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

Half term fun with Gigglefest!

Gigglefest is back! Now in its fourth year, Birmingham’s very own Comedy Festival for Kids will be hijacking Centre for the Child from 11-18 February for a week of downright comedy carnage and blatant buffoonery. Not to mention the very best in stand up comedy and perky performance for kids! Highlights this year include two brilliant animation workshops, the wonderful Shoofly Theatre and favourite kids' comedians, James Campbell and Tiernan Douieb. www.birmingham.gov.uk/gigglefest

COMPETITION!!!

Tell us a joke for the chance to win a fabulous set of funny books. In celebration of the Gigglefest Children's Comedy Festival we're asking young people aged 4-14 to tell us their favourite joke. Our wonderful prize is a set of some of the craziest, most hilarious books around - all shortlisted for the recent Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Enter online now or pick up an entry form from Centre for the Child. Open to young people aged 4-14.

Plus: Are you funnier than a librarian? Oh no you're not!! Check out our jokes on the Gigglefest Blog! New jokes added throughout the week.

Meet our Young Poet Laureate!

The seventh Young Poet Laureate for Birmingham is Damani Dennisur. Damani is 14 years old and goes to Holyhead School. The announcement was made on National Poetry Day on 6 October. Damani will be writing and performing poems throughout Birmingham during the year.

Holocaust Memorial Day Poems

Each year on 27 January we remember the events of the Holocaust. Our Young Poet Laureate, Damani Dennisur read the poem First They Came at a special ceremony at the Town Hall. We have created a reading list for young people and a list of informative websites on the subject. Some of our previous adult and young Poets Laureate have also written commemorative poems over the years to mark this important day.

Bookstart

All babies and toddlers are entitled to two FREE Bookstart packs before they start school. The bags contains books, information and other goodies to help parents and carers to start sharing story time with their babies and toddlers. Central Library services are currently delivering the Bookstart Baby packs to our community libraries and they are linking with local Health Centres. Parents are then given them at their babies' health checks. Bookstart Treasure Chest packs are delivered to nurseries which give them out to children aged 3-4 years. Some of the LEA nurseries have already had a delivery and the rest will be receiving theirs before March next year. Private and Voluntary nurseries will not receive their Treasure Bags until after March. More information about the scheme can be found on the Bookstart website: www.bookstart.org.uk

Online fun with Stories from the Web

If you use Birmingham Libraries, you can log on to the amazing Stories from the Web site for free! Find out all about your favourite authors, read book extracts, join in with the competitions or play online games. Just ask at your local library for your secret password and then you can use the website at home or in the library.

Stories from the Web Fantastic Offer to Schools

The team behind Stories from the Web™ have launched an exciting new creative reading and writing website for Primary School children: www.storiesfromthewebschools.org. For the first time schools will have access to this major online resource to support children’s development as readers and writers. To find out more about the site and how to subscribe, visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/storiesfromtheweb/schools

Write a Review!

Did you know you can post a review next to any book in our library catalogue? Just search for the title you want and when you find it, click on the Add a Review link. You can also give it a star rating. When anyone else searches for that book they will then be able to read your review. You can also share your thoughts with other young people by writing to us at young.libraries@birmingham.gov.uk Here are some reviews by young library user Heena.

Listen to a story for free

You can now get free audiobooks 24-7 using the new Netlibrary service! There are nearly 50 titles for children and over 25 for young adults with more added all the time. Featuring bestselling authors such as Philip Pullman, Meg Cabot and Justin Somper there is something for all ages. Sign up at your local library and then choose your books in the comfort of your own home!

Our Favourite Books

Looking for something really great to read? Staff in Birmingham Libraries have chosen some of their favourite books to recommend to you. Choose from picture books, story books for children or fiction for young people. To reserve a book, just click on the link and you can pick it up from your nearest library!

Children's University

Is your school signed up for the Children's University? Did you know that you can get your special passport stamped at four libraries around the city - Bartley Green, Glebe Farm, Castle Vale and Centre for the Child at Central Library. Plus - look out for some great online activities with Stories from the Web at these libraries which will count towards your learning hours. Coming soon! If your school isn't yet joined up, find out more about the Children's University at: www.birminghamchildrensuniversity.co.uk

Children's Promise

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 written with help from children who use Birmingham Libraries. The children involved also met author and illustrator Steve Smallman who designed this lovely dragon!

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.

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.