Books. No kids. has two aims:

• To help childless and childfree people find books that reflect their lives and experiences, and are 'safer' to read for people in deep grief.

• Running the Inclusive Libraries Project, to encourage libraries to stock books by, for, and about childless and childfree people, and embrace us as part of their communities.

If your library has displays for other events or issues, why not ask them if they'd support the childless not by choice community by having a display for World Childless Week?

You won't be alone - I wrote a blog post for World Childless Week, detailing why I asked my library to have a display, and how it went (Spoiler: they said yes!). I'd love to see this happen in more libraries.

If you'd like to try but you're not sure how, you can use one of the templates below:

Informal email template – World Childless Week Library Display

Hi librarians!

I’m a local library user at <library_name>.  I always enjoy the displays you set up, and I was wondering if you would do one for World Childless Week?

This year World Childless Week is from <16 September to 22 September>.

Around 20% of women will be permanently childless, most not by choice – it’s a larger section of the community than most people realise. This can be difficult to accept and live with, and not having children (for any reason) is heavily stigmatised. There is a wealth of self-help books, biographies and other titles that can help people through, and I’d love to see them highlighted on your shelves.

<OPTIONAL – what would it mean for you? What is your experience? For example:

I’ve always been an avid reader, but while I was struggling with my own childlessness, I found it difficult to keep reading. So many stories features babies and pregnancy, and I just didn’t see my experience reflected in most self-help books. Reading <your_favourite_relevant_book> really helped me through a tough time, and I’d like to help others in our community who might be struggling with the same thing, find books like that too.>

There are resources to find books that are suitable for the childless community such as, nokidsbooks.com, worldchildlessweek.net, and gatewaywomen.com. <Optional: And I am happy to help you find titles in your collection.>

Thanks for hearing me out, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

<your_name>

More formal email template – World Childless Week Library Display

Dear <library_name>,

I’m a local library user and I’d like to talk to you about marking World Childless week at <library_name>.

This year World Childless Week is from <16 September to 22 September>.

Libraries are a source of information, entertainment, and community inclusion, and as around 20% of women will be permanently childless, most not by choice, we would like to be included too.

Being childless-not-by-choice can be difficult to accept and live with, and not having children (for any reason) is heavily stigmatised. However, there is a wealth of self-help books, biographies and other titles that can help people through.

A display for World Childless Week could help people find the resources they need, and to feel included at <library_name>.

<OPTIONAL – What would it mean for you? What is your experience? For example:

As a childless person, I often find less-targeted self help books inappropriate to my situation. Fiction can also pose a challenge, as many stories take a sudden turn into pregnancy and parenthood topics and this can be triggering.>

There are resources to find books that are suitable for the childless community such as, nokidsbooks.com, worldchildlessweek.net, and gatewaywomen.com. <Optional: And I am happy to help you find titles in your collection.>

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

<your_name>