Babies learn by looking and listening from the first day of life. Childhood, particularly the first few years of a child’s life, is a very important period for the development of language skills. Parents and carers can play a important role in this development by talking and singing to their children and sharing books, songs and rhymes in a happy, loving home environment.
As children grow, reading remains a crucial factor in their success in education and life. It’s important that parents continue to demonstrate the value and enjoyment of reading by encouraging regular reading times, and allowing children to see them reading too. A love of reading can also be encouraged through regular visits to the library where children can browse a huge range of books and choose their own to borrow.
The Library provides a wide range of activities and resources for babies to young adults. These include:
- Books & Magazines
- CDs & DVDs
- Multi-media packs
- Literacy resources
- Spark Discovery science kits
- Collections of HSC resources including study guides, Board of Studies publications and materials for use by senior high school students.
- Digital resources for kids via Storybox, Overdrive and other online apps
- Free access to research databases
We aim to provide the best resources for all ages. Remember: if you can’t see it, ask for it! We welcome purchase requests.
Activities
School holiday programs are generally aimed at school aged children, while we provide programs for babies and preschoolers each week during term. We aim to promote what the library has to offer as well as provide a meaningful activity for young people. These activities give children the opportunity to meet others, to learn or experience something different and to share some fun. Some of our library activities are fully supervised while others require carers to stay. Bookings may be required, and it is a good idea to book early, so you don’t miss out.
Activities include:
- Holiday activities during the school holidays for all ages.
- Storytimes for preschoolers during school terms
- Early Bird Early Literacy program
- Baby Bounce
- Class Visits
- Author Visits
- Exhibitions
Our Baby Bounce program features a wide variety of songs and rhymes to share with your little one. If you want to learn the songs, practise at home with our Baby Bounce Booklet.
Early Bird Early Literacy Program
The Early Bird Early Literacy program at the Port Macquarie Library is a literacy program for parents and their babies, 12 months and under. The program is designed to give parents an opportunity to share and experience the love of reading with their baby and gives parents practical ideas on using stories, rhymes, songs and music to help babies gain an early love of reading.
This program runs over two consecutive weeks at 10am on a Monday morning. For bookings and times, please see What’s On Kids & Teens.
Bookstart Program
Reading to a baby is important because it creates a special bonding time for parent and child and introduces baby to many experiences through stories, songs and rhymes.
Bookstart – Reading for Life was launched in February 2006. Bookstart is a bag containing a quality board book and information on the importance of reading as well as library services information. The bags are being given to all new parents in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area to encourage reading from a young age.
Thanks to the Port Macquarie Friends of the Library, over 4,000 Bookstart bags have been distributed to mothers giving birth at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
Ten Minutes a Day book packs
Early Bird, Early Literacy is complemented by the Ten Minutes a Day Baby Book Packs. These are available for loan at Port Macquarie-Hastings Libraries. The packs include board books, a CD and nursery rhymes and have been carefully selected to suit the developmental needs of babies 2 years and under.
The ‘Ten Minutes a Day’ program is made possible through the support of Newcastle Permanent Building Society’s Charitable Foundation and The Smith Family.
Premier’s reading challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge runs every year from February to September and is available for all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools.
The Challenge aims to encourage in students a love of reading for leisure and pleasure, and to enable students to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.
How do I find the PRC books in the library?
Not all books listed on the Premier’s Reading Challenge list will be in the library. The library books from the K-2, 3-4 and 5-6 groups have been catalogued so if you type in for example, ‘premier’s reading challenge K-2’ in the catalogue as an ‘anyword’ search, they will be listed. You can reserve these from home.
Most of the K-2, 3-4 and 5-6 books in our collection have a sticker on them. The list does change from year to year. We are very happy to help you find the nominated books. Even better, reserve them from home and we can do all the looking!
FAQ’s for parents
The materials available range in levels of reading age and interest. We do not keep whole sets of readers as schools do, but have a wide range of books available in bagged sets, on CD and individually.
Yes. The board books provide colour and interest with strong links between text and pictures. Also available are Baby Book Time Packs that include two board books, a music CD and a rhyme sheet.
This collection of resources provides practical advice and support to parents whether their children are in nappies or doing their HSC.
Yes and this is a great way to start their library journey. When joining as a junior borrower, they will need to have a guarantor. Remember that with a library card, young borrowers can access newspapers, databases and online stories from home.
Our libraries offer staff assistance, internet access, study space and online information as well as a huge collection of books, DVDs, study guides and resources to borrow.
Our collection goes back to 1882 and comes in a variety of formats. Please refer to our research section for more information.
eSmart is a great resource for parents and students to learn how to safely enjoy the online world. Parents resources are also available through the eSafety Commissioner.
The State Library and NSW Health provide a variety of information for parents. This includes books, brochures and a very comprehensive website. This is complemented by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.
Find more information at Drug Info website from the State Library of NSW.
Please refer to our special collections for information on this topic and more.
- Find an organisation to help you improve your reading and writing.
- Find resources to help you improve your spelling, reading and other language skills
- Find a list of helpful teaching resources.
- Speak to someone from the Hotline about reading and writing by calling 1300 6555 06. It is a free call.
More resources for parents
Learn From Play
Learn From Play is a site for parents who want to educate their pre-school or primary school aged children. There are lots of activities to make learning schools subjects such as Maths and Literacy enjoyable with physical activities, worksheets and online book related games including Memory Cards, Mazes and Puzzles.
Love Talk Sing Read Play
Families NSW in the Sydney metropolitan area have produced resources for parents to provide advice and information on the social and emotional development of their child and how parents can help nurture this important part of child development. The Love, Talk, Sing, Read, Play child development flipchart has now been translated into four major community languages.
Out and About
Need help with teaching your children sight words? Download these flashcard and placemat word sets from the Queensland Government website. Give your child a flying start in literacy by helping them practice their sight words with the Out & About app.
Best for kids
Best for Kids from Legal Aid NSW provides information and resources on family law in Australia for children, parents and anyone else who wants or needs to know about it, including grandparents. It features four short videos, and has links to other useful resources for separating families.
Parent Line NSW: Free professional help 24-hours a day for parents and carers of children 0-18 years. Call 1300 1300 52
Early learning calendar
Calendar of Events
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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.
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,
CANCELLED – The Vegetable Plot – Live Concert @ Wauchope
CANCELLED – The Vegetable Plot – Live Concert @ Wauchope
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER. Please keep an eye out for a replacement event in July School Holidays. Join the mission of Love and Peas […]
1 event,
CANCELLED – The Vegetable Plot – Live Concert @ Port Macquarie
CANCELLED – The Vegetable Plot – Live Concert @ Port Macquarie
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER. Please keep an eye out for a replacement event in July School Holidays. Join the mission of Love and […]
0 events,
0 events,
2 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.
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.
0 events,
0 events,
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1 event,
Paper Spinner Craft – April School Holidays
Paper Spinner Craft – April School Holidays
Customise a paper spinner with your own fun design. Wind it up and watch all the colours and patterns blend together as it spins! Tuesday 16th April @ 10am Laurieton […]
2 events,
Superhero Costume Craft – April School Holidays
Superhero Costume Craft – April School Holidays
Create your own superhero secret identity, by making your very own colourful costume! What's your superpower? Wednesday 17th April @ 10am Wednesday 24th April @ 10am Port Macquarie Library Ages: […]
K’NEX Engineering Workshop – April School Holidays
K’NEX Engineering Workshop – April School Holidays
Work in teams to harness the power of engineering! Learn about how to use simple machines to create incredible constructions. Wednesday 17th April @ 2pm Port Macquarie Library Ages: 7 […]
1 event,
Mini Builders STEM – April School Holidays
Mini Builders STEM – April School Holidays
Come along to the library and see what you can create and build with a variety of construction materials. Thursday 18th April @ 10am Wauchope Library Ages: 3 - 7 […]
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Manga Mania Art Exhibition
Manga Mania Art Exhibition
Do you like drawing manga or anime characters or pictures? Showcase your art in the Manga Mania Art Exhibition. The exhibition will launch at our Cosplay event at Port Macquarie […]
1 event,
3 events,
Wind Chimes – April School Holidays
Wind Chimes – April School Holidays
Create your own wind chime which makes a beautiful sound in the breeze. Tuesday 23rd April @ 10am Wauchope Library Ages: 5 - 12 years Bookings essential This event is […]
Pom Pom Shooter Craft – April School Holidays
Pom Pom Shooter Craft – April School Holidays
Are you ready to take your indoor playtime to the next level? Look no further than these AWESOME Pom Pom Shooters! Tuesday 23rd April @ 10am Laurieton Library Ages: 6 […]
3 events,
Superhero Costume Craft – April School Holidays
Superhero Costume Craft – April School Holidays
Create your own superhero secret identity, by making your very own colourful costume! What's your superpower? Wednesday 17th April @ 10am Wednesday 24th April @ 10am Port Macquarie Library Ages: […]
Powerful Paper Planes – April School Holidays
Powerful Paper Planes – April School Holidays
Capture wind power with an array of hand-crafted paper planes. How far will your plane fly? Wednesday 24th April @ 2pm Port Macquarie Library Ages: 5 years and up Bookings […]
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1 event,
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1 event,
Manga Mania Art Exhibition
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1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
1 event,
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THE PORTAL
Feel like a break from life? We have the latest in Virtual Reality technology that will transport you to different worlds.
3D Printing
Discover, print and share in 3D. We’ve printed prototypes, phone holders, fidget spinners, spaghetti measurers, drone parts, and much more! What can you find to print in 3D?