Hello families
Welcome to The Corner! Here you will find a range of creative activities for family play and learning as well as details of our onsite programs.
Visiting The Corner
State Library has worked with Queensland Health to develop a specific COVID-Safe Site Plan that governs how we are managing safe practices onsite. Please read the FAQs below for more information, and check the conditions of entry before you visit.
Bookings are essential to attend our sessions for children and families. We are currently offering Play Time, Rhyme Time, Story Time and Baby Play so come and join the fun! You can also drop into The Parlour anytime between 10am and 3pm daily to explore our browsing collection of books perfect for families.
To best ensure families can enjoy our programs we will hold Play Time bookings for 30 minutes and all other sessions for 15mins. If you are running late and would like us to hold your space for you please call (07) 3842 9090. As bookings are limited, if you are unable to make your session time please cancel to free your booking for another group.
Bookings are able to be made up to 14 days in advance – these are released daily for the following 14 day period.
The Corner at Home
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 - scroll down for details.
Don’t forget to visit First 5 Forever for tips and resources to support early literacy and opportunities for children and their families to talk, read, sing and play together every day.
Play Time in The Corner
Daily at 11am Mon to Fri, 10am Sat/Sun.
Open-ended play sessions for children of all ages with specially selected resources for you and your family and friends to explore.
Rhyme Time in The Corner
Every Wed/Fri/Sun 12.30pm, Thu 10am, Sat 11.30am.
From babes in arms to children ready to dance, this First 5 Forever session is a special time for you and your little one to share rhymes, songs and stories.
Story Time in The Corner
Every Mon 10am, Tue/Sat 12.30pm, Sun 11.30am.
For children aged 0-5. A fun selection of stories for everyone, shared through specially selected picture books and oral storytelling.
Baby Play in The Corner
Every Mon/Thu 12.30pm, Tue/Wed/Fri 10am.
For babies 0-12 months (not yet walking) and their parents/carers. Connect with your little one through baby-paced play, rhyme and shared stories.
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: 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.
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.
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?
Booking are essential for all sessions. Don't have a booking? Drop into The Parlour anytime between 10am and 3pm daily to explore our browsing collection of books perfect for families.
Mondays:
10.00am | Story Time
11.00am | Play Time
12.30pm | Baby Play
Tuesdays:
10.00am | Rhyme Time
11.00am | Play Time
12.30pm | Story Time
Wednesdays:
10.00am | Baby Play
11.00am | Play Time
12.30pm | Rhyme Time
Thursdays:
10.00am | Rhyme Time
11.00am | Play Time
12.30pm | Baby Play
Fridays:
10.00am | Baby Play
11.00am | Play Time
12.30pm | Rhyme Time
Saturdays:
10.00am | Play Time
11.30am | Rhyme Time
12.30pm | Story Time
Sundays:
10.00am | Play Time
11.30am | Story Time
12.30pm | Rhyme Time
Do I need to book?
Yes, you need to book for sessions. However you can also drop into The Parlour anytime between 10am and 3pm daily to explore our browsing collection of books perfect for families.
Numbers are limited in our spaces and sessions according to the Queensland Government’s Roadmap to easing restrictions.
When booking for sessions, please book for each person in your group (including infants and children). If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your booking 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.
What play material will be available?
Families will be supported with open-ended play opportunities and curated resource packs to encourage fun and creativity in The Corner Play Sessions. 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, Rhyme Time or Story Time sessions, we'll provide cushions and any specific resources required however you might also like to bring your own floor blanket. And don’t forget your most important tools — your voice to talk and 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).
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.