East Sussex County Council’s Libraries Service has arranged special ‘rhymetime’ events in its libraries at Crowborough, Hastings, Heathfield, Lewes, Peacehaven, Seaford and Uckfield to celebrate National Bookstart Day (6 October).
The rhymetimes will help to launch the ‘Bookstart’ campaign in the county. Library staff will also be handing out Bookstart songsheets, promoting Bookstart and Baby Book Crawl and giving away stickers and balloons.
Bookstart is a national programme that encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible. The campaign wants every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books. Bookstart gives free books to children at eight months, 18 months (Bookstart +) and three years (My Bookstart Treasure Chest). The campaign also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities.
Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Services, said: "Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to increase language skills and helps young children to understand their world. I am delighted that the County Council’s Library Service is helping to promote this campaign with events arranged in many of its libraries across the county.”
The Library Service will continue to promote the campaign in late October and early November. ‘Bookstart Bear’ will be visiting various venues across the county for a fortnight from 30 October. And a Bookstart celebration event is being planned for the week commencing 6 November.
The dates, times and venues for the eight Bookstart Rhymetimes in East Sussex are as follows:
- Heathfield Library – 2 October – 10.30–11.00am
- Uckfield Library – 3 October – 10.30–11.00am
- Hastings Children’s Library – 3 October – 1.45–2.15pm
- Lewes Library – 3 October – 10.30–11.00am
- Seaford Library – 3 October – 2.00–2.30pm
- Peacehaven Library – 5 October – 2.00–2.30pm
- Hollington Library – 6 October – 11.00–11.30am
- Crowborough Library – 11 October – 10.30–11.00am
For more information about the Bookstart campaign, people can contact Michele Eaton at the County Council on Eastbourne 01323 416324.
Reference:
1108
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