Library Services for Children and Young People

Welcome to Birmingham Young Libraries online

Tell us what you think of YOUR pages by emailing us at:
young.libraries@birmingham.gov.uk

Find out what's new in Birmingham Libraries!

Half term fun! Gigglefest Children's Comedy Festival

Join in the fun this half term at Centre for the Child with free events every day during the Gigglefest comedy festival. Plus if you enjoyed Potted Potter - don't miss the Potted Pirates at the Library Theatre on Monday 15 February - booking now at www.birminghamboxoffice.co.uk

Help with GCSE and A Level revision in half term and beyond

If you need some help on how to revise more effectively, then these sessions are for you. Find out about mind-mapping, speed reading, note taking and memory techniques. For all young people aged 14-19. Sessions take place in Central Library and Community Libraries. Find out more about the study support sessions.

Holocaust Memorial Day Poems

Each year on 27 January we remember the events of the Holocaust. We have created a reading list for young people and a list of informative websites on the subject. Our Young Poets Laureate have also written commemorative poems to mark this important day. Read the poem from our current Young Poet Laureate, India Miller.

Young Crime Writers' Competition

Could you be the next great crime writer? Then why not enter this fantastic competition run by the Crime Writers Association. Detective stories, creepy psychological thrillers, historical whodunits, spies, terrorist plots… get some inspiration from our great crime booklist. You can write on your own or with a friend and your story could be 100 words or 1000. For young people aged 18 or under.

Closing date: 19 Febrary 2010

New blog from our Young Poet Laureate!

The Young Poet Laureate for Birmingham is 15 year old India Miller. India has already started to write poetry for special events including the Birmingham Half Marathon and has recently performed in front of the Duchess of Cornwall. Find out more in her blog.

New! Pictures from our Royal visit

Find out what happened when the Duchess of Cornwall visited Centre for the Child.

Our Promise to You!

We want you to enjoy all the fantastic things that Birmingham Libraries have to offer for children and young people. To make sure that you know all about us, we have written down a promise about what we will do for you. The Children's Library Promise was launched at Centre for the Child on Saturday 21 November. The children involved in helping to write the promise met author and illustrator Steve Smallman who designed this lovely dragon!

KS3 Escapes - Reserve your books online now!

Each year, Key Stage 3 students in Birmingham join in with the KS3 book awards - reading books, writing reviews and voting for their favourites in a Big Brother style knockout contest. This year's award is now under way, so find out how you can get the books you want delivered to your local library and get voting!

Homework Help

Find out where your nearest Homework Help session is, browse our A-Z of useful Homework websites or check out our Hot Topics factsheets on Global Warming and London 2012. For all this and more, visit the Homework Help webpages.

Stop Bullying Now!

Our Stop Bullying webpage contains a useful booklist full of stories about how children and young people can deal with bullying. It includes pictures books, novels for teenagers and non-fiction and there are also lots of useful links to find help online. Plus; check out Poems Against Bullying, written by a local school for National Anti-Bullying week and previously displayed in Spring Hill Library.

Football in Birmingham Libraries! Join in the fun

Check out our online footie fun with games and activities, our Football Fever booklist, World Cup Quiz and facts and figures on past tournaments - visit our Football Activities online webpage now! Plus - find out about the Premier League Reading Stars scheme and read about the children from Ward End library who visited the Blues ground. You can see some photos of them meeting footballer Martin Taylor and author Tom Palmer and even read their match reports!

Tell us which books YOU would like to read

Have we got your favourite books and magazines in your local library? If not, why not suggest which books we should buy? Fill in our quick online form at Books 4 U and you could win a book token! Or join in our online magazine survey.

Online fun and games for pre-school children

Looking for something new to entertain your toddler? Why not check out our selection of websites featuring favourite story book characters such as Maisy Mouse, Thomas the Tank Engine and Spot. Play simple games or print out colouring and activity sheets. You can even print your own party invitations or send an e-birthday card to grandma! They're easy to use and lots of fun.

Please note: We are not responsible for the content of other organisations' websites.