Reading for 5 to 11 years
Borrow great stories and information books, from beginning to read to Harry Potter.
eBooks and eMagazines you can download at home.
Fun activities to join in: craft clubs, code clubs, after school homework help and school holiday events. Look out for the Summer Reading Challenge in your library every year in the summer holidays.
Saturday and Holiday activities for 5 to 11 years
Chess Club for all ages and abilities
Sherwood Library Wednesdays all year round 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Saturday Craft Clubs
Aspley Library Every Saturday 9.30am to 12 pm
Sherwood Library Every Saturday 10.30am to 12.30pm
Southglade Park Library Every Saturday 10 am to 12 pm
Lego Club
Meadows Library: First Saturday of the month 12.30pm to 2.30pm
School Holiday Activities
Craft sessions and storytimes run in many libraries during school holidays.
The Summer Reading Challenge runs every year during the summer break.
Sign up to our free monthly email newsletter to get alerts straight to your inbox or see AskLiON for listings of activities during the holidays.
After school activities for 4 to 18 years
Regular after-school drop-in sessions during term time, run by staff and trained volunteers:
Homework Help during term time for ages 8 to 18:
- help with Maths, English, Science, or other project work
- free resources to use in the library for doing homework including books, stationery, calculators, protractors, computers, online reference books and printing
Homework Help sessions are open on specific days, times and during term time only, but don’t forget there are friendly staff to help with homework whenever the library is open.
Reading Champions for ages 4 to 16:
- gain confidence with independent reading by reading aloud to staff or volunteers
- get reading diaries signed
Games Club all ages welcome:
- board and card games for everyone to enjoy
Locations and times (run during term time only):
Aspley Library Wednesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help, Reading Champions and Games Club
Bilborough Library Tuesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help and Reading Champions
Clifton Library Thursdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help and Games Club
Dales Centre Library Mondays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help, Reading Champions and Games Club
Hyson Green Library Fridays 4pm to 5.30pm Homework Help
Meadows Library Mondays and Fridays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help and Reading Champions
Radford-Lenton Library Wednesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help, Reading Champions and Games Club
Sherwood Library Wednesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help, Reading Champions and Games Club, plus Chess Club for all ages.
Southglade Park Library Wednesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help, Reading Champions and Games Club
St Anns Valley Centre Library Fridays 3.45pm to 5.30pm Homework Help
Strelley Road Library Mondays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help and Reading Champions and Fridays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Games Club
We now host autism friendly sessions designed especially for children with autism and their families. Get involved with lots of activities such as playing with Lego, crafts and stories.
Do as little or as much as you like in a relaxed and supportive environment
Dales Centre Library on the first Saturday of every month at 10.30am to 12.30pm
Strelley Road Library the last Saturday of every month 10.30am to 12.30pm
All our libraries have micro:bits you can borrow to take home or use with library PCs.
You can now code, create games and show off your projects at home! Free to borrow but don't be late bringing it back the usual overdue fees apply.
Library information for parents
Research shows that sharing stories gives a child the best start to learning and reading becomes an enjoyable skill for life.
10 minutes reading a day can dramatically improve your child's lifelong language, literacy and numeracy skills. Belonging to a library opens up a wealth of FREE books, information and skills for families to enjoy. There are Giant Print titles of popular authors available to borrow at Nottingham Central Library
There are Parents Collections in all Nottingham City libraries with useful books on child development, play, healthy food, sleep and entertaining your child.
There are no overdue or reservation fees to pay until children reach 18.
New... Reading Well Collection for Children
The Reading Well for Children Collection helps children understand their feelings and worries and cope with tough times. The books have been chosen by children, carers, health experts and librarians. They are endorsed by leading health organisations such as NHS England, Mind and the Royal College of GPs. You can find the books in your library from 3 February 2020.
The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11) and includes a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.
There are additional Reading Well booklists for adults and young people on mental health, long term conditions and dementia. To find out more ask in your library or visit www.reading-well.org.uk.