Kids, bag yourself a book!

Children starting school this autumn have been invited to visit their local library, collect a new book bag and begin their library membership journey.

The My Little Library Book Bag which has returned for another year is an initiative for all children starting primary school this September. The book bags are designed to help support parents and children in the transition to primary school. The bag includes books, in both Irish and English, about starting school, making friends and being confident.

Each bag also contains free library membership with a specially designed little library card wallet.

Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Joe Carroll announced the return of the much-loved initiative by the Cork County Council Library and Arts Service.

He said: “The council’s Library and Arts Service is delighted to once again welcome families in celebration of this important milestone. We hope that once they visit the library to pick up their book bag, our new library members and their families will visit regularly to keep their bag filled up with borrowed books and to take part in story time sessions, classes and all of the fun events our libraries host throughout the year.”

Children and their parents or guardians can collect their My Little Library Book Bag at their local library.

The My Little Library Book Bag initiative is a collaboration between libraries, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the First 5 Strategy.