Tuesday, March 08, 2005

The Library


I took both of my boys to the library last night. Usually I just take Mitch, but now that Mikey is 1, and since I was home yesterday, I thought that I would take them both.

The library is more than just a place for books these days. When I was a kid we'd go to our local library every other Friday with my mom. We would take out bunches of books and manage to go through the limit of ten we were allowed in the two-week timespan. I also remember the 15-minute or so walk home, and how my mom kept reminding me that it was dangerous to walk in the street and read at the same time.

But our local library is just a little bit different, maybe because of technology, or maybe because of the fact that it's in the burbs' as compared to Brooklyn.

First off they have these tiny little plastic computer desks with washable and somewhat indestructible keyboards for kids. These computers have a whole compliment of age-appropriate games for pre-schoolers and 1st and 2nd graders. (There is another section of computers for kids in higher grades). They have a full-fledged computer resource room for kids complete with homework help, and they also have some cozy reading spaces (which are currently limited during their construction).

This is all good, but they are currently working on a great new place that sounds more like a museum or theme park kind of atmosphere for kids than the usual library. It's called The Trove and it will be done sometime next year. Just in time for Mitch to fully appreciate our trips there.

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