Blog

Enjoy Shakespeare Week with ComicsPlus

Shakespeare Week 2026 runs from Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th March 2026, and aims to bring Shakespeare’s world to life for school children across the UK.  

You can find many of the Shakespeare classics beautifully recreated as graphic novels at ComicsPlus – a free service available from your library.

Classics like ‘Comedy of Errors’ for example. The works of William Shakespeare come alive in these stunning graphic novels adaptation using the original Shakespearean dialog. The world-class art, comedy, disguises, and romance of The Comedy of Errors will capture the attention of reluctant readers. Supplement your traditional Shakespearean sources with the graphic novel adaptation that will help readers imagine the action like never before.

Pop into your local library today to find out more.

Keep Your Kids Reading

Looking for a fun, free way to keep your kids’ reading? Your local library card is now a passport to a world of stories! 🌍✨

LOTE4Kids is a digital library that lets children explore over 7,000 digital books in more than 100 languages. Whether your family is maintaining a native language or starting a brand-new learning journey, our collection offers an incredible variety of stories to keep little ones engaged.

Why families love it:

  • 100% Free: Access everything through your local library’s online service using your library barcode.
  • Earn as you Read: Reading becomes a game! Kids earn feathers as they finish stories, which they can swap for fun accessories to personalise their Lekti avatar.
  • Safe & Ad-Free: The LOTE4Kids app is secure and easy for children to navigate on both iOS and Android.
  • Authentic Voices: Every story is narrated by native speakers, allowing children to hear the natural rhythm and melody of different languages from around the globe.

Get started in seconds:

  1. Download the LOTE4Kids app (or visit the website).
  2. Find your local library.
  3. Enter your library barcode and start exploring hundreds of stories for free!
    From interactive flipbooks to printable activities, there is so much to discover. Happy reading! 📚🤟

A Comical Time of Year!

Comics Plus is your free, all-access pass to a world of comics, graphic novels, and manga—with over 25,000 titles to choose from. With unlimited, simultaneous use and no waiting for a copy of your favourite to become available. New stories land every week, so there’s always something exciting to discover!

And just in time for the season… enjoy 60 merry and bright Christmas comics—perfect for holiday relaxing and cozy winter reading. Visit your local library to get signed up to this brilliant free resource.

Handling Grief at Christmas

National Grief Awareness week is approaching on 1st to 8th December and with the festive season upon us this a very hard time for those who have lost loved ones.

There is a great article this month in Psychologies (available free via your library’s PressReader service) which addresses this issue, follow the link to read it in full. https://pressreader.com/article/281621016608439

Motivate Your Youngsters to Read More

Enjoy even better reward-driven reading and learning on the LOTE4Kids App – available from your local library.

Your youngsters can build reading and learning streaks across four areas: the number of days they use the app, books read, activities completed and languages explored. As streaks grow, so do the rewards – children earn feathers for their Lekti avatar and collect special books that celebrate their progress.

Even better, every child gets a personal bookshelf in the app. It’s their home base to see streak progress, view rewards, and proudly showcase what they’ve been reading and learning! Perfect for sparking motivation and keeping the habit going.

Speak to your local library to find out more about Lote4Kids. This great service enables your children to enjoy over 7000 digital books in over 95 languages together with English translations, from the comfort of home.

Get Your Kids Learning Languages

Broaden young learners’ horizons with KidSpeak. They’ll work their way through fun and engaging activities with their cartoon “friend” and his or her playful pet.

  • Available languages:
    Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
  • Easy to access:
    KidSpeak is included with the Transparent Language Online available from your local Library and can be accessed on a computer, laptop, or tablet.
kidspeak-fruit
kidspeak-time
  • Hundreds of words and phrases:
    Children can add to their seemingly endless vocabulary (and energy!) with over 700 words and expressions per language.
  • Age-appropriate content:
    Designed for ages 6 and up, children will learn words and phrases suitable for their age, needs, and interests.

An ‘Itsy Bitsy’ Nursery Rhyme

Take part in World Nursery Rhyme Week – 10th to 14th November – with ComicsPlus. A free service from your local library.

From the artist of the best-selling Grandma Loves You picture book comes the classic nursery rhyme in board book form. Toddlers will enjoy following along as Grandma lends a helping hand when the spider needs it most. Includes count-the-insects activity page.

ComicsPlus offers thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from a variety of library-friendly publishers. The collection includes popular and award-winning titles for every age range and interest – including nursery rhymes!

Learn More About Money

It is Talk About Money week between 3rd and 7th November, and there has never been a better time to explore the free PressReader service at your local library to find all the great publications on this subject.

For example the weekly magazine Money Week, which is packed full of useful articles covering everything from their top Shares picks, to whether a pension or an ISA is better for you.

Sections include cars, property, travel, plus opinion from financial experts. This is a really useful magazine to help you broaden your financial understanding.