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Get a free book pack for your under 5s

20 replies

FrannyandZooey · 19/06/2006 20:38

I don't know if this scheme is available in every area, but we just presented ds's health book at our library and were given \link{http://www.bookstart.co.uk/bookstart/schemes/bookstart_plus.php4\this} fab pack containing 2 good quality books, stickers, crayons, wall frieze etc all in a very nice briefcase style bag.

There are packs for babies, 2 year olds and 3 year olds (although my library said he could not have that one till age 4 Confused). I only found out about it by chance - saw a poster somewhere obscure - it isn't advertised in our library at all, so it's worth asking if they have the same in your area.

OP posts:
Miaou · 19/06/2006 20:43

Yup - we do this in our library (in Scotland) - it is a nationwide scheme.

You are also eligible for \link{http://www.bookstart.co.uk/bookstart/schemes/pack.php4\this} bookstart pack from your health visitor when your baby is 7 months old - however you may need to badger your hv for it (I am still waiting for mine!).

shazronnie · 19/06/2006 20:44

I got Bookstart pack when my 2 were babies at their 8 mth check; will def go to the library to see if we can get this one for older kids. thanks! Smile

LIZS · 19/06/2006 20:45

dd came home from school with the Treasure Chest today.Smile

Nemo1977 · 19/06/2006 20:53

keep meaning to take ds to join library think will do it tommorow...and dd while I am there. I tend to just buy books but cant really afford to anymore.

CatherineG · 19/06/2006 20:56

not sure about the 2-3 one, but the 3-4 treasure chest is being given out by the pre-schools in our area - that reminds me I must ask ours about it.

lunavix · 19/06/2006 20:57

I'd love to get this for ds but avoiding library! Got some books out for me and ds over Christmas (our first lot too as we had only just joined the library) and was really ill for a number of weeks (nearly hospitalised with morning sickness) and was doing 50 hour working weeks too.. and they went back late (don't know how late, but honestly couldn't have been more than a few weeks.) Phoned to see if they can order a book in and to ask if I owed much in fines and I owe TWENTY EIGHT pounds!!! and ds owes SIXTEEN!!!! He's two, he doesn't have £16 lol.

beansprout · 19/06/2006 20:58

Ds came home with one (from the CM, via the nursery). It had a Daisy the duck book and Rod Campbell's "Dear Zoo". V impressed (apart from the awful drawings in "Dear Zoo" but that's another thread.....!)

aragon · 19/06/2006 21:00

I'm a part time HV and we've been sent them to give out to the 2.5 year olds on our patch. It's a nice pack and I'm trying to take one to any family I see who have a child of around that age. They're in a useful bag too.

NatalieJane · 19/06/2006 21:01

My DS bought a similar thing home from nursery today, in a make believe treasure box with 2 lovely story books, some pencil crayons, etc. he was really pleased with it, even though I had been to town while he was at nursery and had bought him some books. He didn't know which one he wanted to read first!!

Miaou · 19/06/2006 21:03

lunavix, am puzzled as to why your ds has fines - did you take the books out on his ticket? Children's books don't generate fines (am sure this is the same for all libraries).

Bear in mind in future that you can renew library books over the phone (and if you live in the Highlands you can renew them on the internet! Not sure if any other areas do that) if you can't get in to the library Smile. I tend to stick due dates for books on my calendar so that I don't miss them.

chjlly · 19/06/2006 21:04

Miaou - how do you get it if you don't have a health book? dd was born in scotland & I wasn't given one but I do with ds who was born in England?

CatherineG · 19/06/2006 21:15

our library fines children on their own tickets - 1p (or 2p) per day per book, adult tickets are 10p per day per book (or 20p..)

I forgot some the other day and when I went on line to renew we both got fined - but they have self serve checkin/outs and so my fines just keep mounting up (less than £5 in total though)

lunavix · 19/06/2006 21:16

I didn't think I took them out on his ticket - I took out maybe 6 books for me and 4 for him, just piled them up and handed them the two cards! I assume they may have put them on random cards as I didn't explain (although would think they could tell a master from a missus!) I know it's my own silly fault (although I didn't know you could renew over the phone) but I can't really afford £44 to pay it off so we won't be using the library until I can!

Miaou · 19/06/2006 21:27

chjlly - how old is your dd? she would probably qualify for a bookstart pack anyway, just given her age. I'm surprised she's not been issued one by your hv, to keep track of her immunisations. You could phone your library to check what they would do.

Lunavix, it was surely pretty obvious that your ds's books are kids books and therefore for him!Angry for you if they put his books on your ticket-not on. However as CatherineG says maybe they have a policy of fining children in your area too.

Up here we have come to an arrangement with people owing large fines whereby they pay it off a bit at a time ... maybe worth asking if they would consider doing that! It's a shame that you miss out on using the library otherwise.

arfy · 19/06/2006 21:29

I got the baby Bookstart pack at the 8 month check and it was great - although DD has an outrageous amount of books, the ones in the pack were particularly nice ones.

lunavix · 19/06/2006 21:36

I know I was a bit upset was planning on taking all the kids there but feel like a criminal when I walk past lol.

Even so 1p a day on around 6 books is 1.80 a month.... so how his fines are that huge I'll never know.

Linnet · 19/06/2006 21:36

Where I live the Hv's give out the first bookstart pack at the 8 month check up and then you get the red briefcase style bag at the 2 year check out and then the treasure chest one at pre-school age I think.

It's a great scheme and libraries are working really hard to get more children into them. So many people take advantage of cheap books that library numbers are dropping and if something isn't done to encourage more people, especially children, into the libraries the situation could be so drastic in years to come that they will have to close.

My local library also does a book crawl where the children take out books and get a sticker every time and once they have 5 stickers they get a certificate. This is aimed at the little ones. For the older ones there is the reading challange which starts next week when the schools break up (I'm in Scotland) Dd1 is looking forward to doing that again, they get a medal at the end and a certificate.

They also have online renewals available and children aren't fined for books overdue. They only charge 50p if they get a letter sent out telling them the books are overdue.

ChasingRabbits · 20/06/2006 09:36

I asked at ds1's pre-school today and they have filled in the paperwork and requested them and are expecting to recieve them w/c 9th July.

chjlly · 20/06/2006 15:33

I've just been given the treasure chest at a school visit am very impressed with it!

Nemo1977 · 20/06/2006 19:00

I took DS and DD today and registered them. The library do the bookstart packs but had no idea where they were..lol So will ask again next time I am in.

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