CARMARTHENSHIRE libraries have teamed up with schools across the county to provide every child with a library card.

Each pupil will have the opportunity to sign up through their school and take part in the free read and return service.

Reading is critical to improve literacy levels and life skills.

It is also fun and helps keep children active when bringing characters to life.

Letters have gone out to all schools inviting them to visit the library and sign up.

The council’s library services manager, Mark Jewell said: “This library card will allow the children to borrow books straight away and get a great bag to carry their books home with them.

“Once proof of address is provided, they can then have access to thousands of free books, use the computers and access lots of other resources.”

All library members have access to a range of free services including fiction, non-fiction, comics, graphic novels and talking books, homework help - online and in the library, e-books and e-magazines, computer use and internet access.

The library also plays host to clubs, games, events, activities and classes and staff are on hand to help out.

Last year there were nearly 95,000 active library members In Carmarthenshire – 2, 288 are children aged 0-4, nearly 1,000 aged 4-12 and 7,647 aged 12-18.

In 2011/12 over two million hours of free computer use in libraries were made by the public.

More than five million books are available to borrow in Welsh public libraries and over 420,000 audio-visual items (CDs, talking books, DVDs, etc).

Some 14.7 million visits were made to Welsh public libraries during the year.