Regular library activities for children
Our libraries provide fun sessions run by experienced and trained staff for parents, carers and their children, with regular rhymetimes, storytimes and clubs for older children including coding, art club and much more!
The libraries also have plenty of other one-off events, talks, workshops and more, both in the Library and on Zoom.
Activities in our libraries
Rhyme Time
Thursdays 10–10.30am
Ages 0-5.
Sing favourite action songs and nursery rhymes then enjoy a free play session. Rhyme Time is a great opportunity for children to experience stories, rhymes and music with their parents or carers in a relaxed atmosphere.
Stay and Play
Thursdays 10.30–11.30am
Ages 0-5.
Children can play with Artizan Library's wide range of toys and socialise with other children. As well as being a great way for little ones to develop their social skills and form first friendships, the sessions are also a great way to meet other parents too.
Bookstart Rhyme Time
Mondays 10.45-11.15am
Fridays 10.45-11.15am
Saturdays 10.45-11.15am
All ages welcome.
Get your child’s literacy off to a flying start by coming along to one of our popular Rhyme Time sessions.
Sing songs and nursery rhymes, listen to stories, then stay and play with our toys!
Bookstart Story Time
Mondays 4-4.30pm
Ages 3+
Grab a seat and listen to an assorted hand-picked collection of wacky, weird and wonderful stories.
Fairy tales to modern classics and everything in between.
Children’s Chatterbooks Reading Club
Third Tuesday of the Month 4-5pm
Ages 5+
Do you like reading books and want to make new friends? Join our Chatterbooks! To find out more please speak to a Librarian or email Barbican Children's Library
Chatterbooks reading clubs help children build a lifelong reading habit. Because everything changes when we read. Come and take part in fun activities, get rewards and talk about books.
Starting from Tuesday 18 April 2023.
Friday Monster Art Club
Fridays 4-5pm
Ages 3-8
Unleash your creativity and join us for an afternoon of artistic and colouring excitement! All materials provided.
Saturday Monster Art Club
Saturdays 2-3.30pm
Ages 3-8
Unleash your creativity and join us for an afternoon of artistic and colouring excitement! All materials provided.
Rhyme Times
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10.30-11.30am
Ages 0-5
Songs, rhymes and stories!
Rhyme Time is a great opportunity for children to experience stories, rhymes and music with their parents or carers in a relaxed atmosphere. A variety of musical instruments and interactive, multi-sensory props are always included.
Messy Play for under 5s
Last Thursday of the month 10.30-11.30am
Join us for messy fun on the last Thursday of the month (except December). Remember to wear old clothes or bring a change with you!
Please note the Read to Succeed scheme is temporarily suspended, but expressions of interest are still welcomed - please contact Barbican Children's Library.
Would your child benefit from some extra help with their reading?
Could you spare an hour a week to help a child improve their literacy skills?
The Read to Succeed scheme, run by Artizan Street and Barbican Children's Library, offers children aged five to 14 years the opportunity to improve their literacy skills and develop a love of reading for life by pairing a child with a volunteer reading partner.
If you can spare an hour a week to help a child develop their reading skills by giving one to one support and encouragement with the aid of full training, or you would like your child to improve their reading, contact Barbican Children's Library.
Donations
If you would like to sponsor our programmes for adults and children, please consider making a donation to our libraries. 100% of all monies received from donations comes to the Barbican and Community Libraries service.
Social media and Eventbrite
Many of our activities are also accessible via our social media platforms and you can also find many of our events listed on Eventbrite - follow the links below:
Barbican Library Eventbrite
Shoe Lane Eventbrite
Artizan Street Library Eventbrite