Working with children aged 0-7
A wealth of research shows the value of sharing books and stories with children aged 0-7. Not only is early book sharing important for language and literacy by introducing children to the patterns of language and new vocabulary, it enables them to engage with and explore the world around them.
Aberdeen City Libraries provides a wide range of resources and support to staff working with children aged 0-7 and their families through:
Group visits
We are delighted to be able to welcome small groups of children to libraries. We would appreciate if you could arrange your visit in advance by contacting your local library.
Group membership
Group membership is available to those working with children. This enables you to borrow up to 35 books or audiobooks from your local library. This is in addition to individual membership.
Curriculum Resources and Information Service (CRIS)
Practitioners based in educational settings can access a wide range of resources including educational games, dual language books, storysacks, puppets and wallcharts. Resources to support career long professional learning (CLPL) are also available.
CRIS is open during the school summer holidays for browsing and borrowing. Resources can be delivered to a community library which is convenient to you. Please call or email for more information - we look forward to welcoming you.
More information on how Aberdeen City Libraries supports practitioners
Bookbug
Bookbug is the Scottish Government funded early years programme which gifts free books to children at key points between birth and 5. Aberdeen City Libraries delivers the Bookbug programme in partnership with Scottish Book Trust.
The Bookbug Explorer bag is gifted to 3-year-old children in their ante-preschool year at nursery while the Bookbug Primary 1 family bag is gifted during the first year at Primary School.
The Explorer and Primary 1 bags are a great opportunity to engage with parents/carers to support literacy and language. Research shows that parents and carers will be more likely to use the resources in the Bookbug Bags if you talk to them about the benefits of sharing books, songs and rhymes before and after giving the bag.
Emerging literacy
More information on the benefits of sharing books, stories, songs and rhymes and ways in which to implement this in early years settings can be found at
Northern Alliance
Scottish Book Trust
National Literacy Trust
Speech and Language
Information on supporting children and families can be found on the Aberdeen Speech and Language Therapy website
Children with a visual impairment
Guide Dogs offers a range of services to support children with a visual impairment including technology and sensory equipment grants. The Tech for All scheme offers free iPads for children with a visual impairment aged 3-18, for use at home.
My Time To Play is new, free service that helps children with sight loss aged from birth to four develop a broad range of skills through play in a group setting. The block of 7 virtual sessions is led by habilitation specialists, and involve songs, stories and movements.
Custom Eyes books are custom made large print books for children.
More information on services available at Guide Dogs
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
This free book gifting initiative is aimed at looked after children under the age of five. Children can be looked after in different ways including at home, in foster care, in kinship care, with prospective adopters and in residential placements.