Children 'are the future of NI libraries'

Vicky Fedak (L) and Carol Murphy (R) bring their families to the library and met the 'Library cat'

"The children are the future of libraries," Patricia Curran enthusiastically says as very young children chase bubbles around the library in Saintfield.

It's Book Week in Northern Ireland, and this is just one way to encourage parents to bring their children to libraries.

The week-long event is being jointly hosted by BBC NI, and Libraries NI and it has become an annual event for almost a decade.

Ms Curran, who is the area manager from Libraries NI, says: "We really encourage children of all ages to come in.

"It's great where the libraries aren't just about books; there are fun activities also for children to participate in.”

The Library cat blows bubbles for the children's event

Carol Murphy has come to the library with four grandchildren.

"It's a lovely atmosphere, and it's just perfect. They are not on phones, and they're not on iPads, so it's a real bonus," she says.

The grandmother adds: “They are all book readers, which is really strange with the way kids are now, so we are very, very fortunate."

Vicky Fedak brought her two children to the event.

"I think the library is a sense of community, and we come to the ‘Rhythm and Rhyme’ classes here.

"It's just getting them into books early; it's really good for their development and their speaking and all kinds of skills."

Patricia Curran says libraries can offer more than just books

With the noise levels rising around her, Ms Curran emphasises that while children are an important part of book week, it's an event for all ages.

"There's something in your local library for everybody, should it be your 'Knit and Natter', your 'Tea and Newspapers', your jigsaw clubs, or your mindful colouring.

"You don't even have to come in in a group; you can come in on your own and meet friends and come back weekly because you know that you are going to have people there waiting for you to come in again," she says.

Long Island by the renowned Irish writer Colm Tóibín is one of the books of the week.

"We just thought there were so many provoking topics in this book that it was good, and everybody could get involved within the story for it," says Ms Curran.