My Little Library ‘wonderful opportunity to get little ones excited about learning’ – Smyth

Children starting school this September in Longford Westmeath will be invited to collect free book bags and join their local libraries as part of the ‘First 5 My Little Library’ Initiative.

The ‘My Little Library’ book bags, in English or Irish, can be collected from libraries across the country, with information for parents in each bag to support children in their learning.

Children will also be offered free library memberships, and specially designed Little Library card wallets.

Cllr Hazel Smyth said: “The ‘My Little Library’ book bags will be available in Mullingar Kinnegad public libraries – it is a wonderful opportunity for every family with a child starting school to get their little ones excited about learning and starting their new school adventures."

“We know that early childhood is a vital period in children’s learning and development, and by inviting children to join their local libraries before they start school, we can encourage a new generation on a life-long love of reading and stories.

“The Easter holidays are the perfect time to pick up the bags and spend some time at the library.”

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, TD, had asked every local library (330 libraries across Ireland) to put together the book bags for children starting school in 2022.

He said: “The stories in the books are about starting school, being happy in yourself, and making friends. I hope that parents and their children will join the libraries and refill the book bags with borrowed books whenever they can.

“The Green Party are committed to transforming supports for early years in Ireland. This is another small step in a wide suite of measures that I am working hard for in government to deliver for young families and the future of our children.”

Minister O’Gorman also announced this week changes to the National Childcare Scheme that will extend access to subsidised early learning and childcare for children and families.

That means the hours spent in preschool or school will no longer be deducted from a family’s entitlement to subsidised hours, benefitting up to 5,000 children and their families in the initial phase.

The minister also announced the opening of the Transition Fund to provide financial support to ‘Early Learning and Care’ (ELC) and ‘School Age Childcare (SAC)’ providers, which encourage providers to freeze fees at September 2021 levels.

That means that parents will not face fee increases, and will feel the full affordability effects of the National Childcare Scheme, and the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Pre-school Programme.