Get ready for a magical summer of reading, exploring and imagination! The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the summer, ensuring they are ready for a great start in the new school year Children set a reading goal and collect rewards for reading anything they enjoy Ages 3-12
Sign up for FREE at your local library: Saturday 21 June to Monday 10 August
Summer Reading Party
Celebrate completing your Summer Reading Challenge Ask your local library for dates.
Create It!
Hands-on craft activities designed to get kids exploring books and talking about their favourite stories.
Ages 5+. Some bookings required.
Various dates
All libraries
Activity Stations
Drop-in to your local library for Do-ItYourself activities and challenges Bring a friend & get crafty together!
Ages 5-12 years. No booking required.
Sat 28 June - Mon 10 Aug
All libraries
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME - IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Children under 10 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Dates and times correct at time of printing. Bookings required for most activities [via Eventbrite or contact your library]. If you can no longer attend, please be kind & cancel your booking online or by phone.
Samhradh Gàidhlig
Leugh Còmhla | Read Together
Join us for family-friendly Gaelic learning. Read Gaelic children's books & learn together. Ideal for families with children in GME or who are starting. Parents don’t need Gaelic - come along to learn stories & rhymes, meet other parent learners & build your confidence for the new school year
Saturdays 2-3pm, Stornoway Library
Guided Reading for Gaelic learners
Challenge yourself this summer & read your first Gaelic book - join our guided reading club for Gaelic learners. A1/A2 level.
Wednesdays 5.15-6pm, Stornoway Library
Learners drop-in
Pop in for an informal chat in Gaelic with support from fluent speakers. Whether you’re wondering how pronounce “Ciamar a tha thu?” or want to test your conversation skills, this is your chance. Friendly setting, no silly questions & a chance to meet other learners.
Saturdays 10.30-11.30am, Stornoway Library
Cuimhneachain Alba
| Memories Scotland
Launching across all our libraries this summer. Join us for tea and conversations to spark memories inspired by historic photos, articles and stories from the library collection. More information about Memories Scotland: https://memories.scot or ask library staff.
’S e prògram nàiseanta a th’ ann an Cuimhneachain Alba le buidhnean a’ coinneachadh ann an leabharlannan air feadh na dùthcha. Bidh sinn a’ cur air dòigh na seiseanan againn fhèin anns na leabharlannan gu lèir a bhios a’ gabhail àite san Iuchar agus a’ coimhead air Samhradh na h-Òige mar chuspair.
Ma tha thu dèidheil air cabadaich agus cuimhneachadh air seann làithean, no dìreach airson coinneachadh ri daoine ùra agus na sgeulachdan aca a chluinntinn, thigibh a-steach do na coinneamhan Cuimhneachain Alba againn.
Find out about the amazing bees of the Outer Hebrides & why they matter to our environment. Learn how to be a Citizen Scientist & make your own zine. Create, fold, & share!
Ages 5+
Join us at the library for a story and talk with Barra and Vatersay Seasonal Outdoor Ranger, Kirsty Marshall. Discover wildlife secrets and nature tips, and ask questions—perfect for curious kids and families. Free and educational.
Activity Stations Ranger talk with Kirsty Marshall
Be inspired by your favourite stories and turn bits and pieces into something cool What will you make? All ages.
Drop-in, no bookings required.
Tue 15 Jul, 10.30am-12pm Tue 22 Jul, 10.30am-12pm
Read these!
Storytime
Join us for a magical time in the story garden with fun tales and songs for your little ones.
Ages 0-5
Thu 17 Jul, 10am
Supported by Barra & Vatersay Outdoor Ranger Service
Lionacleit
Zines: Citizen Science
Find out about the amazing bees of the Outer Hebrides & why they matter to our environment. Learn how to be a Citizen Scientist & make your own zine. Create, fold, & share!
Bring your friends for a magical time in the Story Garden with stories, craft & fun.
Ages 3+
Sat 12 Jul, 11am-1.30pm Tue 5 Aug, 2-3.30pm
Bookbug
Join us for a magical time in the story garden with fun tales and songs for your little ones. Ages 0-5
Story Garden: Art & Seed Planting
Join us in the Story Garden for stories and art, and help us plant seeds for growing our library window garden. A hands-on, creative activity for kids and families to explore nature, reading, and art together. All materials provided. Ages 3+
Join our bilingual Zine making workshops & express your ideas through art and words. Create, fold, and share! Become a Citizen Scientist & help save the bees. Ages 6+
Sat 5, 12, 19, 26 Jul, 2:3:30pm Sat 2, 9 Aug 2-3:30pm
Create It!
Be inspired by your favourite stories and turn bits & pieces into something cool. What will you make?
Wed 9 Jul, 2-4pm [Bilingual] 3+
Bug Hotels
Fri 25 Jul, 2-4pm 3+
Make your own Fairy House Fri 6 Aug, 2-3:30pm 6+
Illustrating & Character Making
Teens
Get creative this summer & join us for chilled, creative Zine workshops for teens only.
Thigibh còmhla rinn airson seiseanan beòthail, cruthachail is spòrsail Gàidhlig tron t-samhradh. Cruthaich, faigh a-machagus ionnsaich mu nàdar, fiadh-bheatha agus an àrainneachd.
Diardaoin 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Iuchar, 2-4f [Zines]
Diardaoin 7 Lùnastail, 2-4f [Zines]
Dimàirt 5 Lùnastail, 2-4f [Storytelling]
Leugh Còmhla | Read
Together
Get ready for GME! Family Gaelic learningread together with a fluent guide, meet other parent learners & build your confidence for the new school year.
Saturdays 2-3pm, Stornoway Library
Story Garden
Join us for a magical time in the story garden with fun tales, crafts & games for your little ones Ages 3 - 10
Challenge yourself this summer by reading your first Gaelic book! join our guided reading club for Gaelic learners.
A1/A2 level.
Wednesdays 5.15-6pm, Stornoway Library
Introduction to Family History Memories Scotland
Thinking of delving into your family history? Discover the resources available at your library, guided by experienced family history researcher, Karen Roach. Bookings essential.
Stornoway Library
BOOK NOW Thu 10 Jul, 2-3pm Tue 19 Aug, 11am-12pm
Tarbert Library Mon 18 Aug, 2-3pm
Read these!
Launching across libraries this summer - join us for tea & conversation to spark memories inspired by historic photos, articles & stories from the library collection. July theme - Childhood Summer
Join us for a screening of Battle of the Atlantic to launch Our Freedom project commemorating women of the Hebrides during WWII.
Opening with Gaelic songs performed by the Hebridean Women Collective, the postfilm discussion will be facilitated by Kelly Macdonald from the Harris Tweed Authority.
Wed 16 Jul, 5.30pm, Stornoway Library
FAMILY HISTORY
New to family history research? Get started with a wide range of free library resources, including access to Find My Past, census records, newspapers, crofting histories & historic maps.
Libraries hold a wide range of records to aid your local & family history research:
Newspapers and periodicals
Bound volumes and/or on microfilm: Stornoway Gazette
Highlands News (West Coast Edition) West Highland Free Press Gairm
Eilean an Fhraoich Annuals Nicolson Institute Annuals Am Paipear
Historical Records
We hold Old Parochial Registers (christenings and marriages pre-1855), Census Returns 1841 to 1901, School Log Books, Croft Histories by Bill Lawson, the Seaforth Monuments documents, Rental and Valuation Rolls.
Maps
Stornoway Library hold Ordnance Survey maps of various scales and dates from the First Edition 6-inch issue of 1848, as well as older maps and Admiralty Charts.
Postcards and Photographs
Albums of old postcards and photographs are available for reference.
FREE DATABASES
We recommend the following free databases to get you started. Access from home or the library:
Scotland’s People
With over 100 million records, one of the largest online sources of original genealogical information.
scotlandspeople.gov.uk
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland has a wide range of genealogical resources. nls.uk/family-history
