Elsie

 Early Literacy Center submitted by Kaity Pittard

In the center of the Cumming Library children’s area is the new Early Literacy Center, affectionately nicknamed ELC, or “Elsie” for short. Elsie is filled with cubbies to hold books and toys and displays, where all the families who come to enjoy the library kids’ area can play and enjoy. When I took on my position as a youth specialist here in January, Julie, the Youth Services Supervisor for our branch, told me about her vision for Elsie, to turn this area  into a space where we could really promote and encourage early literacy skills and practices. Together over the past few months, we’ve been bringing that vision to life.

Elsie’s cubbies are full of toys! These toy selections rotate out every month, keeping the selection a nice variety for the kids who visit. There are four rotations, so that each set of toys is played with for three months out of the year, and nothing gets old too quickly. Each group of toys is carefully selected to provide a variety of skills. Each rotation features toys that build alphabet recognition, sorting skills, lots of fine motor skills, imaginative play items, something to build with, lots of puzzles, and of course some washable puppets for Elsie’s ever-popular toddler sized puppet theater.

Elsie’s cubbies are also full of BOOKS! A selection from our board book collection lives in Elsie’s cubbies and allows parents and kids to easily select titles to read together. Little comfy floor cushions, and two benches, encourage families to sit and read together. Elsie is also home to book displays such as our community author collection, our new book display, and temporary seasonal displays. We keep the display books on the outside for people browsing to see, while the board books are on the inside cubbies for easy reading.

All around Elsie, there is signage providing Early Literacy Tips. These signs educate and encourage parents by giving information on how everyday activities can help their kids learn and grow in meaningful ways, focusing on the five early literacy practices. There is also signage on the toy bins themselves, giving suggestions on how to use the toys provided to build those basic literacy skills here in the library. Some even connect with the library collection, for instance, the farm animal puppets sign includes the call number for easy nonfiction on farm animals! Elsie also features two catalog computers, one at a normal height facing the juvenile section, and one short, kid-sized computer facing the easy section. Kids can browse the catalog and see the titles that are available themselves!

It is so sweet to be sitting at the youth desk and seeing families and kids enjoying the Early Literacy Center. Parents reading to kids, little babies figuring out how the world works by grabbing everything they can, older littles insisting their parents watch their puppet show, siblings playing together and making up stories with the toys.  So many wonderful interactions. Many staff have noted their observations in Daily Reports.

Daily Report Quotes:

It was sweet to watch a little kid and Dad as the Dad encouraged him to name letters on Elsie’s magnet letter board. The Early Literacy Center is doing its job! 

Elsie has become such a hit with moms and littles. I observed a little boy squeal in delight as he sat down to work on puzzles this morning. He continued to make sounds of delight as he explored and interacted with all of the toys. As I observed, I thought it was a perfect demonstration of Play, one of the Five Early Literacy Practices. His mom was able to sit nearby and work while she kept an eye on him. They stayed for over 3 hours.  

Sitting at the youth desk in the evenings is nice, I get to observe families enjoying the library. A Dad and his little daughter were enjoying Elsie, thrilled by the puppet theater, testing out all the toys. The Dad was sitting there playing with the star builders while his child was playing with something else, and I heard him say “this is so satisfying.” She went to go color while he stayed there building for a little while longer!

Near closing a sweet Mom, Grandma, and little baby came in. He had a great time crawling around and exploring all the toys in Elsie, smiling the whole time, it was so sweet!

One highlight of the day was a little boy and his baby sister absolutely entranced by a puppet show their Dad put on for them in the tiny Elsie puppet theater, he had barely finished the story before the boy jumped in to try a puppet show of his own. It’s so nice to see families and kids enjoying and loving the theater.  I heard other little kids throughout the day chattering excitedly about the puppets.