MALVERN parents are being urged by Worcestershire Libraries and Learning Service to sign their new-born child up for library membership as soon as possible.
For the next three months all parents of new born babies in Worcestershire will be given a Golden Ticket when they register their child’s birth.
The Golden Ticket is an invitation to visit any of Worcestershire’s libraries where it can be exchanged for a Bookstart Baby Pack containing two board books, a rhyme sheet and a booklet of tips and ideas for sharing books.
Parents will also be encouraged to take out library membership for their child during the library visit.
Library membership is free and there are no library fines on children or young people’s books.
The Bookstart Baby Packs are provided by the children’s reading charity Book Trust with the aim of helping parents develop a love of reading with their children from an early age to support early language development in children.
Kathy Kirk, strategic libraries, learning and arts manager said: “Booktrust research shows it’s never too early to start enjoying books with your baby.
“Children just love the sound of their parent’s voice and the repetition of words and phrases, looking at the pictures and singing songs and rhymes.
“Sharing books is also proven to help babies develop vital language skills and boost early learning, but best of all it’s great fun as babies are just so curious and really enjoy the pictures and colours of books!
“By giving out Golden Tickets and encouraging parents to visit our libraries we are hoping to make more parents aware of the enormous benefits of reading with their babies.
“We also want to make them aware of the benefits of using the library, with free membership and free borrowing.”
The Golden Ticket Project is being run in partnership with Worcestershire County Council’s Registration Services and is endorsed by the Book Trust.
The project is being run from May to July, 2017.
