Tameside Libraries' Offer to Schools

Tameside Libraries wants to encourage all children to become members of the library and read for pleasure and information. 

Class Visits to the library

Tameside Libraries are happy to welcome classes of children to visit all our libraries. Our aim is that every child will feel that their local library is a friendly and welcoming place where they can explore books and get help and information that they need.

Year 4 visits

We offer librarian-led class visits to every Year 4 class in Tameside. The visit focusses on encouraging reading for pleasure and aims to inspire a love of books and reading in the children. The visit introduces the children to the different types of library stock, how the library is arranged and how to find what they want and lasts around 60 minutes, with time for the children to explore the library for themselves.

There’s no minimum age for library membership but children and young people under 16 need permission from a parent or guardian to join the library. This can be obtained by the adult accompanying the child into the library or by signing a library joining form. Joining forms are often sent home from school before a visit to the library and brought in by a teacher.

Children who have their own library cards with them can borrow books during a class visit. 

Other year groups are welcome to visit the library either for a librarian-led visit if staff availability permits, or for a self-directed teacher-led visit. Activity packs are available for teachers to use at a self-directed visit and teachers can also become members and complete an Open+ induction and bring their classes outside staffed hours which gives much more flexibility in times.

If you want to arrange a class visit to the library, please get in touch using the form below.

Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge, organised by The Reading Agency is the UK’s biggest annual reading promotion for children aged 4 to 11. It combines access to books with fun, free activities, encouraging children to read more during the holidays and avoiding the summer reading ‘dip’.

Tameside Libraries offer all primary schools an assembly led by a Neighbourhood Librarian towards the end of the summer term to introduce the Challenge  and encourage children to take part. All children who finish the Challenge are awarded a certificate and these are sent to primary schools for presentation during the autumn term.

Online Resources

Schools can promote our free online resources to help with reading for pleasure or homework. Anyone with a library card can access the resources from home or school.

Borrow Box offers ebooks and eaudiobooks to download to your PC, phone or tablet as well as emagazines and enewspapers. There are hundreds of books to choose from for children and teenagers as well as adults and it’s completely free with a Tameside library card. Promote the service to children who might struggle to get to a library or who are fascinated by technology. Magazines are ideal for engaging reluctant readers.

Encyclopedia Britannica Online gives free access to the full text of the Encyclopedia Britannica standard edition as well as dedicated sites at Junior (age 5-10) and Student (age 10-14) level. Ideal to promote for interest or as a trustworthy online source for homework use, Britannica can be accessed from any location using a Tameside library card.

Reward Schemes

Some schools organise a reward scheme in conjunction with their nearest branch to encourage children to use Tameside Libraries outside school hours, for example leaving a bookmark in the library when they visit or getting a stamp from the library on a reading record. 

Library App

Encourage children and parents to download the free library app to manage their Tameside Libraries account, search, reserve and renew items on loan. You can even search by scanning the barcode of any book while you’re out and about!