Kendrick Memorial Library

Since the implementation of our Family Place Library, we have seen tremendous increases in both gate count/circulation, as well as in attendance at all our library programs & events. We have several in-home child care facilities, in our community, and directors bring children, enrolled in their centers, weekly, to play in our Family Place Library area. Families, who have attended our workshops, meet in our Family Place area, so their children can play together, and the mothers interact with one another, while they play with their children. We regularly have parents, guardians, and care givers coming in, to inquire about the workshops because either they hear about it, in our community, or they personally know someone who has already attended and have heard good things about the workshops. We see connections being made, through Family Place, and these connections continue outside of our library. Parents become acquainted in our Family Place area and schedule time, outside of the library, for their families to do things together. We have even had families tell staff, from other libraries, about our Family Place Library, & have had those directors come tour our family space, and then, go on to attend the training institute, as well. It really has had such a positive impact both within and BEYOND our community. *Because of COVID, we are just now slowly setting out toys in our family place area, rotating them, so that we do not have so many items at once. Our staff disinfects the area, after each use, and we are vigilant about cleaning all toys and items in the space, as well.