • Bookstart Star: for children who have conditions that impact on their fine motor skills. Created for children aged 3 to 5 years old. Packs contain two books with tactile pages and finger puppets for playing along with the stories and guidance sheets

Dual languages

If English is your second language, then dual language books may be available for you to share with your pre-school child. Please ask your Health Visitor or Early Years Setting to check about availability.

For more information about Bookstart’s resources, and the different packs available please visit the Bookstart Website.

Information for children over 5

The library has all sorts of information for children, such as:

Free fun at the library

There are lots of fun, free activities on offer at the library, such as:

  • Lego clubs
  • code clubs
  • Dungeons & Dragons clubs

and much much more

Information for teenagers

Libraries are more than just books, you can:

Volunteer at Dorset Libraries

Find out about opportunities to volunteer at a library in Dorset.

Self help books in your local library

Reading Well promotes the benefits of reading for health and wellbeing.

The programme has two strands:

Reading Well for young people recommends expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams.

The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals, and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.

The Dorset Award and Dorset Award plus

These awards are available free to any young person in school in Dorset who is in:

These awards recognise the achievements a young person has made during their contact with a youth project such as:

  • personal development, such as a change in behaviour, building self-esteem or leadership skills
  • making a positive contribution to their local community
  • learning a new skill
  • organising an activity or event

How we support children with additional needs

Dorset Library Service has free information, activities, books and resources that can suit the needs of children with additional needs. All our libraries offer a welcoming space for everyone to explore.

Accessing books 

There are lots of sensory and tactile books available from the library with different textures, flaps to lift or finger trails to engage any child.

For example

  • That’s Not My… by Fiona Watt
  • Sign and singalong by Annie Kubler
  • Finger trail books (various authors)

If you cannot find the book you want, you can access the library catalogue. Enter the title or series you want and place a request. Ask staff for help if you cannot find a book you would like.

Visiting your local library

Come and explore your local library whilst spending time with other parents and carers who have young children with additional needs. Join us for SENsational story and play sessions for sensory play, stories and rhymes. This is an opportunity for you to join in with a story, talk with other families and relax with your children, sharing a range of sensory toys. You can also borrow books to enjoy at home. Siblings are welcome.

Ear Defenders

Ear defenders are available in the library, just ask staff.

Autism rooms

Gillingham Library and Dorchester Library have an autism-friendly room available to book which can help provide calm, focus and comfort to people with sensory processing problems.

Picture journeys

Picture journeys enable families to see what to expect when visiting a library for the first time.

For book resources and more information see how libraries can help support children with autism.

All our library events are inclusive and everyone is welcome.

SENsational story and play sessions are free fun sessions of sensory play, stories and rhymes. Come and explore the library whilst spending time with other parents and carers who have young children with additional needs. Join us for a story and chat with other families and relax with your children by sharing a range of sensory toys. You can also borrow books to enjoy at home.

Sessions are running across a range of libraries, for more details go to Library clubs and activities in Dorset - Dorset Council

Bookstart for children with additional needs

Bookstart is for every child, families are entitled to any of these packs in addition to the standard Bookstart packs. You can request packs via your:

  • Health visitor
  • Health centre
  • Early Years Setting
  • Local library

Packs include:

  • Booktouch: for children who are blind or partially sighted. specially created for babies and children aged 1 to 4 years old. Packs contain two specially chosen touch and feel books
  • Bookshine: for children who are deaf. Specially created for babies and young children aged 1 to 4 years old. Packs contain two specially chosen books designed to stimulate children's senses, including a touch and feel book and a nursery rhyme book featuring British Sign Language signs
  • Bookstart Star for children who have conditions that impact on their fine motor skills. Created for children aged 3 to 5 years old. Packs contain two books with tactile pages and finger puppets for playing along with the stories and guidance sheets

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