Scores of children and their family members attended the ribbon cutting and official opening of the World of Discovery at the Community Free Library in Holley, on Saturday, March 12.
Surrounded by children, retired Senator Maziarz and Assemblyman Hawley cut the ribbon at the castle entrance, visited with community members and library staff, and enjoyed the event, which was the culmination of a grant provided by Senator Maziarz to the library. “My family always used the library,” said Maziarz, “and now that I am a grandfather, I think they are even more important than ever.”
Children dressed in costumes from the costume center, made and decorated crowns and damsel hats, cooked in the kitchen, built in the construction zone, used the dragons in the puppet theater, helped a sick stuffed animal in the veterinary clinic, had their faces painted, or participated in other activities during the free family event. Many families took advantage of the opportunity to obtain library cards and take out books, DVDs and other items.
“So much current research shows that play is the work of children,” said Library Director Sandy Shaw. “Without time to play, children cannot learn. It is so gratifying to see so many families here today, with the parents sitting at the tables helping their children make crowns, or sitting on the floor while their children are at one of the play centers. Even the dads have crowns on their heads. Senator Maziarz’s grant enabled the library to meet a community need, to provide a location where families can come to play and then borrow materials to take home. And because of his generous grant, we were able to do all of this at no additional cost to the community.”
The World of Discovery is open to children and their families during regular library hours. For more information, call the library at 638-6987.
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