Library offer
Early Talk Boost helps young children aged 3-4 build vital language and communication skills through fun, therapist-designed group sessions.
Introduction
The Creative Smart Cities Team is excited to introduce a new vision for library services in Sunderland. Currently, our city boasts three libraries, including the central City Library and two Creative Smart City Hub libraries located in Houghton le Spring and Washington.
Membership to our library service is completely free and open to all ages. We're particularly proud that children's memberships come with no fines for overdue books or accidental damage, allowing families to explore our library spaces without worry. We encourage lively interactions in our buildings, where reading aloud and participating in our singing and storytelling activities are highly welcomed!
In early 2026, we will unveil Culture House Sunderland, an innovative cultural venue located in Keel Square. This new space will house the new City Library, featuring an expansive collection spread across four floors, alongside dedicated areas for events, creative learning, exhibitions, filmmaking, podcasting, music-making, and performances. Additionally, we will create a vibrant children's library and free play area, accessible to all children and their families.
Rhyme and Shine
Rhyme and Shine is our weekly early years rhyme time, a session full of music, movement, and fun! Sharing rhymes with young children is incredibly beneficial for their speech and language development, introducing sounds, patterns, and repetition. We conclude each session with a story time, a perfect opportunity to model storytelling and promote the lifelong benefits of reading for pleasure. All sessions are free to attend, and suitable for children up to 4 years old.
Saturday Stories
Our Creative Smart City Hub libraries in Houghton and Washington alternate hosting our Saturday story time, Saturday Stories, which is suitable for all ages to attend. Here we offer an inclusive story session for children in our warm and welcoming children's libraries. Saturday Stories is the perfect opportunity to share the benefits of reading with young children, improving their cognitive development, motor skills, listening skills and growing their vocabulary. Shared reading also provides a great opportunity for family bonding!
Super Communicators
We support Sunderland's Family Hubs in the delivery of their Super Communicator sessions. The 6-week course concludes with a visit to the local library, where a library assistant will host a story time and offer information for families about the benefits of shared reading and library resources.
Sunderland Libraries offer free membership for all ages and provide accessible spaces for families, students, and readers. With a variety of story sessions, events, and collections, the libraries serve as practical resources for learning, reading, and community activities across the city.
Book collections
Our libraries have a huge number of books for children and families to explore together. Our stock aims to be diverse and inclusive, representing the makeup and interests of families in Sunderland.
In our catalogue, you'll find titles recommended by Together for Children to aid children's learning and development, as well as classic titles and new releases. We also have collections of books for children and adults to help guide through the key stages of childhood, such as weaning, potty training and starting nursery/school. In our parenting collection, you'll find brilliant titles to support your journey, including books on speech, language, and communication challenges.
Seasonal programme
Looking for fun and free activities out of term time? Pay us a visit!
Each of our library's special events throughout the year including author visits, craft sessions and creative activities. Over the school holidays we provide a packed programme of free and low-cost activities to engage children and their families. We aim to be inclusive with our programme and offer activities for all ages and abilities. Seasonal library programme
BookTrust Partnership
Our Creative Smart City Hub library team organise the delivery of BookTrust reading packs across Sunderland's local authority. These are distributed to families at different stages of children's early years, through health visitors, Family Hubs, and public nurseries.
The packs are a brilliant tool that encourage shared reading at home, including a free book and helpful tips. BookTrust also supply packs tailored for children with additional needs; BookStart Touch for vision impairment, BookStart Star for difficulties with fine motor skills, and BookStart Shine for deaf children.
Useful links
Culture House Sunderland libraries
