Isle of Man Guide

YOUNG members of the Family Library are being urged to sign up for the Summer Reading Scheme before the 5th June deadline.

For the past three years the Department of Education and Children’s library, on Westmoreland Road in Douglas, has designed its own Summer Reading Scheme, each time on a different theme.

Children read five books over the school summer holidays and take part in lots of fun activities too.

Librarian Mary Cousins said the scheme helps to foster a love of reading among the young and the library is always a blaze of colour, with displays all over the walls.

‘As well as asking children to read five books, we provide a game challenge and there are incentives along the way and prizes at the end,’ Mary said.

‘The scheme provides a lot of fun things to do as well as a chance to win points and children get really involved. Last year, when the theme was magic, we had family and friends coming into the library wearing false moustaches.’

Other themes have been the TT races and pirates but, as always, this year’s theme is being kept a closely guarded secret until the launch on Saturday 26 June to keep children guessing.

‘There are limited spaces available on the scheme and I would encourage young members or their parents to come along to the library as soon as they can to sign up, as registration ends on Saturday 5th June,’ Mary said.

‘The scheme is for children aged five and over but we will cater for younger siblings, too, with a summer reading club for under-fives.’

For a £2 annual membership, young people can borrow up to six books, three CDs and a DVD and keep them for up to a fortnight. Parents can join, too, for £5 a year provided their children are members. Membership is free to teachers.

For details of opening hours and lots of other information, including galleries of images from previous Summer Reading Schemes, please visit the website at www.familylibrary.co.uk

Photo: Last year’s Summer Reading Scheme prize presentation

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