Children love stories and sharing a story with your baby or child helps their brain to develop and helps with early language skills.
“There can be few things as powerful as regularly reading to a young child. It has astonishing benefits for children: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun. Giving a child time and full attention when reading them a story tells them they matter. It builds:
- self-esteem,
- vocabulary,
- feeds imagination
- and even improves their sleeping patterns.
Yet fewer than half of 0–2-year-olds are read to every day or nearly every day by their parents.” – Literacy trust.
If you live, work or study anywhere in London you can use our library service.
Joining your local library is a really cost-effective way of always having fun new and exciting books to share and enjoy. There’s often lots of fun events for you and your child across Lewisham, such as the free Rhyme Time and other story sessions.
All the libraries in the borough offer free access to WiFi.
You can bring your laptop or other mobile device into any of our libraries and log in to our wireless network. You need to have a library membership card and PIN. If you do not know your PIN please ask a member of library staff or email libraries@lewisham.gov.uk. If you are not a member it is easy to join providing you have proof of address.
Look for wireless networks available via your device. Choose our free network and follow the log in instructions.
- Ask for a copy of the form in any of our libraries or join online here.
- Bring your completed form along to any of our libraries, along with proof of your full name and current address. One official document is the minimum proof required.
You will then be given a library card, and will be able to borrow items straight away.
If you are 13 or under
If you are 13 or under:
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You need a parent, legal guardian or teacher to act as your guarantor.
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You need to give us your date of birth. This is because some of our books have age restrictions, and because some of our fees vary according to your age.
What you get
With your library card you can:
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borrow from any of the libraries in the borough.
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access our online services including the library catalogue and a range of online reference databases.
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borrow and reserve items from any of the libraries in The Libraries Consortium.
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attend numerous events and activities in library spaces and online.
What you can borrow
You can borrow the following:
- books – including graphic novels, reference books, large print and talking books
- download eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines from our eLibrary.
