
The 1000 Books Before School program is an early literacy program designed to build important literacy skills prior to starting school.
The program aims to encourage parents and carers to read with their young children to help prepare them for reading at school.
How to get started?
Your child needs to be a library member, so get them joined up at your local library today, then you can start the program by asking a library staff member for your first reading record. You can also participate in the program online through our Beanstack service at mnclibrary.beanstack.org.
Mark, colour or place a sticker on your reading record each time you read together with your child then, when you have read the first 100 books, bring your reading record into your local library and receive your ‘I’m reading 1000 Books Before School’ reading bag and first badge. Each time that you complete a 100 book milestone in your reading record, bring it in to your local Mid North Coast library to receive a merit badge for your bag!
Every book that your child reads or listens to counts. This includes stories read at Storytime sessions, day care or playgroup! We encourage you to use the children’s collections at your local libraries. However, you can read books from anywhere and read them as many times as you want, including books from other 1000 Books Before School partnering library services.
The program finishes once your child reaches the goal of 1000 books, starts school or turns 6, so get started today and get your child school-ready!
Participating Councils:

Early learning calendar
Calendar of Events
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3 events,
Storytime Event – Rosie’s Wheels
Storytime Event – Rosie’s Wheels
Join us for a special Storytime with local author Annette Holley to read her book, Rosie’s Wheels. The event will also feature other stories about disability and will partner with …
Storytime – Laurieton
Storytime – Laurieton
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
1 event,
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
1 event,
Storytime – Wauchope
Storytime – Wauchope
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
1 event,
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
Discover stories that inspire, amuse and delight! This year's theme is Fun in the Sun! What is the Summer Reading Club? Summer Reading Club (SRC) is a free holiday program …
1 event,
1 event,
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
2 events,
Early Bird, Early Literacy
Early Bird, Early Literacy
The Early Bird, Early Literacy program at Port Macquarie library is a literacy program for parents and their babies, 12 months and under. The program is designed to give parents …
3 events,
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
Storytime – Laurieton
Storytime – Laurieton
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
2 events,
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
2 events,
Storytime – Wauchope
Storytime – Wauchope
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
1 event,
3 events,
Storytime – Laurieton
Storytime – Laurieton
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
2 events,
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Storytime – Port Macquarie Library
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
2 events,
Storytime – Wauchope
Storytime – Wauchope
Join us at your local library for some wonderful stories and great fun. Suitable for ages 3-5 years, with parent/carer.
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
1 event,
4 events,
Laurieton Christmas Craft
Laurieton Christmas Craft
Make your own mini gingerbread house at Laurieton Library. For ages 3 years and up. Bookings essential.
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Bring your family to the Port Macquarie library and create a magical gingerbread house together, just in time for Christmas. 19th December: 2-3pm 19th December: 4-5pm 20th December: 2-3pm 20th …
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Bring your family to the Port Macquarie library and create a magical gingerbread house together, just in time for Christmas. 19th December: 2-3pm 19th December: 4-5pm 20th December: 2-3pm 20th …
3 events,
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Bring your family to the Port Macquarie library and create a magical gingerbread house together, just in time for Christmas. 19th December: 2-3pm 19th December: 4-5pm 20th December: 2-3pm 20th …
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Make Your Own Gingerbread House
Bring your family to the Port Macquarie library and create a magical gingerbread house together, just in time for Christmas. 19th December: 2-3pm 19th December: 4-5pm 20th December: 2-3pm 20th …
2 events,
Wauchope Christmas Craft
Wauchope Christmas Craft
Make your own bauble or decoration to hang on your Christmas tree at home. For ages 7 years and up. Bookings essential.
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
Summer Reading Club 2023-2024
1 event,
1 event,
2 events,
Seek and Find at the Library
Seek and Find at the Library
Can you discover all of the secrets of the library? Ask a librarian at the front desk for a Seek and Find sheet, then see if you can find all …
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- There are no events on this day.
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