Little Library Bags are now available to collect from our libraries across Clare. All children who are due to start primary school this year are entitled to their free book bag, with books in English or ‘as Gaeilge.’
An average of 20,000 children around Ireland join their local library every year thanks to the My Little Library initiative.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, together with Minister of State for Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands & Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, announced the launch of this year’s My Little Library free book bag for almost 60,000 children starting primary school.
Each year, every one of the almost 60,000 children leaving pre-school and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library to pick up a free book bag and take the opportunity to join the library. Children due to start school in September and living in Clare are invited to visit their nearest library and pick up their free Little Library Bag.
The books and resources in the book bag, which is available in both English and ‘as Gaeilge’, support parents and their children in the transition to primary school. Each bag contains a selection of three picture books about starting school, information leaflets about reading to your child and a social story about visiting the library.
From 9th of May 2025, all children completing the free universal pre-school Early Childhood Care and Education Programme and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library and pick up a free book bag. The bags will be available throughout the summer. All families are welcomed to join the library if they are not already members.
My Little Library is run in association with the Local Government Management Agency and delivered by local authorities. It is a collaboration between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and Local Government Ireland.