Portsmouth City Council City Crest

Children and young people

Childrens Library Services Children of all ages are welcome in our libraries, there is something for everyone.
  • Books on CD and cassette, toys, DVDs, CD Roms, games and music can also be borrowed.
  • All libraries have Internet access which children of all ages can use
  • Joining the library and borrowing books is FREE.
  • There are no fines for late return of items on the tickets of children aged 15 years and under.

We can offer special group tickets for individuals and organisations, from childminders and foster carers, playgroups to youth groups.

Members of the children’s team will visit groups, bringing the magic of libraries to the heart of Portsmouth’s communities. Please email libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to request a visit.

Most libraries in Portsmouth run Storytimes, Bounce and Rhyme sessions and Under 5s' Fun mornings. For running times and dates for each library, please see the programme under 'Associated documents'. 

For futher information on all the services available to children and young people, please navigate to the pages under 'Internal links'.

Children's news and special events

New Internet access policy for children
From December 2008 children will be able to enjoy full, filtered, Internet access in all Portsmouth Libraries. The current “Walled Garden” arrangement will be discontinued.

The Internet access we offer will be similar to that provided in Portsmouth schools but we will also be allowing access to games, Web chat and social networking sites.

Notification of this to all parents will be delivered via “Flagship”, “Term Time” and the library newsletter “The Word”. An article about this was also featured in the Portsmouth News on 10th November 2008.

The Library Service has the facility to monitor children’s Internet use and we take online safety very seriously, but parents will have the right to request that their child no longer be allowed Internet access in a library.

If you have any questions about this please contact Patricia Garrett on 023 9268 8054 or email libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Christmas activities for children
Santa Claus will be making a special guest appearance during our Christmas Storytimes, Bounce and Rhyme and Under 5s' Fun sessions in libraries across the city during the festive season.

Date Time Library Event
2/12/08 10am - 12 noon Central Under 5s' Christmas Fun
9/12/08 11am - 11.45am Central Christmas Storytime
10/12/08 10am - 10.30am Central Bounce and Rhyme
15/12/08 10.30am - 11.30am Carnegie Bounce and Rhyme
15/12/08 2pm - 2.45pm Elm Grove Christmas Storytime
15/12/08 2pm - 2.45pm Paulsgrove Under 5s' Christmas Fun
15/12/08 2.15pm - 3pm Cosham Christmas Storytime
16/12/08 2pm - 2.45pm North End Christmas Storytime
18/12/08 2pm - 2.45pm Portsea Christmas Storytime
19/12/08 10am - 10.45am Beddow Christmas Storytime
19/12/08 10am - 10.45am Alderman Lacey Christmas Storytime

Associated documents:

Media attachment image  Children's Programme 2008  (0.07 MB)