Every baby born in Hounslow to get a library card from birth
10 October 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
Hounslow Council has launched a new scheme — My First Library Card — giving every newborn in the borough automatic library membership from the moment they are born.
The initiative is designed to encourage a love of books and reading from the very earliest days, with parents able to start borrowing children's books on their baby's behalf straight away, without needing to register separately. Chiswick Library on Duke's Avenue is one of the borough's well-used branches and stocks an extensive range of board books, picture books and early-years resources suitable from birth.
Research consistently links early exposure to books and storytelling with stronger language development and school readiness, so the scheme has a practical benefit beyond the symbolism. For new parents in Chiswick, it is also a ready-made reason to discover — or rediscover — what the local library offers, from rhyme-time sessions to baby and toddler groups.
Parents of newborns who want to take up the offer should contact their local Hounslow library branch or check the council's website for details on how to activate the membership. Full details from Hounslow Council.