Libraries, Registration and Archives

Pop into your library with some identification and get a free library card especially for your class/school (you can have more than one).

The benefits include:

• Being able to borrow more books at once (up to 50 books on your school card at a time)
• Having an extended loan period- keep books for up to eight weeks instead of the standard three weeks
• Exchanging books whenever you wish
• Ordering books online 24/7 (reservation fee applies).

This card is free, and as long as books are returned on time there are no charges when borrowing books.

Any books returned late will be charged at the adult late return rate. Charges can be avoided by returning books, or renewing them by the due date. This is easy to do - you can renew books online, by phone or in person at any library.

Librarian-led visits at the library or in your school tailored to your needs.

Our professional team has the expertise to share resources and deliver exciting sessions to inspire your pupils and support their learning.

For example:

• Find out about your community, past and present
• Explore a curriculum theme – e.g. Victorians, environment, countries
• Creative reading sessions
• Study skills.

Prices start at £100 (+VAT) for a session on any existing topic.
Any new topic will incur a flat fee of £200 (+VAT). This will follow a typical format  (see example sample lesson plans below) - anything more in depth would be subject to negotiation.

Have a look at a couple of examples of sample lesson plans

• Margate Then and Now
• Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age

To book an enhanced session:
Talk to your local library or email: [email protected]

We promote reading, learning and digital literacy for all ages and abilities. Libraries, Registration and Archives provides a wide range of services focussed on reading and literacy, information and digital inclusion, and bringing people together. We have 99 libraries across the county, five mobile libraries, plus 24-hour access from wherever you are www.kent.gov.uk/libs.

We offer all schools the following opportunities:

• A free introductory visit to the library led by library staff (subject to availability)
• OR A free visit from the library when schools are too far away to easily travel
• A free introductory visit to Kent’s Archives (subject to availability)
• A Teacher’s Toolkit to assist with library visits led by teaching staff
• Other activities for their pupils such as the Summer Reading Challenge.

You can borrow:

• Books for all ages and abilities - fiction and non-fiction, poetry and jokes
• Audio books, Storysacks and Bag Books
• Books on special situations (both fiction and non-fiction) - these cover a wide range of topics from bullying and divorce to family members in prison, bereavement and empathy
• Books in community languages.

Did you know about some of our other library services?

• Access our information and enquiry services both face to face and remotely via telephone, email, SMS text messaging and 24/7 webchat
• Browse our local history collections and Kent Archives material spanning 14 centuries, to bring the past to life.

And using your own individual library card (not your school card) you can:

• Use our public computers and Wifi
• Borrow eBooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers
• Access online resources (there are lots!) e.g. Brittanica Online

Your pupils can do this too at any Kent library, or at home