Minister Norma Foley TD (Minister for Children, Disability and Equality) with Aileen Kelleher and Tommy O’Connor (County Librarian) launching the My Little Library Bag in the Tralee Library. Photo: Domnick WalshMINISTER for Children, Disability, Equality and Kerry TD Norma Foley has announced launch of the My Little Library Initiative 2026 for children in Kerry.
Each year in Ireland, children leaving pre-school and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library to pick up a free book bag on starting school and take the opportunity to join the library.
The focus of the My Little Library initiative is to build strong links between young children, their families and their local library and support children finishing pre-school and starting school.
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.From Friday, 8 May all children in Kerry completing the Government funded free pre-school programme (Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme) and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library and pick up a book bag.
Minister Norma Foley TD (Minister for Children, Disability and Equality) with Sean and Sam Crowe launching the My Little Library Bag in the Tralee Library. Photo: Domnick WalshThe bags will be available throughout the summer. All families are warmly welcomed to join the library if they aren’t already members and a special My Little Library wallet is available for the children to keep their library card in.
The initiative, which is funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, is run in association with the Local Government Management Agency and delivered by local libraries in every local authority.
Minister Foley said: “I’m really pleased to announce the launch of the free My Little Library book bags for all children in Kerry who will be starting primary school later this year. I really do encourage all their families to pick up their child’s free book bag in their local library.”
“The books are available as Gaeilge and as Bearla. Tá rud ann do gach duine. The books are available in both English and Irish so there really is something for everyone. This is also a great opportunity for young people to join their local library and indeed enjoy the wonder and the gift of reading.”
The books and resources in the book bag support parents and their children in the transition to primary school.
The bag contains books for the children to keep, with topics such as starting school, making friends and big emotions.
It also has some very useful information for parents on supporting that start in primary school and what’s on offer at each local library.
