A coalition of renowned authors is advocating for newborns to receive an automatic library card at birth. Prominent writers like Sir Philip Pullman, Richard Osman, and Joanne Harris support a proposal from the Cultural Policy Unit (CPU) that would grant universal, lifelong library membership starting from birth to boost literacy.
“We know that many people still feel libraries aren’t for them,” said Kate Mosse on BBC Radio 4 Today. “Automatically issuing cards could signal that every single baby born is welcome.” CPU director Alison Cole envisions embedding these library cards within the health and education framework, working with health visitors, midwives, and schools to guarantee access for all families.
The CPU’s National Library Card concept aims to connect every citizen to their library network, with the expectation that it would promote reading habits, literacy, parenting support, and broader community and cultural engagement.
Under the proposal, membership would attach to birth registration rather than requiring online signup with proof of address or ID at a local library.
Award-winning author Mosse, famed for Labyrinth, expressed that automatic birth-to-library enrollment could be transformative. She noted that delivering a library card as part of a child’s welcome pack could normalize library use for families who may not have previously engaged with libraries, assist isolated parents, and align with early-years government intervention goals.
Sir Philip Pullman praised the plan as brilliant and hopeful, hoping it becomes a reality soon. Louie Stowell, author of Loki, called it a fantastic idea, highlighting that even babies can benefit from being read to from birth and that this could normalize library visits. She also cautioned that the scheme must be paired with adequate funding and staffed libraries; signing up babies is futile if libraries lack resources.
The CPU’s cost estimate places annual expenses at £14 million to £22 million and envisions a joint effort between the Department for Education and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
A DCMS spokesperson noted that public libraries are funded and run by local authorities, who determine how best to meet community needs, and encouraged libraries to promote services to families from the earliest stages of life.
Would you support making library access universal from birth, even if it requires substantial funding and coordination between national and local bodies? What potential benefits or drawbacks do you foresee in normalizing libraries for newborns?
