For a Hallowe’en Bookbug video and a Hallowe’en-themed Storytelling video will soon be available to watch online thanks to the Children’s Team at South Lanarkshire Leisure and culture (SLLC).

Both Hallowe’en videos will launch on Friday, 30 October, and will be presented by several of the Children's Team in appropriately-spooky attire and settings.

They will be available on the Children's Team's YouTube channel, which was launched in April to ensure they could continue to deliver their services throughout the Covid-19 restrictions and which has proved to be an invaluable link between libraries and families in the local communities.

Initially delivering just its core Bookbug content, the channel has developed to also offer storytelling, crafts, science experiments and other activities for the pre- and primary-school age-groups, including bespoke content tailored to individual schools and nurseries.

The channel has amassed 18,609 views for the Bookbug content alone (31,300 views for all of its content) and is approaching 200 subscribers. Bookbug videos have developed from pre-recorded compilations of various Children’s Assistants singing a song each, to individual Children’s Assistants delivering a full pre-recorded session spotlighting one library. It is hoped there will soon also be live sessions that parents and wee ones will be able to tune into in real time.

Councillor Peter Craig, Chair of SLLC, said: “Although we have not been able to have our Children’s Assistants go into schools or have the classes visit us in Libraries for many months now, it is at special occasions like Hallowe’en when we would normally have been so much fun with a host of activities with children, that we are reminded acutely of what we are missing.

“However, we are by no means losing touch, which is why we launched the YouTube channel and why we are releasing the Hallowe’en videos. In fact, our Children’s Team are also in the process of regaining an even more personal connection by recording virtual school visits, and links for these will soon be sent to our schools.

“The teachers will then be able to put the video on their smart boards and the children will still get to hear about the library. These ‘visits’ can be tailored to suit a particular school or class, depending on, for example, topic, age or ability.”

South Lanarkshire Libraries had the second-highest number of children across Scottish authorities taking part in this year's online Summer Reading Challenge, and are keen to build on this success.

David Booth, SLLC General Manager, said: “We are also in discussions with schools to find an incentive to bring the children back physically, outwith school hours, to borrow books. One school is promoting that a child who comes and takes out a book from the library will be awarded house points per book, which is a great idea!

“We are obviously delighted to still be able to offer our services digitally to children throughout these difficult times, but we do miss the interaction and all the happy faces at Bookbugs, Storytimes, and all our activities.

“In the meantime, however, we will continue to find new ways of keeping things enjoyable and fun until we can welcome everyone back again – including helping to make it as spooky a Hallowe’en as possible!”