brentwood library | Books for Children Blog

How can we expect to inspire our children to read by taking them to drab, functional and soulless libraries? That’s certainly how some libraries in the UK have left me feeling. Children’s expectations of a daytime outing have been set high in recent years. Libraries today are having to compete with the emergence of soft plays, climbing walls, laser combat, science centres, Harry Potter and Peppa Pig worlds; so a room simply filled with books alone may have seemed exciting twenty years ago but is probably considered mind-numbingly dull for the majority of children now. Visiting a library is not as high up on many parent’s agendas as it used to be – and that includes me. There are too many other far more exciting activities out there or easier options with the e-book dramatically increasing in popularity and printed books reducing in price across the world. So what incentive does a child have to go to a library anymore and how can libraries prevent themselves from becoming redundant?

Libraries need to become places where children want to return to, again and again. Wouldn’t it be magical if it felt like physically walking into a story and feeling the wonder of thousands of options to choose from? Being able to voice-activate a book search so a holographic version of that book appears in front of you would bring it to life and by detailing its shelf location and any hidden reading nooks from which to read it could provide some adventure. It’s not the lack of imagination from people preventing the change; unfortunately in most cases it’s the lack of available funding.

So here is a selection of impressive libraries worldwide that have already taken the experience to the next level.

Brentwood Children’s Library, Tennessee, USA