The City of Kalamunda Library Service strives to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable, enjoyable and safe for all our members. The libraries are committed to assisting children to find and access resources that are appropriate to their interests and inquiries.
According to the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), children are classified as young people from the ages of birth to twelve years of age.
Find out about activities, programs and resources including Rhymetime, Storytime, Better Beginnings, School Holiday and Literacy and Learning programmes.
Find more information on:
For the safety and comfort of children, a responsible adult or caregiver must accompany children at all times while they are using the library. While in the library, parents and caregivers are responsible for:
We want all children to have a positive experience at the library. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children and make library visits enjoyable for the whole family.
For the comfort of all library users, parents of very young children are asked to observe the following guidelines whilst in the library:
Held weekly during school term time.
Bookings are only required if you intend to bring a group in, please phone the library you wish to attend to organise a group booking.
Come and sing along to rhymes and listen to stories! Rhymetime introduces literacy in a fun safe environment and is held regularly at Forrestfield, High Wycombe and Kalamunda Libraries. A parent or guardian must accompany and participate. Suitable for children 0-2 years.
Storytime takes place once a week at all City of Kalamunda Libraries. It aims to capture children’s imagination while introducing books in a fun environment. Join us for rhymes, stories and a craft activity. A parent or guardian must accompany children. Suitable for children aged 2-5 years.Check the table below for session times and locations. Programs run during school term only.
Table 1. Rhymetime and Storytime session times and locations
The City of Kalamunda libraries offer a range of regular junior activities and programs.
These regular sessions give an opportunity for the youth to socialise, develop skills and join like-minded people to explore their interests. Programs offered include Lego building sessions, crafts, and computer-coding.
Find more details of when and where these various sessions run at our libraries
Each school holidays the libraries run a programme of children's events.
Programme activities will be posted closer to the date on the What's On page.
Do you play Minecraft?
LibraryCraft is a free Minecraft Server for 7- to 17-year-olds in WA.
If you own a copy of Minecraft Java Edition and play on PC, Mac or Linux you’ll be able to connect.
There are survival worlds, creative worlds, three PVP combat worlds, and a central lobby world that connects them all - plus mini games, monthly build competitions and prizes.
For more information and to join visit www.librarycraft.net
Make Reading a Hoot! @ the City of Kalamunda Libraries
Knight Owl Quest has been developed to encourage children in Pre-Primary and Year One to visit their local City of Kalamunda Library. Our aim is to encourage reading and promote library usage in young children at this important developmental stage. We intend to give children a positive experience when visiting the library that will enhance their future reading patterns.
The City of Kalamunda Library Service (Kalamunda, Forrestfield, High Wycombe and Lesmurdie Community Libraries) are delivering Knight Owl Quest kits to the Pre-Primary and Year One classes at your local primary school in City of Kalamunda. Children are encouraged to visit their local library and use their membership cards to borrow books to receive stickers on the Knight Owl Quest bookmark. Membership is free and only requires a parent with current ID to join their child.
Knight Owl Questers are entitled to special membership rewards when they visit and borrow items. Questers can access a wide range of reading material at each of our libraries during the school year. If you haven’t received a Knight Owl Quest Kit, contact your local library for more information on collecting your starter pack.
Knight Owl Quest kits are also available at each of our Libraries for Home schooling (home education) Pre-Primary and Year One children, and for children attending schools not participating in the program.
The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program is coordinated by the State Library of Western Australia (WA) and delivered through public libraries. Parents with new born babies can collect their free Better Beginnings Reading Kit and Sing with Me Packs from any of the four City Libraries or from their Community Child Health Nurse.
Better Beginnings supports parents in reading to children so that they build the early literacy skills they need to become good readers and succeed at school.
The Better Beginnings reading kits are free and suitable for children from birth to 3 years.
Better Beginnings (0-3 years) Each kit contains
Sing with Me (2-3 years)Each kit contains
Contact our libraries to find out how we can help you to enjoy reading with your baby.
Learn more about Better Beginnings.
LOTE4Kids is a digital collection of high-quality children’s picture books in world languages. It is great for native speakers of languages other than English to enjoy the magic of books with their children, or for kids who might be learning new languages.
LOTE4Kids lets you choose from 2,500+ picture books in over 60 world languages and sign languages, including Auslan and NZSL. Play animated digital books with English or LOTE (languages other than English) subtitles and voice or signed narration.
LOTE4Kids is freely available to City of Kalamunda Library members.
Access via the City of Kalamunda branded LOTE4Kids home page:
https://lote4kids.com/au-city-of-kalamunda/
Or download the mobile app:
https://lote4kids.com/app-download/
Story Box Library is a fun educational digital storytelling platform suitable for preschool and primary aged children. The platform delivers the experience of being read aloud to by fantastic, predominantly Australian and New Zealand storytellers, helping children to engage with books and develop reading and communication skills.
Story Box Library is freely available to City of Kalamunda Library members. All you need to do is create a Story Box Library Membership.
To create your Story Box Library membership, you need your library card number.
Log into Story Box Library via: https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/libraries
Click into Library and select City of Kalamunda Libraries
In Public Library Card Barcode Number, type in your 14-digit library membership card number.
CBCA Book Week is an annual event held in August that celebrates Australian children’s literature and authors. Every year, since 1945, the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) brings children and books together in celebrating Children's Book Week.
Children's Book Week 2024 with the theme 'Reading is Magic!' will take place from:
Saturday 17 August to Friday 23 August 2024
Feature Artist: Jess Racklyeft.
View the 2024 CBCA Book Week theme announcement video featuring Jess Racklyeft.
https://youtu.be/kMokHCyJsjk
Enjoy the 2024 CBCA Shortlisted authors, illustrators and publishers short announcement video.
https://youtu.be/uX4m-feVTUE
The City of Kalamunda Library Service has a range of resources to help you study and find the information you need. Each of our four libraries will give you access to reference materials as well as online databases.
If your project is due and you don’t have time to get to the library, check out the websites listed in our eResources section. The eResources section provides a list of websites for a variety of topics.
Library Catalogue
eLibrary