World Book Day fancy dress swaps to be held in borough libraries

Cheshire West and Chester libraries have come up with a new idea to help save money and the environment in good time for World Book Day in March - fancy dress swap events.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “Seeing primary schoolchildren in book-related fancy dress costumes every World Book Day has become a common sight in March but, with ever-mounting financial and environmental pressures limiting new purchases makes more sense than ever.

“For the first time, many of our libraries will be accepting donations of fancy dress at the start of the year and hosting clothes swaps before World Book Day itself.  What better way to share the fun, so you can play your part to save money and the climate emergency.”

Anyone who donates a children’s fancy dress costume will be offered a token which can be redeemed for another costume on either Saturday 11 or Saturday 18 February, from 10am to 12.30pm.

If the donor does not want a replacement costume, then it will be donated to anyone who turns up on either Saturday who does not have an outfit to swap.

All donated clothes must be clean, in good condition and suitable for primary school-aged children. Any items which are not taken by the end of the last swap session will be either donated to charity or sent for recycling.

Libraries cannot guarantee that a suitable costume will be available for every person on the day.

Participating libraries are Blacon, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Great Boughton, Helsby, Hope Farm, Lache, Little Sutton, Neston, Northwich (at Weaver Hall Museum), Tattenhall and Winsford.

Also on the two Saturdays, Blacon and Ellesmere Port libraries will be hosting “Pop-up Patch Challenge” volunteers who will be there with their sewing kits to show visitors the basics so that they can have a go themselves.  The Patchers also welcome anyone who can already sew to bring their mending and join them.

For World Book Day itself, libraries will be exchanging the £1 book tokens that every school child will receive, for the special World Book Day books on Saturday 4 March from opening time until 12.30pm. Opening hours may vary slightly between branches.

Pictured - Dressing up for World Book Day.