Louth County Council Library Service is inviting families across County Louth to take part in My Little Library Bag, a free national initiative for children aged 4–6 who are due to start primary school in 2026.
Families with children starting primary school in September 2026 are encouraged to visit their local library to collect their FREE bag. Each bag contains several books to help children prepare for starting school, along with supporting resources for parents. Every child collecting a My Little Library Bag is also encouraged to sign up for free library membership, supporting their literacy development and fostering a lifelong love of reading.
The My Little Library Initiative 2026 was officially launched on May 8th by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, together with the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer.
Funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the initiative is run in association with the Local Government Management Agency and delivered by local libraries in every local authority nationwide. The initiative aims to build strong connections between young children, their families, and their local library, while supporting children in transitioning from pre-school to primary school.
Each My Little Library Bag contains:
- A book on starting school and a second book on making friends or being comfortable being yourself
- Book bags available in both Irish and English, with a glossary included in the Irish-language bags
- A personal library card and a special My Little Library cardholder
- A collection of resources and information, including:
- A library social story card
- A My Little Library colouring sheet
- First 5 guidance for parents of children moving from pre-school to primary school
- Dyslexia and the Younger Child by Dyslexia Ireland
- Information on Bookshare Ireland by Vision Ireland
Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said:
“Our library service is an invaluable and completely free resource for families across County Louth. Initiatives like My Little Library help children become familiar with their local library from an early age, building confidence and comfort in a welcoming space where they can explore, learn and enjoy reading. We want every child to see the library as a place they belong, and this programme is a wonderful way to begin that journey.”
Amanda Branigan, Louth County Librarian said:
“Library staff are looking forward to welcoming all the 4, 5 and 6-year-old children into their local branch to collect their book bags and begin their library membership journey. We hope that once they visit the library to pick up their book bag, our new library members and their families will come back regularly to borrow and to take part in story-times, classes and all the other events we have to offer at the library.”
My Little Library Bag can be collected from Library Service branches in Dundalk, Drogheda, Ardee, Carlingford and Dunleer. For more information, email: libraryhelpdesk@louthcoco.ie