The Library for 5-11 years
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 activites 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.
Strange Creatures family theatre performances
MishMash Productions in collaboration with Nottingham Library Service present
Illustration: Alexis Deacon
Strange Creatures, uses magical theatrical chamber music to gently explore what it means to be unique in a surprising and colourful world. This intimate and engaging show, performed by exceptional musicians, will delight children and their families alike.
Strange Creatures is inspired by the book Beegu written and illustrated by Alexis Deacon and performed by arrangement with Penguin Random House Children’s Publishers UK, a Penguin Random House company.
For children aged 4 to 7
Booking advised.
Running time: 40 mins
Tickets: £2
Strange Creatures tours to the following libraries. Tickets available at each library (school groups welcome).
Dates
Tuesday 28 May Bulwell Library, two showings, 10.30am and 1:30pm
Friday 31 May Dales Centre Library, two showings, 10.30am and 1.30pm
Tuesday 4 June Hyson Green Library 10.30am
Wednesday 5 June Strelley Road Library, two showings, 10.30am and 1.30pm
Saturday 8 June Wollaton Library, two showings, 10.30am and 1.30pm
Strange creatures also tours to Nottinghamshire Libraries and is part of Nottingham Lakeside Arts Wheee! Festival on tour.
Strange Creatures in Nottinghamshire Libraries
Developed with funding from Arts Council England, in association with Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries and Nottingham Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham; with support from Nottinghamshire Music Hub, Nottingham Music Hub, and Nottingham Trent University, BA (Hons) Theatre Design, School of Art and Design.
Saturday and Holiday activities for 5 to 11 years
Saturday Craft Clubs
Aspley Library 9.30am to 12pm
Sherwood Library 10.30am to 12.30pm
Southglade Park Library 10am to 12pm
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 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 - 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 - 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
Sherwood Library Wednesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm Homework Help, Reading Champions and Games Club
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
Autism Friendly Family Fun
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
St Ann's Valley 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
Borrow a Microbit
All our libraries have microbits 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.