Rhymetime
Rhymetime sessions are designed for babies up to 24 months. This is a time for carers and children to enjoy rhymes, songs and stories together.
| Day | Time | Location | Bookings |
| Mondays | 9am and 9.45am | Maylands Library | No |
| Tuesdays | 9.45am | Morley Library | No |
| Thursdays | 9.45am | Maylands Library | No |
| Fridays | 9.45am | Bayswater Library | No |
Storytime
Story Time sessions are designed for children aged 2 to 5 years. Children and carers can enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and a simple take home craft activity that will continue the learning at home.
All children aged 12 and under must have an accompanying parent/carer present in the library during activity sessions.
| Program | Day | Time | Location | Bookings |
| Storytime | Mondays and Fridays | 10.30am | Bayswater Library | No |
| Storytime | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 10.30am | Maylands Library | No |
| Storytime | Wednesdays | 10.30am | Morley Library | No |
Sensory Storytime - Ages 2-5 - Returning in Term 3
Is regular Storytime too noisy or overwhelming for your child? Do they sometimes have difficulty focusing? Then you might like to try our new Sensory Storytime program.
Sensory Storytime is aimed at engaging your child in activities supporting the development of social play and literacy within a small group setting. Each session focuses on a different theme with songs, activities, a reading of one story and then sensory playtime and exploration.
Sensory Story Time may be particularly beneficial to those who are living with autism or who are living with challenges related to sensory experiences but all children are welcome.
Bookings are essential and parents/carers must participate with their child.
| Date | Time | Location | Bookings |
| Term 3 - Tuesdays, 25 July to 5 September | 10.30–11.30am | Morley | Book now |
Learning English Through Storytime (LETS) - Ages 3-5
Learning English Through Storytime (LETS) assists families to improve their English.
- Includes songs, rhymes, stories and activities.
- Helps develop confidence and school readiness
- It's for ages 3 to 5 years and a parent or carer
- Parents and children participate together
| Date | Time | Location | Bookings |
| Every Thursday from 4 May to 24 June | 10–11am | Bayswater | Book now |
Make it Club
Make It Club is a place where you can learn and make something new every week. It might be craft, Lego or a science experiment.
No bookings required unless stated. Make It Club runs during the school term. All children aged 12 and under must have an accompanying parent/carer present in the library during activity sessions.
Please note the Make It Club times will be changing in Term 3 to 3.30–4.30pm.
| Library | Day | Time | Date | Theme | Bookings |
| Bayswater | Wednesdays | 4–5pm | 7 June | Lego | No |
| | | | 14 June | Ceramics | No |
| | | | 21 June | Lego | No |
| | | | 28 June | Craft allsorts | No |
| Maylands | Tuesdays | 4–5pm | 6 June | Book marks and hot dog books | No |
| | | | 13 June | Lego | No |
| | | | 20 June | Mosaic art | No |
| Morley | Fridays | 4–5pm | 2 June | Special snowflakes | No |
| | | | 9 June | Shaving cream marble printing | No |
| | | | 16 June | Flower suncatcher | No |
| | | | 23 June | Making clay figurines | No |
| | | | 30 June | Decorating biscuits | No |
Write It Club (Year 2 – Year 6)
Join our young writers’ group and take part in fun sessions with games, challenges and writing prompts. There will also be special workshops throughout the year with guest authors. Every second Monday during school term.
All children aged 12 and under must have an accompanying parent/carer present in the library during activity sessions.
Term 2 2023
| Library | Day | Time | Dates | Bookings |
| Maylands | Monday | 4–5pm | 1, 15, 29 May
12, 26 June | No |
Read It Club (Year 3 - Year 6)
Do you love books and reading? Do you want to find a new favourite author or share a book you couldn’t put down?
Join our new Read It! Book Club for kids in Years 3-6. You choose what you read and then let the group know what you thought of it.
All children aged 12 and under must have an accompanying parent/carer present in the library during activity sessions.
Term 2 2023
| Library | Day | Time | Dates | Bookings |
| Maylands | Thursday | 4–5pm | 4, 18 May
1, 15, 29 June | No |
| | | | | |
Bayswater Bilbies (Year 1 – Year 6)
Join the hottest club around, the Bayswater Bilbies! Students in Years 1-6 can become a Bayswater Bilby and will receive a special rewards card to collect stamps. You will get a special lanyard and pouch to keep your card in. As you fill out your card, you will collect prizes along the way. Once your card is complete, you will go into the draw to win a book prize or voucher. Bilbies also get invitations to special events throughout the year. It’s free to join, all you need is a library membership to get started.
School Holiday Activities and Special Events
All children aged 12 and under must have an accompanying parent/carer present in the library during activity sessions.
| Event | Description | Date | Time | Library | Bookings |
| Magic the Gathering (Ages 14-24) | If you are interested in the game Magic the Gathering, this is the event for you! Whether you are an expert or just learning, join AJ from Totally Board at this two-hour session with like-minded people. AJ will provide the cards; you just need to turn up.
Bookings essential. | Tuesday 27 June | 4–6pm | Morley | Book now |
School Holidays
| Learn about Noongar culture and have fun doing it at one of our NAIDOC Week events presented by Belinda Cox from Djirrily Dreaming. In week two we will also be hosting the In My Pocket workshop run by the WE ARE HERE! Foundation where children aged 9-11 can hear a true story and then participate in an art workshop.
Bookings for all sessions are essential and open 1 week prior to event. | Various | Various | Various | View program |
| Library and Information Week - Rediscover Reading | Libraries connect us to stories that can entertain, inform, transport and help us understand the world we live in. Celebrate this Library and Information Week by rediscovering the power of reading. Come together as a community for one of our special events that will get you excited about books and reading. Visit our Eventbrite page to view the full program. | 29 July - 5 August | Various | Various | View program |
| CBCA Book Week - Illustration Nation | Enter a world of creativity and fun at one of our illustration workshops. Then watch our illustrators battle it out in a drawing challenge. Come early to create a healthy smoothie on our blender bike. Bookings are essential and open 19 July. Illustration Workshops (please book for the appropriate age category)
Ages 6-8: Gabriel Evans
Ages 9-12: Renee Treml
Ages 12+: - Sean E Avery | Saturday 19 August | 9.30-11.30am | Maylands | View program |
LibraryCraft
Do you love playing Minecraft? The City of Bayswater Libraries have joined with Fremantle Library and other local governments to bring you LibraryCraft. LibraryCraft is a Minecraft server with multiple worlds for WA players aged between 7 and 17 years old. This creative world will keep young people busy and their minds active, with exciting challenges and monthly competitions to win. Moderators are also available to help players if they are lost or stuck and ensure player safety online. To join, visit https://librarycraft.net/
Beanstack
Join an online reading challenge, earn badges for completing goals, share reviews and more. Visit the site or download the Beanstack app to sign up.
Our first challenge on Beanstack is 1001 Books Before Year One. This is a fun reading challenge designed to develop literacy and nurture a love of reading in children up to six years old by rewarding them for the amount of books read. After reading 100 books, each child will receive a library bag. For every 100 book milestone after that, children will collect a colourful iron-on patch, which they can use to decorate their library bag until reaching the 1001 book milestone. Young readers who complete the challenge will be rewarded with a book to keep.
Parenting Workshops
The City of Bayswater Libraries have partnered with Midvale Hub Parenting Service (MHPS) to provide venues for their free parenting workshops. MHSP run different workshops such as Circle of Security, Tuning into Teens, Protective Behaviours, 1,2,3 Magic & Emotion Coaching. Bookings are essential and participants must be able to attend all sessions. All bookings to be made through MHPS by phoning 9290 6888. For their full calendar of events visit www.midvalehub.org.au/copy-of-midvale-hub-parenting-servi
Reading aloud with your child is the best way to foster a love of books and is the single most important activity to help a child get ready to learn to read.
The 1001 Books Before Year One program helps you track the number of books your child is enjoying each day with the goal of reaching 1001 books before they begin Year One.
Every time you read a book it counts, including that book you have to read three times at bedtime! Stories that are shared at Storytime, daycare and playgroup can also be counted. You can track your reading by using the Beanstack app or using our log sheets. As you hit each milestone you will receive a reward starting with a special book bag when you reach your first 100 books. For every 100 books you read after that you will receive a special iron on patch to add to your bag. Once you reach your target of 1001 books you will be able to collect your final patch and a free book to add to your child's collection.
You can get started by signing up online using Beanstack or you can visit a City of Bayswater Library to collect your reading log.
Visit the Beanstack website or download the app from the App Store for Apple or Google Play for Android.