Activities and resources for children and young people
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My library card
We offer every child in reception and Year 6 a library card to encourage their love of reading. Check our My library card page for more details.
Concorde Book Award
The Concorde Book Award is for anyone aged 11 to 14. Young people are involved throughout from choosing the longlist and the winner to giving presentations at the award ceremony.
This year’s 6 shortlisted books have been nominated by young people across South Gloucestershire and are free to borrow from any of our libraries. These are:
- Ghostcloud (Michael Mann)
- Our Castle by the Sea (Lucy Strange)
- Skandar and the Unicorn Thief (A.F. Steadman)
- The Monkey Who Fell from the Future (Ross Welford)
- Cinderella is Dead (Kaylynn Bayron)
- This Book Kills (Ravena Guron)
How to vote
You can take part in the award by joining one of the book groups at your public or secondary school library shadowing the award, or you can read the shortlisted books and vote for your favourite at your public library by World Book Day on 7 March 2024.
The winner will be announced at the award ceremony in March 2024.
You can use the links above to click and collect any of the shortlisted titles from your nearest library for free with an U18s library card.
If you’re not already a library member you can come in for a first visit with a parent or carer so they can sign you up for free.
Find your nearest library and its staffed opening hours.
Art club
Free arts and craft sessions run monthly for children aged 4 and over and their families.
Sessions take place at Filton library on a Saturday 11am to 12pm.
The first session will be on Saturday 10 February 2024 followed by:
9 March, 13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 10 August, 14 September, 12 October
Drop in or for more details email Filton.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Lego clubs
Lego® Clubs are for primary school aged children. All children must bring a grown-up with them.
Creative fun – listen to stories and poems, then make a model to display at the library. It’s FREE to come along to Lego® Club.
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Bradley Stoke Library
Weekly on Fridays, 4pm to 5pm
Drop in or for more details email BradleyStoke.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Cadbury Heath Library
Runs one session a month on a Saturday 10am to 11am
2 March, 6 April, 4 May, 1 June, 27 July, 24 August, 21 September, 19 October
Drop in or for more details email CadburyHeath.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Chipping Sodbury Community Library
Runs one session a month on a Saturday 10am to 12pm
Drop in to the library for more details.
Downend Library
Runs one session a month on a Saturday, 10.30am to 11.30am
9 March, 13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 6 July, 14 September
Drop in or for more details email Downend.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Emersons Green Library
Runs monthly sessions on a Saturday, 10am to 11am and 11.30am to 12.30pm
2 March, 6 April, 4 May, 1 June, 6 July, 3 August, 7 September, 5 October
Drop in or for more details or email EmersonsGreen.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Filton Library
Fortnightly sessions held on a Saturday, 10.30am to 11.30am
2 March, 16 March, 6 April, 20 April, 4 May, 18 May, 1 June, 15 June, 6 July, 20 July, 3 August, 17 August, 7 September, 21 September, 5 October, 19 October
Drop in or for more details email Filton.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Hanham Library
Monthly sessions held on a Saturday, 10am to 11am
16 March, 20 April, 18 May, 15 June, 13 July, 10 August, 7 September, 5 October
Drop in or for more details email Hanham.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Kingswood Library
Monthly sessions held on a Saturday, 10am to 11am
9 March, 13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 6 July, 31 August, 28 September, 26 October
Drop in or for more details email Kingswood.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Patchway Library
Monthly sessions held on a Saturday, 10am to 11am
9 March, 13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 10 August, 14 September, 12 October
Drop in or for more details email Patchway.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Staple Hill Library
Monthly sessions held on a Saturday, 10.30am to 11.30am
6 April, 4 May, 1 June, 13 July, 7 September, 5 October (no Lego Club in August)
Drop in or for more details email StapleHill.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Thornbury Library
Weekly sessions held on Saturday, 9.30am to 10.30am
Drop in or for more details email Thornbury.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Yate Library
Sessions run every 4 weeks on a Saturday, 10:30am to 11:30am
2 March, 6 April, 4 May, 1 June, 29 June, 27 July, 24 August, 21 September, 19 October
Book your place by visiting the library or email: Yate.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Winterbourne Library
Sessions run every 4 weeks on a Saturday, 10am to 11am
17 February, 16 March, 20 April, 18 May, 15 June, 13 July,10 August, 7 September, 5 October
Drop in or for more details email Winterbourne.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Coding clubs
Free sessions run weekly for children over 8 years old – help your child learn about coding, develop their problem solving skills and build resilience.
We work with DigiLocal, an organisation which supports local communities to run free tech clubs for young people.
Your child must register for a place before attending. Complete the online form to start their registration.
Sessions take place at:
- Bradley Stoke Library: Saturdays 10am to 11am and 11.15am to 12.15pm
- Emersons Green Library: Thursdays 6pm to 7pm
Coding for 5-14 year olds
Free sessions run monthly – have fun learning to program with Scratch and our Code-a-pillar.
Sessions take place at:
- Patchway Library: first Friday of every month 3.30pm to 5pm (1 March, 5 April, 3 May, 7 June, 5 July, 2 August, 6 September, 4 October)
Children under 8 must be supervised by an adult.
Chatterbooks reading groups
Chatterbooks groups are where children have a great time talking about what they are reading and take part in fun activities inspired by the best children’s books.
They are free and are for children aged 7 to 11 years old.
Sessions are held at the following libraries:
Bradley Stoke Library
- once a month on a Tuesday 4 to 5pm (5 March, 2 April, 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 6 August, 3 September, 1 October)
To book your place visit the library or email BradleyStoke.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Cadbury Heath Library
- every four weeks on Saturdays 10am to 10.45am (16 March, 20 April, 18 May, 15 June, 13 July, 7 September, 5 October) – no Chatterbooks in August
To book your place, visit the library or email CadburyHeath.Library@southglos.gov.uk
Kingswood Library
- every four weeks, Saturdays 10am to 10.45am (23 March, 27 April, 25th May, 22 June, 20 July, 14 September, 12 October) – no Chatterbooks in August
To book your place, visit the library or email Kingswood.Library@southglos.gov.uk.
Children’s holiday activities
Our libraries have lots of fun activities for children and families over the school holidays. They are mostly suitable for primary school aged children and it is free to come along. Children must bring a grown-up with them them. Visit our holiday activities page for more information.
Library activities for young adults
Volunteering
Each year we recruit enthusiastic, friendly volunteers to work as part of the team running the Summer Reading Challenge for primary school aged children. Volunteers spend their time helping children to complete the challenge. More information can be found on our Volunteer at our libraries page.
Book groups
Talk about the books you love and meet new friends at one of our book groups. They are free to join.
The following book groups are available:
- The Bookwurms at Hanham Library
Runs every four weeks on Saturdays, 10:30am to 11:30am (6 April, 4 May, 1 June). To book your place, visit the library or email Hanham.Library@southglos.gov.uk.