Camden has launched the Share and Read with Baby packs, a new initiative designed to support families from the very beginning of their child’s life.
Starting this month, parents who register the birth of their baby in Camden will receive a special pack that introduces them to the borough’s vibrant library services and wider support network.
Each pack includes the baby’s first Camden Libraries card and a joining form. Parents can take these to any Camden Library, where staff will activate the card and welcome them into the library community.
Cabinet Member for Jobs, Young People and Culture, Councillor Sabrina Francis said:
“We’re delighted to launch the Share and Read with Baby packs as part of our commitment to supporting families and promoting early literacy. Camden Libraries are welcoming spaces where children can discover the joy of books and stories from the very start of their lives. This is a wonderful way to connect new parents with the services and support available to them, and to celebrate the beginning of their child’s reading journey.”
The pack also contains a range of leaflets about library services, including sessions for under five-year-olds, and information about other Camden services that support families in their early years including Camden’s Children’s Centres and Family Hubs.
Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families, Councillor Marcus Boyland said:
“Camden is proud to support families from the very beginning of their child’s life, and the Share and Read with Baby packs are a brilliant example of this. We know that reading to babies from birth gives them a head start in being able to focus, connect and learn. This initiative, alongside our Family Hubs and wider support services, is ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
This initiative is a key output of the Camden Reading Together strategy, developed in collaboration with The Reading Agency. Grounded in research showing that families who read together from birth see powerful benefits, the strategy champions that reading is not only educational, but also transformative. Children who enjoy reading regularly are three times more likely to report high levels of mental wellbeing, highlighting the vital role of reading from a young age in nurturing emotional resilience and lifelong learning.
The launch coincides with London Libraries marking 175 years since the Public Libraries Act 1850, which empowered boroughs to establish free public libraries. Libraries across London celebrated the vital role they play – from promoting reading for pleasure and supporting digital access, to helping with cost-of-living challenges, skills development, and community connection.
For more information on what support or activities are available at your local library, visit camden.gov.uk/libraries. The Share and Read with Baby packs are available now to all families registering a birth in Camden.
Camden’s Children’s Centres and Family Hubs offer free support for families from pregnancy to age 19, or up to 25 for children and young people with SEND. Services include mental health support, benefits advice, drop-in stay and play sessions, and parenting classes. Visit families.camden.gov.uk, call 0800 389 5789 for free (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), email familyhubs@camden.gov.uk, or drop into one of our five Family Hubs.
