Hello families
We are excited to welcome our families back onsite!
State Library has worked with Queensland Health to develop a specific COVID-Safe Site Plan that governs how we are managing safe practices onsite. Bookings are essential to attend children and families activities. Please read the FAQs below for more information, and check the conditions of entry before booking your visit.
Join the fun in our dedicated space for families with children 0-8. To best ensure families can enjoy our programs we will hold your bookings for 30 minutes. If you are running late and would like us to hold your space for you please call (07) 3842 9090.
Bookings are able to be made up to 14 days in advance – these are released daily for the following 14 day period.
As bookings are limited, if you are unable to make your session time please cancel to free your booking for another group.
You can still find us online! We encourage you to be inspired by a range of creative activities for family play and learning with The Corner at Home Activities.
Don’t forget to visit First 5 Forever for tips and resources to support early literacy and providing opportunities for children and their families to talk, read, sing and play together every day.
Play Time in The Corner
Join us for Play Time in The Corner everyday for free, bookable sessions. Families will be supported with open-ended play opportunities and curated resource packs to encourage fun and creativity.
Daily from 11am-12.30pm.
Rhyme Time in The Parlour
From babes in arms to children ready to dance, this First 5 Forever session is a special time for you and your little one where you can share rhymes, songs, stories and reading in a creative and relaxed environment.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am - 10,45am.
Story Time in The Parlour
Join the fun of our Story Time sessions for children aged 0-5. A small selection of stories are shared either by reading or oral storytelling and participation by children and families.
Every Monday and Sunday 10am - 10.45am.
Baby Play in The Parlour
Come along to a free First 5 Forever Baby Play session, designed for babies 0-12 months (not yet walking) and their parent/carer. The sessions focus on baby-paced play, rhyme and shared story in a way that supports you as your baby’s most important educator – with plenty of opportunity to learn and grow together.
Every Wednesday and Friday 10am - 10.45am.
The Corner at Home Activities
Join your favourite State Library, The Corner staff for an exciting new addition to our digital programming. Be inspired by The Corner at Home Activities, encouraging creative open-ended adventures for family play and exploration at home.
The Corner at Home: Travel
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Join Tom as he creates a magical train ticket using collage and paint materials. Use your imagination to work out where your ticket is going to take you.
The Corner at Home: Shapes
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Join Tim on a discovery shape challenge around the State Library!
The Corner at Home: Hats
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Join Vanessa and start experimenting with different materials to construct your own hat!
The Corner at Home: Weaving
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Join Frankie and explore the magic of weaving with items found in and around the house.
The Corner at Home: Boxes
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Join Walter and experiment with different construction and play activities, it’s amazing the things you can do with a simple box!
The Corner at Home: Soft Sounds
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Join Tiffany as we listen to, and explore soft sounds using everyday items. Experiment with your little people by using rhyming words and describing what you can hear in this open-ended play activity.
The Corner at Home: Musical Instruments
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by musical instruments! Join Tim as we search for ways to make musical instruments from household items and experiment using different sounds with the little people in your home.
The Corner at Home: Outer Space
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by outer space! Join Tom as we explore the world around us and decorate your very own telescope. Telescopes are used to make things really far-away look really close and easy to see.
The Corner at Home: What's on the line?
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by an everyday chore - the washing! Join Frankie and Iris in a simple backyard activity. Listen for clues in a fun game that will have your little ones hopping to help bring in the washing!
The Corner at Home: Backyard Science Expedition
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by National Science Week. Are you feeling curious? Join Walter on a backyard science expedition at The State Library of Queensland and discover who or what we can find!
The Corner at Home: Action adventure challenge
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by action. Join Tim on an action-packed adventure challenge, to encourage movement and creative play for the little people in your home.
The Corner at Home: Mapping my world
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by map-making. Join Deanna and follow the steps so that you can become a confident cartographer, that’s the really fancy way to describe someone who draws maps.
The Corner at Home: In the kitchen
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by what you can find in the kitchen. Join Tiffany on a kitchen discovery to see what a little imagination and a collection of food containers can create!
The Corner at Home: Photo Scavenger Hunt
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today, join Mari in a game of scavenger hunt using photographs taken around the library. She was inspired by the exhibition, Twenty: Two decades of Queensland photography, online now at The State Library of Queensland.
The Corner at Home: Paperclip Train
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by a very popular mode of public transport that people use to travel every day - trains! Join Tom as he creates a paperclip train as impressive as it is long.
The Corner at Home: Exploring Photography
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Inspired by the exhibition Twenty, join Alarna to explore photography with your little ones by learning to capture a still picture or moment in time together.
The Corner at Home: Ephemeral Art
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today Mari is encouraging you to play outside finding objects that you could use to make art. She was inspired by the exhibition, Big Voices: Children’s Art Matters in celebration of Under Eights Week here at the State Library of Queensland.
The Corner at Home: Shadow Art
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today Nat is encouraging you to find shadows that you could use to make art. She was inspired by the exhibition, Big Voices: Children’s Art Matters in celebration of Under Eights Week here at the State Library of Queensland.
The Corner at Home: Colour Exploration
Enjoy the magic of The Corner at Home Activities. Today, join Alarna on a colourful exploration in her backyard and at home, to learn about all the colours of the rainbow.
Resources
Parents and caregivers play a vital role as your child’s first and most important educator. We encourage you to talk, share stories, sing and play at home every day and give young children the best chance to build strong early literacy skills.
Children and Families blog
Keep up to date with articles and news for children and families of the State Library of Queensland.
Kanopy Kids
Unlimited access to quality children’s films and documentaries including ABC series such as Play School, popular titles and classics such as Where the Wild Things Are and Cinderella.
Free with State Library membership
National Geographic Kids
Get ready for amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space.
Free with State Library membership
Frequently asked questions
We can’t wait to provide safe and engaging experiences for children and families at State Library.
What’s happening onsite each day?
Mondays:
Story Time in The Parlour | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Tuesdays:
Rhyme Time in The Corner | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Wednesdays:
Baby Play in The Parlour | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Thursdays:
Rhyme Time in The Corner | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Fridays:
Baby Play in The Parlour | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Saturdays:
Rhyme Time in The Parlour | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Sundays:
Story Time in The Parlour | 10–10.45am | Bookings essential
Play Time in The Corner | 11–12.30pm | Bookings essential
Do I need to book?
Yes.
Numbers are limited in the space according to the Queensland Government’s Roadmap to easing restrictions. Please book for each person in your group (including infants and children) before you visit. Bookings are not transferrable to other people.
If you are no longer able to attend your booking, please cancel it online. Contact us at (07) 3840 7927 or ypf@slq.qld.gov.au if you need assistance.
What happens when I arrive at State Library?
Enter through the Infozone doors from the Knowledge Walk. Staff will help you check in there.
We recommend you arrive 10 minutes before your booking time to check in and collect your play pack.
What play material will be available?
Families will be supported with open-ended play opportunities and curated resource packs to encourage fun and creativity for Play Time in The Corner.
Play resources will be quarantined after use, and our spaces will be sanitised in accordance with our COVID-Safe Site Plan, which is approved by Queensland Health.
If you’re coming for Baby Play and Rhyme Time sessions, you will need to bring your own floor blanket for your family. And, don’t forget your most important personal resources — your voice to sing, and your hands for actions!
I have specific needs for myself or my children — what should I do?
If you or your child or children have any specific needs in order to participate in the session, contact the event supervisor prior to the session on (07) 3840 7927 or email ypf@slq.qld.gov.au to discuss your requirements.
What else is open?
While you’re visiting State Library, take a journey into young artists’ worlds in our Big Voices: children’s art matters exhibition (Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery, level 4). Simply book a ticket for each person in your group (including infants and children).
We also have a great family program for the summer holidays lined up for the start of the new year. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.
What’s happening online?
Follow us on First 5 Forever and slq Play for fun family activities.
First 5 Forever
Talk, read, sing and play together every day to build a strong foundation for your child’s future development.