Dalkeith Library welcomes its newest member

Librarians in Dalkeith might be ready to relax the “quiet please” rule as their latest member makes an early start to her reading journey.

- by Julie Douglas

Three-week-old Emma Burton became the newest and youngest member of Midlothian Libraries when proud parents Zara and Samuel signed her up under the Every Child A Library Member (ECALM) programme.

Born on December 19, Emma was also the first Midlothian baby to have their birth registered in 2026. In 2025, more than 400 babies were signed up for library membership in Midlothian as part of the birth registration process.