Marking our Centenary – 100 years of lending books in July 2024, all babies born during this month and registered in B&NES will be gifted a book and invited to a special event in our libraries this September.
![Celebrate with us bunting and a book opening up with a balloon](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Invitation-p1.png?resize=1240%2C1748&ssl=1)
![Information from invitation](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Invitation-p3.png?resize=1240%2C1748&ssl=1)
![Date and times of events
Bath Central Library, 19th September 10.30-11.30, Keynsham Library 25th September 10.00-11.00 and Midsomer Norton Library 26th September 11.00-12.00](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Invitation-p2.png?resize=1240%2C1748&ssl=1)
We are gifting books to all babies (while stocks last) born in July 2024 and registered in B&NES by The Registration Service. Gifting will take place during July and into August and early September, as parents have 41 days to register a birth.
Winnie the Pooh was first published in 1926 and is part of our Centenary Book Collection marking 100 years of public lending in Bath.
![Front cover of Winnie the Pooh showing Pooh on a branch of a tree](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Cover-of-Winnie-the-Pooh_.jpg?resize=314%2C445&ssl=1)
As well as receiving a book, babies will be invited with their parents/carers to a special morning at Bath Central Library, Midsomer Norton or Keynsham Library in September. The morning will introduce families to our weekly, term time Baby Bounce and Rhyme events and provide an opportunity to meet other babies and new parents, provide information about joining the library and the free services we offer. Centenary babies and their families will be encouraged to join the library and will receive special edition centenary library cards.
![Person sticking bookplate into book](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bookplates.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
![Inside of book with bookplate](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bookplates-2.jpg?resize=800%2C548&ssl=1)
![Cutting brown paper](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Cutting-the-wrapping-paper.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
![Wrapping book](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wrapping-2.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
![Loading boxes onto trolley in library stack](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Preparing-the-delivery-of-books-to-the-Guildhall.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
![Delivering books in boxes on trollies to the Guildhall](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Delivery-to-Guildhall.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
Preparing the books for gifting has been hard work but great fun. From sticking bookplates in the books, to cutting 300 pieces of wrapping paper, wrapping the books and invitations, and then delivering them to The Registration Service at the Guildhall in Bath ready for distribution to other registration locations, we’ve been busy!
We know that becoming a parent and having children can bring adults back to the library for the first time since they were children themselves. However, lots of families do not use their local library service and it is estimated that only 18% of the B&NES population are library members.
We would love every resident to be a library member, benefiting from our free services. By gifting these books and inviting families to a special event, our aim is to reach residents who may not think to use libraries or know what we offer.
Libraries offer books, yes, but also a safe and welcoming space, information and access to advice and partners, electronic resources like eBooks, audiobooks, and digital newspapers but also cultural and creative activities and events, plus sensory spaces.
What is Baby Bounce and Rhyme and what are the benefits?
![Baby Bounce and Rhyme session showing leader and families](https://i0.wp.com/baneslibraries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Baby-Bounce-13.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
These are free, short library-based activities which usually run every week during school terms in Bath Central, Midsomer Norton and Keynsham Libraries. Baby Bounce and Rhyme helps language and number development, bonding between parent or carer and child and children’s understanding of the world around them. Over 400 babies attend our Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions per month. It is one of our most popular offers.
We’ve also recorded some Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions for you to watch at home!
The LGA says
“Taking part in Rhyme Time sessions with parents or carers means that children are spending time with other adults and children. Building their confidence in new surroundings, being in large groups and practising sharing and taking turns are all important skills for school and beyond.
As they sing rhymes together, children practice new sounds and explore the patterns and rhythm of language. They also develop their vocabulary, learning new words and complex phrases.”
Why is the Library Service gifting books to babies?
Whilst we are in the business of lending and have been for 100 years now, we also understand the importance of owning your own books and feel everyone should own at least one. Having deliberated how to mark our centenary and include our youngest residents, we discussed the items we like to gift our friends and family on the birth of a new baby. Being book lovers, it’s no surprise that a few of us enjoy gifting a hardcopy book to a new-born in the hope that it stays in their book collection for years to come.
As a library service, we are here to support residents through all phases of life including the earliest. We didn’t just want to gift books and move on, so we have chosen to hold special events for our July babies in September to introduce them to the world of libraries in B&NES.
We hope our centenary babies will treasure their copy of Winnie the Pooh, maybe even passing it on to their own children one day. A child’s earliest years are crucial to their development and life chances, and we want to give the gift of loving and reading books to our youngest members.
*We would love to hear from the families of our centenary babies*
Are you reading Winnie the Pooh to your baby? What’s your baby’s favourite book? Will you keep in touch with us and come to future events? Share pictures of your Winnie the Pooh book with us on our social media or email them to Library_Events@bathnes.gov.uk