To celebrate the 20th birthday of Bookstart, Wokingham Borough Council’s libraries service are lending their support to the national campaign to get the nation’s families sharing books by asking parents and carers to pledge to share 20 books with their children during 2012.

Bookstart is the world-renowned national early reading scheme which gives free books to babies and toddlers. In its 20 years the programme has given away 30 million free books.

Under 5’s library officer Claire Groves said: "Bookstart is a great way to encourage children and families to get into reading, and our libraries have loads to offer them. We have a massive selection of children’s books in our libraries, and all residents have access to the Borough’s entire stock using the online catalogue.

"Regular Rhymetime sessions at the library are a fun way to give babies a flying start when it comes to learning to read by themselves. There are also lots of excellent reading activities to take part in, such as Little Explorers Book Club, and the summer reading challenge. I hope everyone makes good use of our libraries to help them keep their pledge of sharing 20 books this year."

Pledge cards are available in all of Wokingham Borough’s libraries. Pledges can also be made online on the Book Trust’s website.

Head of libraries, Richard Alexander, said: "Learning to read is a vital part of a child’s development, and doing it together as a family can encourage important bonds to develop. This scheme is a fantastic introduction for children into the magical world of books and I would encourage everyone, whether they have young or older children, to take part."

The library service will be running Bookstart 20th birthday storytimes at the following venues:

• Maiden Erlegh Library on Monday June 11 from 2pm to 3pm
• Wargrave Library on Monday June 11 from 4pm to 4.30pm
• Spencers Wood Library on Monday June 11 from 4pm to 4.30pm
• Wokingham Library on Tuesday June 12 from 2.15pm to 2.45pm
• Woodley Library on Tuesday June 12 from 4pm to 4.30pm
• Winnersh Library on Wednesday June 13 from 10.15am to 10.45am
• Lower Earley Library on Thursday June 14 from 2.30pm to 3pm
• Finchampstead Library on Friday June 15 from 11.15am to 11.45am