Every Tuesday morning, Boothstown Library fills with families gathering ready for Books & Rhymes. Books and Rhymes is a lively session, featuring stories & songs and perfect for helping people find a community connection. The sessions have become so popular at Boothstown that there are now two held each Tuesday. One at 10am and another at 11:15am.
Example of a Books & Rhymes session (Alfie not pictured)
We popped down, before last week’s session to meet Alfie and his mum, Emma and hear their story. Emma and Alfie are long-time regulars at Boothstown Books and Rhymes. Alfie first joined Boothstown Library when he was only around eight weeks old, and since then his love of books has flourished.
What strikes you on entering Boothstown Library is the immediate sense of community. Even arriving 30 minutes before the session starts, families are already gathering in the children’s section. Many are clearly regulars. They are relaxing, chatting with each other as much as friends than as fellow parents.
Emma says that sense of belonging was one of the first things she noticed when she and her partner moved to Boothstown from the city centre.
When we first moved here, we loved the community feel. The library and community centre are definitely at the heart of that
she explains.
We didn’t come down to the library as much before having Alfie, but we signed him up when he was about eight weeks old, and we enjoy coming here regularly now.
For Emma, Books & Rhymes became part of her weekly routine during maternity leave.
Having a free session right on the doorstep was so valuable. It gave us somewhere to come. A place to see familiar faces, and build a community.
The fact there are two sessions on Tuesdays makes a big difference too, because with a new-born, things don’t always go to plan.
It took a lot of stress off when it came to naps, feeds and all the other little things that come up. It was so nice to think, if we missed the first session, there was still another one we could get down to!
That constant community feel and sense of belonging that has kept Emma and Alfie returning time and time again.
We’ve actually not been able to make it to a session for a couple of months. Just because we’ve been busy. Yet, as soon as we’ve come back in today, it’s like we’ve never been away. We recognise a lot of the other children and families here. It’s just that sense of community again.
It’s so nice to feel like you belong.
She also praises the extended library opening hours.
It’s great now that the library is also open on a Wednesday, even when not staffed. My mum looks after Alfie on Wednesdays, and she doesn’t drive, so it’s a brilliant option for her that’s within easy walking distance.
The sessions haven’t only supported Emma; they’ve been a big part of Alfie’s early development too.
Even though he’s not 18 months old yet, Alfie already knows what the library is! He always gets excited about coming. It’s been great to see him grow in the sessions, now, he joins in with the songs he knows, like Sleeping Bunnies!
I’m very proud that ‘library’ was among the first 50 words he learned to say!
The social interaction has helped prepare him for nursery, too.
Having that interaction with other toddlers from an early age meant that when he did start nursery, it wasn’t such a shock for him.
Alongside the rhyme sessions, Alfie has also enjoyed other SCL tots sessions including Baby Gym, which Emma says was
So good for his motor skills when he was starting to crawl and walk.
When asked what she would say about the library to other new parents, Emma doesn’t hesitate in her response:
I’d recommend the library to anyone, but especially new parents.
There’s so much you get from it; both for your child’s development and for you, socially. On maternity leave, it was such a comfort knowing there was somewhere we could go, where Alfie could play for free and I’d find company. It’s such an asset.
Claire, Librarian at Boothstown Library, has loved watching Alfie grow.
We have such a strong community here,” she says, “and it’s been wonderful seeing Alfie’s love of books develop from such an early age. It’s lovely that he’s already such a big part of our library family.
Find more Under 5s activities at Salford Libraries👉 Children & Families – SCL
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