Iowa Falls Children's Story Time Area
Orange City Children's Activity Area
Iowa City Children's Area Entrance
Library Building Project
A Proud Past -- A Progressive Future:
Children's Area
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Iowa Falls Children's Story Time Area |
Orange City Children's Activity Area |
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Written by Bob Hill
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking care of my sixteen-month-old
granddaughter for a week. During
that week I received an education on how books encourage the use of imagination
and become interactive through predicting the outcome, responding to pictures,
turning pages, lifting flaps, and pointing at objects. I
was amazed at how “Mother Goose”, “Clifford The Big Red Dog”, and
“Curious George” made stories come alive and instilled excitement in my
granddaughter. Children should be
shown that reading is fun and can expand their world beyond their experiences.
As the library building
committee moves forward in the planning stages for the new Independence Public
Library, one essential section will be an area just for children. The area
should be an enjoyable spot with little shushing and lots of capacity for
interactive play, an inspirational setting for the imagination, and various
books and materials. In other
words, it will be a place of learning and enjoyment.
There are many services that the library would like to provide for
children but cannot because of limitations of the current facility.
According to the Independence Library Community Survey done in the Fall
of ’04, the majority of Independence residents would be interested in
utilizing story times (73%) and arts/crafts classes for children (63%).
There is a compelling need for a space for 30-40 children (we currently
have enough space to comfortably seat 12 children)for story time and other
reading activities without disrupting others browsing and choosing materials in
the children’s section. Examples
of other reading activities that would occur in this area include booktalks,
toddler story times, puppet shows, daycare visits, class tours, and craft
activities (currently craft activities require the use of all patron work
space). An Independence Public
Library with the capacity to allow such activities is a necessity for our
children.
The need to be able to
experience success when using the library is vital for children. They need to be able to express themselves, reach all the
materials, and have some wiggle room without disrupting other people using the
library. This isn’t possible
right now, but could be with the careful design of a new facility.
Just such a setting would work hand in hand with Clifford The Big Red Dog
(or should I say paw in paw) in creating a desire to read and be read to at an
early age.
The new children’s area will help families provide positive experiences for their children that will aid in their education. We welcome your ideas on how to attain this goal in the new library’s children’s area! Please contact Laura, library director (334-2470), Mary Stevenson, building committee co-chair (334-2866), or Dave Iverson, building committee co-chair (334-4479), with your thoughts.
Other Building Project Articles:
Donation Form
Fundraising Event - SPELLBOUND!
Library Campaign Passes $2.5 Million
A Proud Past...A Progressive Future
Library Campaign Awarded CAT
Grant!
How Can I Help the Library Reach Goal?
Answers to Capital Campaign Questions
Frequently Asked Questions and Thoughts about the
New Library
Building Plans Detailed
Elevations and Floor Plan
Campaign Chair Selected
Site and
Architect
Children's
Area
Top 10 Reasons
a New Public Library is Needed
Young Adult
Area
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