Births can now be registered at libraries in Heywood

Babies born at North Manchester General can now be registered at Langley Library/Children's Centre or Heywood Library

Families from Heywood and Middleton are now able to have their births fully registered within the council’s boundary at either Langley Library/Children’s Centre or Heywood Library.

Before this newborns born at North Manchester General have had to be taken back to the Crumpsall hospital or to Harpurhey Children’s Centre to visit a registrar.

Councillor Peter Williams, Economic Development and Customer Services, said: “This is a great development for parents of new-borns. They will be able to register their child’s birth in Rochdale, be introduced to their local library and have their child become a library member early in their life. You are never too young to be a member of the library and there is so much to offer for babies and their families.

To register other babies in the borough, many of whom are also born at Royal Oldham Hospital, you have to go to Rochdale Town Hall - following an agreement with Oldham Council.

In another new initiative between Rochdale Borough Libraries and the Registrars’ Service, newborns will be given library card when their births are registered to encouraged early library membership, boost early years literacy and encourage a life-long love of reading.