From Story Box and Toddle Tots to Sing & Sign and Teddy Time, the Isle of Man Family Library is far more than just a library.

Each week from Tuesday to Saturday, it is a hive of fun-filled activity including crafts, puzzles and games, all promoting reading, writing and creativity.

The facility is also in demand as a popular, easy-to-reach venue to host community and corporate events.

More than 150 children and young people recently visited us on World Book Day in an array of colourful costumes dressed as their favourite characters.

Themes of the day ranged from Julia Donaldson books, to ’People Who Help Us’ and ’Reading Buddies’, just a few of the many activities visitors of all ages can enjoy.

That includes what we call ’Tweens’ - children who are no longer considered ’little kids’ but are not yet teenagers - who are welcome to pop in and explore beyond the shelves.

With our kaleidoscope of books, CDs, DVDs and in-house iPads, a world of discovery is literally at your fingertips!

There is plenty to look forward to this spring too with schemes which develop a love of reading and sharing books, including initiatives such as Super Science and Jolly Music. Keep an eye out in the weeks to come for more information - or better still, pop in and see us.

We’ve also got some ’Eggscellent’ Easter events coming up at your community library, with plenty to do during the Easter holidays and beyond.

Watch out for some mad hares (Easter bunnies with a bounce!), a raffle to win a superb hamper and plenty of fun to keep the most active of minds occupied.

We will also be indulging in some serious eggs-ercise by getting out and about to see those who use our service but can’t actually get into the library, highlighting our much in-demand mobile library service.

There is never a dull moment at the Isle of Man Family Library and we look forward to seeing lots of familiar faces and some new ones at our events, and calling in to take advantage of our games collection and, of course, browse the many thousands of books!

The Family Library is next to the children’s playground in Westmoreland Road, Douglas. It operates as a charity and also runs the Mobile Family Library and a Schools Service.

To keep up-to-date on events and to find out more about the services available, check out the Family Library page on Facebook, visit familylibrary.im or call the library on 640650.

by the Family Library team

www.familylibrary.im