Mon.- 9:30am-8pm
Tues.- 9:30am-8pm
Wed. - 9:30am-8pm
Thurs. - 9:30am-8pm
Fri. - 9:30am-5:30pm
Sat. - 9:30am-5:30pm Sun. - CLOSED
The HPL was in the third cohort in 2017 to become a designated Family Place Library. We were one of a handful of libraries chosen by the state to participate in a newly funded program. We were awarded $10,000.00 to purchase furniture and supplies and attend training in Long Island, NY.
Since the initial training, staff at the HPL have leaned into this important part of early learning, and we have seen results in children and families. We finished our fall semester of workshops 1, 2, 3, Come Play with Me and received a site visit for accreditation on Wednesday, October 19th, 2022. Those pictured are Noreen Stackpole, Family Place consultant; Kayla Pecina, Youth Specialists; Waynette Ditto, Library Director; Rochelle Fiddler, Children’s Librarian; Kathleen Deerr, Family Place consultant.
What is a Family Place Library? It expands the traditional role of children’s services. Family Place builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parental involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children’s growth and development.
Family Place Libraries design the library environment to be welcoming and appropriate for children beginning at birth; connect parents with the resources, programs, and services offered at the library and other family service agencies; and reach out to non-traditional library users. This creates the network families need to nurture their children’s development during the critical first years of life and helps ensure all children enter school ready and able to learn.
Family Place Libraries™ is a nationwide network of children’s librarians who believe that literacy begins at birth and that libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families.
It also promotes a national model for transforming public libraries into welcoming, developmental ly appropriate early learning environments for young children, their parents, and caregivers. Based on research about the importance of early brain development, Family Place Libraries™ supports the essential role of parents and caregivers as first teachers and addresses the physical, social, emotional, and cogni tive aspects of child development to help build a foundation for learning during the critical first years of life. By partnering and working with other social, health, and educational service providers, the Family Place model positions libraries as key early childhood and family support organizations within their local communities.
The Family Place Libraries™ model was developed in 1996 through a collaboration between Libraries for the Future (LFF) and Middle Country Public Library (MCPL) in Centereach, New York. Working together, LFF and MCPL developed a framework for a replicable model to train libraries to approach children’s services in a new way. The newly dubbed Family Place library program built a structure comprised of specific core elements to expand the role of public libraries as community centers and key contributors to family and early childhood development, parent and community involvement, and lifelong learning from birth. The Family Place Libraries™ network currently includes more than 500 sites in 31 states.
We have exceeded the requirements and continue to look for ways to improve the program. Some of the ways are listed below:
• Parent/Child Workshops is a five-week program that involves toddlers and their parents and care givers; features local professionals who serve as resources for parents; emphasizes the role of parents as the first teachers of their children; facilitates early intervention, and teaches strategies for healthy child development and early literacy
• Coalition-building with community agencies that serve families and young children to connect par ents to community resources and develop programs and services tailored to meet local needs
• Outreach to new and non-traditional library users, especially parents and very young children (be ginning at birth)
• Developmentally appropriate programming for very young children and their parents
• Library staff trained in family support, child development, parent education, and best practices
We are proud to bring this program to Hewitt and look forward to many years of supporting families with in our community.
Best, Waynette Ditto
Are you interested in learning how to code? Or do you want to level up your coding skills? Join us for Hour of Code, and challenge yourself to code for one hour each month. First and Third Thursdays of the month from 4-5:30pm. This is a come-and-go program. Youth, Tweens, and Teens welcome
Do you enjoy manga or anime? Do you want to explore a new interest? Join our new Anime/ Manga Club, where we will watch anime, craft a little bit, and share our favorite shows and manga! First and Third Saturdays of the month from 10-11am. Ages 10-18 welcome
Do you love arts and crafts? Join the Tween and Teen Art Club to practice your creativity and take home an art project! First and Third Saturday of the month from 2:00-3:30pm. This is a come-and-go program. Ages 10-18 welcome.
Do you want to help design teen programs at the library? Are you looking for leadership opportunities? Do you want your voice to be heard? Then join the Teen Advisory Board! You can request an application or more information. Third Tuesday of the month from 5-6pm. Ages 13-18 welcome
Ann Schiltz
FHPL President
Eddie Sincereny
FHPL Vice President
Delores Sincereny
FHPL Treasurer
Laura Beaty
FHPL Secretary
Jean Anne Plemons
FHPL Member at Large
Margie Kinney
FHPL Member at Large
Sally Goldman
FHPL Member at Large
Kathy O’Neil
FHPL Member at Large
Sally Goldman President
Lydia Dashner Vice President
Ryan Erck Secretary
Jerry Snider
Julie Holcomb
Betty J. Smith
Jennifer Hunt