Summer Stars runs from Tues 4 June to Sat 31 August. Get Reading! Now that school is over you can still spark your imagination, join in activities and take part in our exciting Summer Stars challenge.
Summer Stars runs from Tues 4 June to Sat 31 August . Get Reading! Now that school is over you can still spark your imagination, join in activities and take part in our exciting Summer Stars challenge.
The section’s main aim is to go out into the community and let people know about all the amazing things available in their library, both in branch and online.
Dublin City Libraries launched a Children’s Literacy Project in Croke Park in cooperation with the Dublin GAA County Board for 6th class children from schools in the Dublin City Council area.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the authors and organisations who helped make the programme possible, including The Ark, Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin Circus Project, ReCreate, The Rediscovery Centre, Dublin Zoo, Createschool, Dogs Trust, Junior Einsteins Science Club, Sarah Tully, Sarah Bowie, Sadhbh Devlin and Sadhbh Rosenstock.
Catch up with the Historian-in-Residence for Children
One thing that has become really clear from talking to children is the huge role that reading plays in fostering their interest in history. Often reading historical fiction is a kind of gateway into exploring a particular historical period or topic. In response to this, I co-designed with a group of very dedicated young readers of history, a monthly history book group for children.
October was a busy month at Ballymun Library for children’s activities with many events organised in conjunction with Children’s Book Festival 2019 and Stemsational Saturdays’ activities for 8 to 12 year olds to name but a few.This time of year wouldn’t be complete without the Library’s dedicated Hallowe’en storytelling sessions for 0 to 4 year olds. These took place on the 29th of October at 10am and 11am, respectively. Most of the attendees dressed up for the occasion and had a spooktacular time.Millie Donnelly dressed as a witch at the Baby/Wobbler Hallowe’en Book Club. At the baby session, the book ‘Spot’s Spooky Fun’ by Eric Hill was read by Maria Sheahan (Librarian). Eric Hill has written many stories for babies including ‘Spot Says Goodnight’ and ‘Spot Goes to School’. This is a lovely story for babies and wobblers where Spot has the difficult task of deciding which costume he should wear for Hallowe’en. The group was captivated proving this story is a perfect Hallowe’en read for young babies. The Toddlers heard the story ‘Usborne Noisy Spooky Book’. As you can see from the photos, this book is always a big hit with small children! Isabella Forsyth is the dashing pumpkin and Amelia Sweeney is batgirl. They love hearing the creepy sound effects that go with the story and it’s a fun choice for grown-ups to read! Hallowe’en rhymes were also taught to the children after each storytelling session. Finally, toys and sweet treats were provided to complete the sessions.Ballymun Library’s Book Clubs for Younger Children will continue on a weekly basis on Tuesdays during November and early December. The Baby/Wobbler Book Club (0 to 2 Year Olds) runs from 10.00am to 10.45am and the Toddler Book Club (2 Year Olds to pre-school age) runs from 11.00am to 11.45am. No advance booking is necessary.Join us each week in making family reading a magical and fun experience!
“Join Up, Join In”, children design a library card
The “Join Up, Join In” initiative aims to encourage schoolchildren in 4th class to join their local Library. The competition was launched by the Lord Mayor in Ballymun Library on October 10th.The winning design will be used for all children’s library cards in the future. Speaking at the launch the Lord Mayor said: “I want to see every child in the city get a library card and use their local libraries. The libraries provide such an amazing range of free services from books to creative activities and introduce children to reading at an early age. To kick-start this initiative I’m inviting 4th class students across Dublin city to enter the competition to design the new children’s library card. Be as creative as you can and you may see every child in Dublin holding a library card with your design!”Children can enter the competition by handing their designs in to their local library or enter through their schools. A design template in Irish and English is available from all branches of Dublin City Council Libraries and participating Schools.The competition will run until 22nd November 2019. A welcoming pack, including the new card, will be delivered to all 4th classes in the New Year.Mairead Owens, Dublin City Librarian, said, “I am very proud to support the Lord Mayor’s initiative. In libraries, we celebrate childhood, and children, through the joy of reading. Our branch libraries provide fun spaces to enjoy, imagine and explore, so I invite all 4th class children in the Dublin City area to ‘Join Up and Join In’. We look forward to welcoming you and your friends and family to your local library.”The Lord Mayor with 4th class pupils from the North Dublin National School Project, Ballymun.
In April and May of 2017 Dolphin's Barn Library hosted a series of workshops where young historians learned how to combine research, storytelling, drawing and digital animation to tell a tale from Irish history.Expert facilitators included historian Conor Kostick and author and illustrator Alan Nolan. The result is this exciting video set in Dublin 1920.