Cláreagraithe
Programmes

A yearly programme of Age Friendly workshops and talks organised by Kildare Library & Arts Service. Hear about upcoming Age Friendly events by subscribing to our newsletter.

This is a national programme developed in partnership between Age Friendly Ireland and Libraries Ireland, which aims to support older people in accessing the wealth of online library resources. Training is provided by Kildare Libraries Age Friendly Digital Ambassadors online, by phone or in branch.

An annual series of fun literacy events for children in May.

The Climate Action Programme helps our communities learn practical ways to live sustainably. Through workshops, talks, and events, we explore topics like clothing repair, bike maintenance, eco-crafts, food preservation, composting, and energy efficiency. We also host nature walks, foraging sessions, and climate-themed book clubs. Our goal is to empower local action that contributes to global impact.

Family Time at Your Library is held in December and consists of free workshops and storytime events at family-friendly times such as evenings and weekends.

Healthy Ireland at Your Library forms part of the national strategy to improve health and wellbeing. Kildare Libraries provides a range of collections and programmes to support this initiative.

Kildare Readers Festival is brought to you every year in October by Kildare County Library and Arts Service. Our ethos is to connect our readers with authors and artists, working to bring the very best from the world of literature to our audiences through the provision of exciting, innovative, and accessible events.

A series of talks offering support for Parents, and CPD opportunities for those working with families in County Kildare. Organised in association with the Kildare County Childcare Committee and Members of the Parenting Forum for Kildare & West Wicklow.

My Little Library is a book gifting scheme where ‘Little Library Book Bags’ are made available to children who are due to start Junior Infants in September. The bags can be collected for free by parents and carers from their nearest library. Each bag contains picture books to help them prepare for this big step. Each child can also get their first library card when collecting the bag.

A monthly programme of fun activities including art, music, messy play, theatre, dance storytelling and yoga to promote development of language, literacy and numeracy skills in children aged 0-5.

POP! events also give children the space and opportunity for socialising with other children their age.

Get notified of upcoming POP! events in your local library by signing up to their newsletter.

Skills for Life is a new nationwide programme delivered through Ireland’s public libraries, offering people across the country access to practical learning opportunities to support everyday life. Whether you want to feel more confident online, manage your finances, understand media, or live more sustainably – your local library is here to help.

The programme focuses on six key themes:

• Basic Digital Skills
• Financial Literacy
• Media Literacy
• Business and Employment Skills
• Health Awareness
• Sustainable Lifestyles and Environmental Awareness

Spring Into Storytime is held during the month of April. Libraries host story times for pre-school and primary school aged children throughout the month.

The Kildare Libraries STEAM Programme gives local children an opportunity to explore and engage with science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. We work with Primary schools offering workshops and talks both online and in person, all free of charge, to support the school curriculum and to inspire the children in these areas, preparing them for the future.

By encouraging teachers and their classes to engage with this programme we hope to provide an opportunity to explore STEAM learning beyond the formal school setting, to create lifelong learners and to highlight the broader supports and benefits the public library can offer.

Teachers can register with their local library to hear about STEAM events in advance.

Summer Stars is a summer reading challenge held from 1st Jun – 31st Aug each year, aimed towards children aged up to 12 years old. Children are encouraged to participate by setting reading goals, recording their reading progress and participating in free activities such as workshops, story times and book clubs.

The TTT Programme is designed to offer support to children and adults with learning difficulties, disabilities or more significant needs. A specialised collection of toys and assistive equipment can be borrowed free of charge via any library in Kildare.

The TTT programme also hosts a series of free talks and workshops each year, offering guidance, support and networking opportunities for parents, teachers and healthcare professionals.