The Barbican Children’s Library holds over 25,000 items and here
you will find fiction and non-fiction books for all ages including:
board books, ABCs, counting and word puzzle books, picture books,
first readers, information books, folk tales and fairy tales,
career books, teenage fiction, and the Parents' Collection.
We participate in national initiatives such as Children’s
Book Week, Reading is Fundamental, Bookstart and the Summer Reading
Challenge. We also provide project loan collections to local
schools - for more information on this or the library, please
telephone the Children’s Library on 020 7628 9447.
Free events
For children aged five years and upwards take place on one
Saturday morning each month throughout the year. Leaflets
advertising the events are available in the Children's Library;
alternatively, you may join our mailing list or view
events at the Barbican Children's library
Regular activities
Reading Groups
Download further information about the reading
groups here (205kb)
Read to Suceed
If you feel your child would benefit from some 1:1 reading
practice each week see details of our
new reading initiative (848kb)
Bookstart Rhymetime for 18 months – 3 years
Every Monday 10.45-11.15am
A weekly story and rhyme session for toddlers introducing them into
the wonderful world of words.
Storytime Session for 3 - 5 years
Every Monday 4 - 4.30 pm
A weekly storytime session to start the week and an opportunity for
young children to begin socialising with new friends!
Bookstart Rhymetime for 0-18 months
Every Friday 10.30-11am
This regular rhymetime session is a great opportunity for children
to experience stories, rhymes and music with their parents or
carers in a relaxed atmosphere.