Re: Request for support with - My Little Library – for children starting school
Dear Principal,
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality, is asking for your help to ensure that all children starting in your school in September gets an invitation to visit their library, collect their book bag and hopefully join the library. This years initiative will be starting on May 11, 2026.
The My Little Library initiative has for the past 3 years offered a free book bag and books to every child starting school in September through their local library. Families simply have to pop down to their library and pick up their bag and maybe take the opportunity to become library members. Each year the initiative has meant over 20,000 young children starting junior infants have joined the library.
The project involves:
- Every child finishing pre-school and starting school in September receiving an invite to their local library to pick up a free transitions book bag
- On visiting the library with their parents, families will hopefully join the library
- The libraries have prepared a special wallet for the children for their own library card
- Your local library has a sample book bag for your school to show the junior infant parents
The project was evaluated in 2023 and 99% of parents, teachers and library staff interviewed supported the initiative becoming an annual action. The objective of this action is that all children starting school each September will have storybooks in their home and have the opportunity to become members of their local library.
I would be obliged if you could inform the families of children starting in your school about this initiative? Attached are the invitations from the libraries to share with families in your school.
