Nine-year-old Hansika Weerapura visits the Youth Library in Hamilton every Saturday to read and go on the computers.

"I play games and go on websites and learn new things about the world," said the Victor Scott student.

"Reading is one of my favourite hobbies and I come with one of my best friends, Emily."

Miss Weerapura is the type of child the Youth Library is trying to hold on to while also attracting children who may not have ever visited the library by hosting its annual Reading Festival.

This year marked the seventh year of the festival, which started with a celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday and is held on the first Saturday in March.

The Festival this year held sessions for all ages from infancy — with Book Babies in the morning — to Middle School students and teens — with the African Tales and Dancers in the afternoon.

There was also an Arts and Crafts table, face painting and a chance for the children to sign up for a membership at the library.

"We hope to promote literacy and so the kids can find out what services there are at the library and they can realise it's fun at the library," said Youth Services Librarian Marla Smith.

"A lot of parents bring their kids when they're young but as they get older it tapers off and there is a danger in that because the better the kids can read, the easier everything else is.

"It is up to the age of eight or nine the kids visit the library and then it tapers off a bit and you can see with the school graduation rates and literacy at schools, this is necessary for them."

Ms Smith said she hopes the satellite libraries, which were recently included in the budget, will help because then parents will not have to transport their children to Hamilton for them to visit the library.

Sabrina James and Ashley Fubler, both ten years old, are members and come to the library on the weekends.

"A lot of our friends come and I like mysteries, reading is one of my hobbies," Miss James said.

And the Youth Library does so much more than provide a comfortable place to enjoy books; they also offer movie days, craft activities, a teen advisory board and a boys book club.

It is these extra activities, as well as the books, which Ms Smith hopes will continue to attract children into their teens when they are ready for the Adult Library.