Mum really is the word with Kirstie
Biomedical scientist also delivers Bookbug sessions
Most mornings, mum-oftwo Kirstie Burns heads off to work as a biomedical scientist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
But on Tuesdays, she dons a bright blue t-shirt and heads off to Renfrew Library to entertain scores of little ones and their parents at its popular Bookbug session.
Kirstie, 39, started volunteering for Bookbug seven years ago when the original leaders were moved to another library.
She said: “I started going to Bookbug with my eldest daughter and a couple of lovely ladies at Renfrew Library ran the sessions.
“The council restructured the staff and they were moved to another library. I thought, ‘I’ve got no shame, I can stand up and sing some songs and read a book until someone else comes along to do it.’
“And I’ve just kept on going for the last seven years.”
Bookbug is a project by the Scottish Book Trust, which runs free songs and rhyme sessions in libraries to develop children’s language skills, encourage bonding and boost your child’s confidence. Kirstie, mum to Ruby, who’s seven and four-year-old Joy, said: “I love it, it’s massive fun and so exciting to see how much the children enjoy it. I feel like the pied piper of Renfrew sometimes. The kids love it so much.
“When I had my daughter I knew two nursery rhymes. Coming along to Bookbug gives you that time to bond. There’s nothing else you have to do, it’s just you and your wee one playing together.
“I love books and love stories and I try to infuse the sessions with that love. I put as much energy into it as I can.”
Kirstie celebrated her seventh year of being a Bookbug volunteer last week and hosted a session at Renfrew Town Hall to celebrate Bookbug Week.
She added: “I’ve been there when I was a new mum and didn’t know a lot of people in Renfrew. It can be very lonely being a new parent and to walk into that environment where you don’t know anybody it’s like the first day of school all over again.
“I formed the most amazing friendships with mums I met through Bookbug.”
After Kirstie took over, the sessions became so popular they had to move to a larger part of the library. Then Kirstie increased the number of sessions and now runs three on a Tuesday morning with around 65 families coming along every week.
Kirstie, who lives in Renfrew, has written some songs and rhymes to sing at the sessions and when parents asked her to write them down so they could sing them at home, she decided to video them and put them online.
That led to her developing her own YouTube channel – Kirstie Burns – The Bookbug Lady, Renfrew.
To find your local Bookbug session, go to scottishbooktrust. com/bookbug