Sandwell Council is launching a second year of the highly successful Booktastic scheme which helped to double the number of four and five-year-olds regularly borrowing books from its libraries last year. Council bosses say the scheme, which gives children in Sandwell library membership and access to free books has helped bring more children into libraries than ever before and are launching it again this year.

Library cards will be given to more than 4,000 primary school starters again this year.

The library service is working with every primary school in the borough to launch its second year of a library membership drive for reception children aged five to six.

Each child will receive a special Booktastic membership pack, which will include a membership card, folder and information about the library service. There will also be special Booktastic Missions for children to complete and earn stickers.

The scheme was thought up Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services.

He said: “This is a first step towards getting children to read for pleasure.

"Visiting the library from a young age is important as statistics show children who read from a young age are more likely to do well in education.

“Working closely with local schools we want to encourage classes to visit the library, and also invite parents and carers too.”

The Booktastic scheme was launched at Blackheath Library on Friday 16 October at 10am. Along with Councillor Hackett, Sandwell’s Mayor also attended to celebrate the launch.

The Library Story Players team held a ‘Storytime Lab’ interactive story session, conjuring a magical story for reception children from Highfields Primary School who came to celebrate the launch.

Booktastic will run alongside the BookTrust's Booktime scheme which gives books to all reception-aged children.

To join the library service visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/libraries