Medway’s youngest residents can enjoy reading about their favourite television characters at the new CBeebies story corner in Gillingham Library.
In partnership with CBeebies, BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, has gifted 45 books and a tablet to the library in the High Street for young children and their families to enjoy.
Young children and their families can enjoy stories from their favourite characters including Hey Duggee, Bing, JoJo and Gran Gran and borrow them, for free, for up to three weeks.
The tablet is loaded with apps which bring CBeebies characters to life and can be borrowed to use within the library with a parent or carer’s adult library card.
Medway’s libraries are fantastic places to visit for families of all ages and offer a wide range of free activities, events and groups including Baby Bounce and Rhyme, Toddler Shake and Boogie, Storytime and Lego club as well as Pop in and play Saturdays.
Libraries are hives of activity
Cllr Howard Doe, Deputy Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “I would like to thank BookTrust, and CBeebies, for their generous donation which will help more young children develop a love of reading. Medway’s libraries are not just places where residents can go and read books, they are hives of activity with regular free activities for children and families, provide access to computers and free Wi-Fi, connect residents to community services and are meeting places for a wide range of groups. I would encourage residents to visit Gillingham Library and find out more.”
Wide-ranging benefits of becoming readers
Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust, said: “Libraries are essential community hubs packed full of fabulous books that will inspire children of all ages to read. They also regularly host fun, lively events for families to enjoy rhymes and stories together. These interactive moments have been proven to help children in their early years kickstart their reading journey, so they can experience the wide-ranging positive benefits of becoming readers. We’re delighted to have supported Medway Libraries in exploring ideas to engage families with everything their local library has to offer.”
The new CBeebies story corner also supports the council’s aspiration to make Medway even more child-friendly.