Calling All Early Learning and Care Centres!

4,500 Early Learning and Care settings, including registered childminders, are to receive free book bags under the First 5 Little Library Initiative. The project aims to support the development of little libraries in early learning and care settings and encourage a love of books and reading among our youngest children.

The first 5 Little Library Bags are now available from your local Library. 

Little Library Bags have 5 books and information about your local library and what’s on offer for you there. There’s no need for you to do anything - your local library will contact you to arrange your collection. Let’s all work together to share a love of the joy and fun of reading together. 

The project is a collaboration between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). €650,000 has been provided for the project from DCEDIY and DRCD. 

The First 5 Little Library Initiative will:

• Distribute a selection of books and resources to all early learning and care services, through the national network of libraries;
• Ensure this selected collection of books is also held in libraries which can be loaned out to young children and their families;
• Encourage membership and use of the library network among early learning and care services and among young children and their families;
• Support the early learning and care services and families in use of this resource;
• Encourage ongoing collaboration between the early learning and care services and libraries and support families in establishing or developing the practice of reading.