MEET Glasgow’s newest trio of library members – triplets Poppy, Caleb and Alyssia Stirrat.

Bringing triple the fun to Glasgow’s libraries, the tots are the first triplets to sign up to the city’s Every Child a Library Member scheme.

And they have visited Drumchapel Library for the first time armed with their very own library cards.

As part of the scheme every child born in the city has the opportunity to sign up for their first library card when their parents register the baby’s birth with Glasgow’s City Registrars.

The 16-week-old trio explored the exciting baby-friendly services on offer inside the library, picking out colourful board books, with a little help from mum, Karen.

Karen said: “It’s great that babies can sign up for a library card. I used to go to the library lots when I was a kid – mum always took us to the local library.

"I still try to read books all the time and hope I can pass that on to them.

“Reading is so important – it gets you on in life. I remember being at school and getting a new book and reading it in one day.

"I’d read all the time if I could although I think my husband will be really involved with reading to the triplets – he always gets the fun jobs.

“Now that they are all home from hospital we’re starting to find our feet and hope to do more of the normal things like coming along to the library – I think they enjoyed their first visit.”

The tiny bundles are the first Glasgow-based triplets to sign up for library membership through the Every Child a Library Member scheme.

As previously told in the Evening Times, the scheme, funded by the Scottish Library and Information Service, launched in September 2015.

The project is built on a belief that reading is critical to improving the wider life chances of children - children first learn to read; then they read to learn.

Since launch, more than 3000 newborn babies registered within the Glasgow City Council boundary have signed up for baby’s first library card, opening up the many benefits of library membership to the newest Glaswegians.

With more than 7000 births registered every year in Glasgow, the range of services offered to new babies and their parents throughout the city’s 32 community libraries and the Mitchell Library, has grown considerably over the years.

Libraries are now home to bright, colourful children’s areas stocked with a selection of books, magazines, DVDs and CDs for babies while regular Bounce & Rhyme sessions enable parents and carers to engage with their babies through action songs, rhymes and stories that help develop speech, language and communication.

Chairman of Glasgow Life, Councillor Archie Graham, added: “I’m delighted that Poppy, Alyssia and Caleb’s parents have found the time to open their newest family members’ eyes to the wonders that lie in store for them inside Glasgow’s libraries.

“Reading and story-time is incredibly important for babies and children. Not only does reading to infants encourage speech and language development, it is also a fantastic way for parents to interact and communicate with the newest member of their family.

“I’d like to wish Karen and the triplets all the very best and hope they continue to explore the magic of books and the wonderful benefits of being a library member throughout their lives.”

To find out more about Every Child a Library Member in Glasgow, and what’s on offer for babies across the city’s library service please visit: www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries