YWCA's Young Wonders Early Learning Center in Bloomington converted classroom space and previous food pantry space into a library. (WJBC file photo)
By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – An early learning program is trying to expand young people's learning outside the classroom.
YWCA's Young Wonders Early Learning Center in Bloomington is converting some classroom space a the library that assistant director Melissa Breeden said will enable children and parents to relax and read or check out the books and take them home.
"We thought it we have space here with resources that families can check out then chances are they are more likely to go home and read to children, which in turn can increase their language retention and vocabulary," Breeden said.
There will be a public ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday hosted by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. It will be followed by book readings to Young Wonders classes by Bloomington mayor Tari Renner, District 87 administrator Mary Kay Scharf, Bloomington aldermen and Illinois Wesleyan University librarian Karen Schmidt and Bloomington Library children's librarian Georgianne Schau.
The library was converted out of a former pre-school classroom and food pantry. Local businesses Bloomington Carpets and FloorX ProFloorCare helped donate carpets for the room.
Breeden said the library will even be an aid to teachers who might be distracted providing one-on-one reading help in their classrooms.
"It's a nice, quiet, calm area so children can get a break from their classroom and slow down for the day," Breeden said.
The library is looking for some preschool board books on animals, transportation, multi-cultural stories and science, plus Magic Tree House, Dr. Seuss and Captain Underpants books.
The library also needs books for 11-12 year olds, bookends and bean bag chairs.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
