Children’s library programs and activities

Stirling Libraries host a wide range of activities for children such as storytime and rhymetimes as well as activities for older children including coding clubs, drop in and play sessions. To view library activities, visit the events calendar or contact your local library. The Digital library is available for kids for eBooks, eAudio and a variety of online activities.

Baby Rhymetime

Our Baby Rhymetime sessions focus on improving essential Early Development Social, Communication and Literacy skills in your child, promote bonding and are fun for both parent and child. Our Pre-School programs are created to perfectly compliment the state-wide Better Beginnings program.

For children aged zero to two years, Baby Rhymetime sessions offer a fun and educational experience for both young ones and parents.

Each Baby Rhymetime session will help your child to develop early literacy skills through simple rhymes, action songs and stories.

Sessions subject to public holidays or library closure. No bookings required.

 MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
Dianella   Baby Rhymetime 10.30am

Baby Rhymetime 10.30am

Inglewood Baby Rhymetime 10.30amBaby Rhymetime 10.30am  
Karrinyup  Baby Rhymetime 10.30am Baby Rhymetime 10.30am
Mirrabooka  Baby Rhymetime 10.30am Baby Rhymetime 10.30am
Osborne

Baby Rhymetime 10.30am

Baby Rhymetime 2.30pm

    
Scarborough Baby Rhymetime 10.30am Baby Rhymetime 10.30am 

Pre-school Storytime and Saturday songs and stories

These sessions are suitable for children aged two to five years and include stories and songs. Pre-school Storytime is a fun way to introduce your child to books, stimulates their imagination and is a great way for your child to make new friends. 

Can't make a weekday? We also have Saturday Songs and Stories, every Saturday from 10.00am for children zero to five years.

Sessions subject to public holidays or library closure. No bookings required.

 MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
DianellaPreschool Storytime 10.30am   

 

Saturday songs
and stories

10.00am

Inglewood    Preschool Storytime 10.30am

Saturday songs
and stories

10.00am

Karrinyup   Preschool Storytime 10.30am

 

Saturday songs
and stories

10.00am

Mirrabooka Preschool Storytime 10.30am   

Saturday songs
and stories

10.00am

Osborne

 

Preschool Storytime 10.30am   

Saturday songs
and stories

10.00am

Scarborough  Preschool Storytime 10.30am  

Saturday songs
and stories

10.00am

Sensory Sing and Play

Sensory sing and play is an inclusive program of songs and sensory play based learning in a small group setting.

During the session you and your child will experience a variety of sensory play activities and rhymes to help build a foundation of early literacy skills.

Suitable for babies six to18 months and their caregiver.

Bookings essential

Book now Stirling Libraries - Scarborough: every Thursday 9.30am - 10.00am

Book now Stirling Libraries - Dianella: every Friday 1.30pm - 2.00pm

Better Beginnings

For over 10 years Better Beginnings has been improving the lives of young West Australians and their families. 

Better Beginnings focuses on developing literacy skills in children aged zero to four by fostering a love of stories, rhymes and being read to. Through Better Beginnings, children pick up many of the concepts relating to reading and writing before age five, and this gives them a head start once they start school. Good Literacy skills are clearly linked to better life outcomes in later life.

Every child born in Western Australia is entitled to receive a Yellow book bag at birth containing their first board book and helpful information about reading to your child.  At the age of two your child receives an Orange Sing-and-Grow book bag and another Green bag once they reach Kindergarten. Better Beginnings is delivered by the State Library of Western Australia through public libraries throughout the state, together with Child Health Nurses and schools. 

Our Baby Rhymetime and Pre School Storytime sessions have been developed alongside Better Beginnings with special focus on delivering these early learning concepts. Librarians that conduct these sessions have regular training in early years program delivery.

Better Beginnings is funded via a tri-partite alliance between the Government of Western Australia (including Royalties for Regions), Western Australian local governments and Rio Tinto.

An independent evaluation of the initial pilot program by Edith Cowan University demonstrated the program's positive impact on the attitudes, behaviours and practices of parents around early literacy. Their longitudinal evaluation of the Better Beginnings program demonstrates that Better Beginnings is having a significant positive impact on early reading practices, attitudes and beliefs across Western Australia.

Learn English through Storytime (LETS)

The LETS program helps children and their families to improve and practise English in a fun, educational environment.

LETS includes songs, rhymes and stories which develop children's confidence. LETS helps children develop skills they will need when they start school.

The LETS program runs for eight weeks, with a different theme each week. Parents and Children participate and improve their English together!  Dianella, Osborne and Mirrabooka offer LETS, alternating during school terms.

Suitable for parents/carers and their children aged 3 - 4 years for whom English is a second language.

Stirling Libraries - Osborne  9.30am - 10.15am 

Book now for Osborne

Stirling Libraries - Dianella starting Tuesday 30 April 2024, 10.30am - 11.30am 

Book now for Dianella

CoderDojo

This is a free, peer-based club for those who want to learn how to code. Coding is a fun and great way to meet people, and is quickly becoming an essential life skill. You can play games, work out puzzles and write your own programs.

Suitable for ages seven to 17.

CoderDojo is being run in the Innovations Lab at Mirrabooka Library every Wednesday during school term. 

Bookings essential

** Sessions are currently suspended for Term 1 **

Chinese Language Songs & Stories

Join us for weekly songs and stories in Chinese language.

Sessions are aimed at children aged two to five years old and their parents/carers and feature interactive stories, songs, and rhymes in the Chinese (Mandarin) language. 

  • Date/Times Weekly (school term only), on Wednesday 10.30am – 11.00am
  • Venue Stirling Libraries - Dianella
  • Cost Free.

No bookings required

Children’s University Learning Destination

One of the best things in life is learning something new every day.

Children's University is a program that rewards kids for what they learn outside the classroom in places like public libraries, zoos, museums and art galleries. 

Students enrolled with the Children’s University get their ‘passports’ stamped when they visit recognised Learning Destinations, and are recognised for hours of activity through formal University certificates at on-campus graduation ceremonies - complete with official regalia!

Stirling Libraries Mirrabooka

Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka is now a destination!

Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka is proud to become a Learning Destination for Children’s University. Take out an item or attend one of our sessions to have your passport stamped. You can also get stamps when attending some of our awesome events during school holidays.

Children’s University in Western Australia is delivered by Edith Cowan University and The University of Western Australia through the Children’s University Western Australia Partnership (CU WAP). To learn more about the program and opportunities to be involved, you can contact members of the CU WAP team at childrensuniversity@ecu.edu.au or childrensuniversity@uwa.edu.au.

Little Street Library

Little Street Libraries promote literacy, build a sense of community, and encourage the joy of reading.  

Little Street Libraries are being added to locations across the City including parks, residential properties, schools and child care centres. The Little Street Library concept is simple - take a book, leave a book.

The City of Stirling supports the Little Street Libraries concept as it fosters a love of reading by making books freely available at all times in the community.

The following FAQs aim to clarify the requirements for the installation of Little Street Libraries on residential or public land.

Want to install a Little Street Library on residential land?

Areas near a driveway within 1.5m of where the driveway meets the front boundary are designated as the truncation area, as per the Residential Design Code. These truncation areas ensure safety by providing unobstructed sight lines at vehicle access points.  

Preferably, Little Street Libraries should be positioned outside of the truncation area. In the event that a Little Street Library is located within the truncation area it should not exceed a height of 750mm.

Image of Little Street Library

State Planning Policy 3.1 Residential Design Codes

Little Street Libraries are subject to compliance with Clause 5.2.4 - Street Wall & Fences and Clause 5.2.5 - Sight Lines of the Residential Design Code and larger units may require development approval.

If you are interested in installing your own Little Street Library within your residential property boundary, visit Street Library website for more information.

Want to install a Little Street Library on public land?

The City of Stirling supports Little Street Libraries on public land including neighbourhood parks, where appropriate. However, the City does not support Little Street Libraries on verges or road reserves.  

  • In the first instance, please email the City’s Community Hub Team at littlestreetlibrary@stirling.wa.gov.au and a Community Hub Team Officer will contact you to discuss your proposal
  • Following discussions, a completed Little Street Library on public land application form and final plans must be submitted for approval
  • The City does not provide funding for Little Street Libraries. Any ongoing upkeep and maintenance is the responsibility of the applicant
  • The City of Stirling may remove the Little Street Library should it become a hazard or fall into disrepair. In these cases, a City Officer will contact the applicant to request its removal. Should the applicant not respond within seven days, the City will organise removal of the Little Street Library.

Heritage protection areas

Locations within Heritage Protection Areas may be subject to additional criteria according to the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 3 and Local Planning Policy 3.1.

Click here to submit a Little Street Library application.

kids coding

Coding, programming and STEAM skills

Stirling Libraries provide opportunities for children and teens to learn how to code and gain skills in programming languages. STEAM learning focuses on teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics in a  way that is practical and engaging.  Look out for various STEAM focused workshops at Stirling Libraries.

Creative Clubs

A series of creative clubs and activities are run across our libraries to help foster cognitive and social development.

  • Do you love Minecraft? Minecraft is a ‘sandbox’ game offering players almost limitless possibilities in an almost limitless world. Stirling Libraries have now joined with City of Fremantle, and other public libraries to offer Librarycraft.net. LibraryCraft is a safe, secure, moderated online environment for Minecraft players aged seven to 17. 
    There are weekly competitions and prizes, but players also:

    • Strengthen their social, creativity and teamwork skills whilst learning to solve problems together
    • Learn about resource management and basic economics through the in-built Economy system
    • Exercise their spatial awareness through navigating expansive worlds and cave systems
    • Build on all of the STEAM skills, science, engineering and maths with coding and redstone creations.
  • The Innovations Lab in Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka features a range of new technologies including:

    • 3D Printer
    • Virtual Reality
    • Music Recording
    • Laser Cutter & Engraver
    • Robots and STEAM focused educational devices
    • Public PCs, Projector and Edutouch interactive screen

    The Innovations Lab is available for:

    • Room for hire for talks and seminars, including computing classes
    • Be Connected Computer Skills classes
    • Mirrabooka Craft group
    • Coderdojo Coding groups

    For more information ask our friendly staff.

  • Drop into Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka or Scarborough on Monday afternoon to have a play and experiment with a fun range of technologies, including coding games and robots!

    All ages are welcome, no bookings are necessary, and staff will be available to assist and answer any questions that you may have.

    Day and timeLibrary

    Mondays 3.30pm - 5.00pm (Term times. Sessions commence on 2nd Monday of each term)

    Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka

    Mondays 3.30pm - 4.30pm (term times)

    Stirling Libraries - Scarborough

    Due to popular demand, a maximum number of 20 people will be allowed in the session at any one time. No bookings required.