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