Library @ Hoyland
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Barnsley
What it’s like
Free story and rhyme sessions, craft time and sensory play for under-fives in a fully accessible library.
The story and rhyme sessions are the reason to turn up with a small one in tow, and there's a sensory play slot too, aimed at under-fives with additional needs, which is the sort of thing not every branch bothers to run. Craft sessions cover drawing and painting if your kid's past the board-book stage and wants to get their hands messy instead. None of it costs anything, which makes it an easy one to slot into a wet Tuesday morning without weighing up whether it's worth the money.
It won't eat the whole day. A session, a browse through the shelves for something to borrow and you're out again within the hour, but that's roughly what a toddler can manage before they're after the next thing anyway. Level access inside and a ramp outside make it straightforward with a buggy, and there's a changing places toilet alongside the standard baby change, which is more than most local libraries offer.
The hours are the faff here. Monday's the long day, open till 7pm, but Wednesday the doors don't open at all, and Saturday only gets you a short window from 9:30 to 12:30. Worth having the week's timetable in your head before you plan around it, because there's no obvious pattern to fall back on.
Beyond the kids' stuff there's PC use, printing and room bookings going on too, so it's a proper working library rather than a space built purely for families. That's no bad thing, it just means you're sharing the room with people concentrating on other things during quieter hours.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Under-fives, with sensory play aimed at those with additional needs
- No charge for entry or the kids' sessions
- Closed all day Wednesday, so don't plan a visit around it
- Saturday hours are short, just 9:30 to 12:30
- You can also use a pre-booked PC or get printing and photocopying done while you're there
Plan your visit
Is it free to go?
Yes, entry and the sessions are free.
Do we need to book the story and rhyme sessions?
There's no booking link listed, so it looks like a turn-up-and-join-in setup.
Is it OK for a toddler?
The story and rhyme sessions and craft time are aimed at under-fives, and there's a sensory play slot for under-fives with additional needs.
What are the opening hours?
Monday 9am to 7pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm, and closed all day Wednesday.
Is it accessible with a buggy or wheelchair?
There's ramp access outside and level access inside, plus lifts and refuge areas.
What facilities are there for babies?
A baby changing room and a changing places toilet, along with a standard disabled toilet.
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