Newborn babies across Stoke-on-Trent have been receiving their first library cards from birth as part of a city initiative.

The My First Library Card initiative works with registrars to invite families registering their newborn babies, to sign them up to their local library.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says the scheme - which launched in September 2025 - has given 776 babies library access in the last year.

Stoke-on-Trent Libraries were awarded £3,925 from Arts Council England and Libraries Connected for the initiative, which also sees parents receive information about services for young children.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, anti-poverty, governance and corporate services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "It is brilliant to see that so many babies have been given library memberships in just one year of the My First Library Card scheme.

"Reading to your baby and enjoying books together helps them in the development of their language and communication skills.

"With library membership, it means parents can access books for free, as well as e-books and audiobooks and don't have to worry about the costs."

Stoke-on-Trent libraries also offer a range of sessions aimed at babies and toddlers, such as bouncing dragons and Bumps, Babies and Beyond

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

Some sessions help babies develop their speech, language and communication skills through the use of songs, rhymes and movement.

To find out more, visit the Stoke-on-Trent Libraries website here.