At what age can children join?
You can join at any age. We welcome babies to join as soon as
they are born.
At what age can children use the computers?
Children can use the computers at any age. We ask for a parent
or guardian to give permission for children 15 and younger to use
the internet.
How much does it cost for children to use the
library?
It is free to join, to borrow books and use the computers.
Anyone between 0 and 17 years old can also borrow talking books and
requests up to six items for free. There is no charge for books
damaged by children under five years old. There is a hire
charge for DVDs, overdue charges and a charge for
printing.
How do children join the library?
Joining the library is easy. You can join online or complete a
form at your local library. Children do not need identification to
join, but we need a parent or guardian to sign the form as
guarantor.
I am worried about making a noise. Is there a separate
children's library?
We want everyone to feel comfortable in their local library.
There are children's areas for you to enjoy and we don't expect
silence.
Do you have any activities for children?
We have regular
story times and
rhyme times for
younger children and every summer we have a
reading challenge for older children. We also run other
sessions from time to time. See our list
of Leisure events.
What can children borrow?
Anyone can borrow up to 20 items including books, CDs, DVDs,
talking books and language courses. There is a limit of eight DVDs
at any one time. Children between 0 and 10 years old can borrow
items from the children’s library only. Young people from 11 to 17
years old can borrow items from any section of the library except
age restricted DVDs. This can help young people with school work by
giving them access to more resources. Parents/guardians should be
aware that some books from the teenage and adult sections of the
library may contain adult issues.
How long can children keep books for?
Three weeks. You can renew
your books, unless they are from our homework collection or someone
else has requested them. If you renew your CDs or DVDs you will be
charged a further hire charge, which you can pay when you return
the item.
How can I get hold of a book or other item I
want?
If you have your library card number and PIN you can
reserve
the books and other items you want using the
LibrariesWest website.
Alternatively contact your local library.
How do I find out if you have a particular
book?
You can search our catalogue by author, title, or a keyword
online at LibrariesWest. We are
happy to help you search so please ask.
Can you help suggest books?
We are always happy to help. We can explain the different labels
we use, and show you helpful books and websites.
Can you help with homework?
We have lots of books and information to help you with your
homework, and we are happy to help you find what you need.
What if my children's books are late back?
You can renew
books online or by phoning us. There is a
charge for
books which are late back.
Can children access anything on the library
computers?
We have filtering software which blocks certain types of
websites. However parents or guardians are responsible for deciding
what resources are appropriate for their children.
What happens if the books are lost or
damaged?
There is no charge for books damaged by children under 5. Any
items lost will be charged
for.
What if I have lost my library card?
If you have lost your library card please notify your local
library immediately. We make a small
charge for
a replacement.
Do you have books from my child's school reading
scheme?
We have lots of books to encourage children to love reading. Our
younger reader sections have series for beginner readers at
different levels which don't have to be read in order. We don't
hold sets of the reading schemes.
I'm from a pre-school group (nursery, playgroup and
parent and toddlers) or a childminder. Can I borrow
books?
Yes, you can borrow up to 20 items for 6 weeks on a special
membership. We need contact details for the person who takes
responsibility for books.
I'm a teacher. Can I borrow children's books for
school?
If you need books for your class your school can subscribe to
the schools library service in
Somerset who will
provide sets of books on a long loan.
I'm a teacher and would like to bring my class to visit
the library.
We welcome library visits. Please contact your local
library.
Do you have a toy library?
Sorry we do not lend toys to find out if there is a toy library
near you see the
Family Information Service.
