Bring the family and celebrate the castle entrance to the new Children’s World of Discovery at the Community Free Library, 86 Public Square, Holley, on Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come in costume as knights, ladies, kings and queens and participate in the ribbon-cutting. Following the ceremony will be refreshments, face painting, balloons, a chance to make personal crowns or damsel hats, and, best of all, an opportunity to play in the new play centers and check out books.
Funded by a grant from Senator Maziarz, the library expands opportunities for play. “Play is the work of children,” says Library Director Sandra Shaw. “There are lots of studies being published showing the relationship between opportunities for play and the development of reading and learning skills. We have books, so we decided to expand the play opportunities for children. They can play, then find books in the library related to what they were playing.”
And play they can. The library’s play center includes a large puppet theatre with fairy tale characters, family puppets as well as community helpers. Want to cook? Try the new children’s kitchen; complete with shopping carts, plastic food and dishes. Worried about a sick stuffed animal? Try the Doc McStuffin’s Veterinary Clinic. Want to build or repair something? Use the Black and Decker building center. Like being in character and wearing a costume? Try the costume cabinet.
“Adding these play areas to what already exists in the library provides area families with a creative outlet for their children while the parents either play with them or use other library resources,” continued Shaw. “And I want to thank the members of our Board of Trustees and their families who came in on a cold January Sunday and spent the day putting all of these centers together.”
Local artist and retired art teacher Laurence Dabney created the castle entrance to the Children’s Room. No longer will the children just walk from one room to another, now they can enter a world created just for them, which is why it has become the World of Discovery.
Provided information
