The new Pinney Library is for everyone — even the tiniest of patrons, and their caregivers. The PlayLab at Pinney Library promotes early literacy through child-directed play for children ages birth to 5. PlayLab programming will encourage community support and family literacy with a variety of programs featuring music, play and great books.
Library staff have been working on continuing family engagement sessions and partnership meetings with various east side community organizations. At a recent family engagement session with Madison Metropolitan School District’s Darbo Play & Learn, families learned about the PlayLab and had an opportunity to play with some of the materials that will be available in the space.
There is also a new partnership with Satellite family child care that will offer monthly professional development and learning sessions for family care providers, caregivers and their children at Pinney through the PlayLab.
“We’ve heard from various community partners through our community engagement around the PlayLab that more professional development is needed,” said Pinney Youth Services Librarian Holly Storck-Post. “Through this partnership with Satellite (which is a part of Reach Dane), we are able to help offer free professional development to providers, as well as share the library’s other educator resources, and develop and strengthen our relationships with providers.”
For casual fun, kids of all ages and their caregivers can enjoy Pinney Playdates on Monday and Saturday mornings starting March 23. On Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings, PlayLab Storytime will encouraged literacy skills building and a love of reading by offering a mix of books, songs, activities and lots of play. For Pinney’s preschool-aged patrons, the PlayLab will offer Bilingual Music and Movement programs featuring dancing, bubbles and singing in both English and Spanish.
Visit the library’s events calendar for the most up-to-date information on PlayLab programming.