Bookstart in Wokingham Borough

I have received this news release from Wokingham Borough Council about the Bookstart scheme, run by Booktrust, an independent national charity which encourages people of all ages and cultures to engage with books.

BOOKSTART IN WOKINGHAM BOROUGH

In the past year around 4,500 children aged under five across the Wokingham Borough have received their Bookstart packs via libraries, children’s centres and health visitors.

Bookstart is run by Booktrust, an independent national charity that encourages people of all ages and cultures to engage with books.

Bookstart packs are distributed by Wokingham Borough Council library service and children’s services in partnership with Berkshire Healthcare NHS and Homestart. Packs have also been gifted via the Family Nurse Partnership, Berkshire Women’s Aid and Wokingham NCT Group.

Throughout the year the library service, with the support of all of our partners run events to promote Bookstart and encourage sharing books.  More than 5,000 children have attended some of these amazing events in libraries, children’s centres, nurseries and parks, including the Bookstart Rhymetime in the park, Little Explorers story times and much more.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for resident services, said “Young children and babies get so much pleasure from stories and books and the donation of these packs by the Book Trust Charity is wonderful.  I am really excited about seeing so many of the children coming into the library to attend events and borrow a variety of books as a result of receiving there packs.  Families can collect their Bookstart packs for babies aged up to 12 months from their local library or children’s centre, if they have not received one already.”

Under 5s library officer Claire Groves said: “We would like to thank all of our partners and our team of volunteers who meet when required for the Bookstart ‘packing party’. The volunteer team works hard to pack letters and information leaflets into every Bookstart pack. Their help is invaluable – we could not do it all without them and thank them for their time and dedication.”

The library service also runs regular events for parents and carers with children under 5 including: rhymetimes, storytimes and dad’s rhymetime.   For more information please visit: www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/library-groups-and-clubs/baby-and-toddler-activities or telephone your local library.

All children are entitled to their own library card and there are special library cards available for registered child-minders, nurseries and other groups.

For more information please visit: www.bookstart.org.uk or telephone Claire Groves, Under 5s Library Officer, on (0118) 974 3711.