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Your Local Library
A Goldmine of Resources for Your Toddler and Infant
By Mary Hill
My toddler and I traveled recently to a place that many parents do not realize can pay huge dividends in the early educational development of their little ones. We drove into the parking lot and I got her out of her car seat. At 20 months, she recognized the brick building and squealed, "Books. Me want books."
We went in the front door, and to our left were toddler-sized tables covered with special puzzles and games. On every trip, she can access educational computer games, videos and picture books. The beauty of this place? It is totally free! I can visit as many times as I want and my toddler can explore and learn in countless ways. What gold mine have we found? Our hometown library.
These studies commissioned by officials with the American Library Association and its public library division were instrumental in persuading librarians nationwide to implement specialized programs, says Ellen Fader, youth services coordinator and LIBROS manager for the Multnomah County Library, based in Oregon.
Nationally, early childhood developmental programs in libraries run the gamut from Books for Babies storytime sessions to Born to Read* emergent literacy programs, says Fader, who also serves as a member of the Public Library Association's Early Literacy Initiative Task Force.