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Caithness News Bulletins October 2005

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Celebrate National Bookstart Day on Friday 7th October 2005
If you go down to your library today, you'll be sure of a big surprise! Hundreds of libraries up and down the country are getting involved in National Bookstart Day on Friday 7th October.

With events from Lerwick to Land's End, everyone will be joining in with rhymes, stories and songs, to celebrate the ongoing success of Bookstart in the UK - a world leader in gifting free books to babies.

In Scotland, the theme for National Bookstart Day is the Teddy Bears' Picnic and literally hundreds of picnics are taking place in libraries and other community venues. Bookstart will also be holding a 'Name the Bookstart Bears Competition'. The life sized Bookstart Bears first made their appearance in Edinburgh on National Bookstart Day in 2004, and have been touring Scotland ever since. The Bears now need a name so that they can truly feel part of the Bookstart team. Entry forms will be available at every National Bookstart Day event in Scotland and the winner will receive �100 worth of books.

Bookstart is a national scheme offering free books to children and advice to their parents. The scheme was established to encourage parents to share books with children from a very early age. Parents receive a Bookstart pack at their baby's eight-month assessment. This includes free books, information about local library activities and services, and valuable advice on sharing books - all in a canvas Bookstart bag. Children really benefit from Bookstart and gain a head start with their language skills. If you believe you have missed out on your Bookstart pack, ask your health visitor or local library for details, or visit www.bookstart.co.uk

As part of National Bookstart Day on Friday, October 7th, Highland Libraries will be hosting events at: Inverness Library, 10:00 am; Ardnamurchan Library, 11:15 am; Fortrose Library, 11:20 am; Tain Library, 2:00 pm; and Dingwall Library, 2:30 pm.

In Caithness there will be a Family Day in Thurso Library on Saturday, October 8th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Everyone is very welcome to attend. This year will be the sixth National Bookstart Day and will help raise awareness of the Bookstart concept. Bookstart hopes to welcome even more carers, babies, and children into libraries to use the resources available to them.