The Estevan Public Library’s (EPL) project on the children’s area renovation is accomplished. Now when they got rid of some older toys and furniture and brought in the new pieces, they have everything to keep younger kids happy and occupied while visiting the library.
To make it contemporary and attracting the library management brought in a fully equipped little kitchen, designed and built by the Estevan Diversified Services. The also added a train table, which can be used for many other types of activities as well, drawing easel and even a tablet kiosk.
The EPL branch manager Lucas Reid explained what the tablet kiosk is.
“We added an iPad kiosk for children, which you can fix iPads to, and Christine (Batke) downloaded a bunch of apps on the iPads we have. So kids can sit there and interact with each other while using the iPads,” Reid said.
To use the kiosk parents would need to sign out library iPads at the desk using their cards.
The EPL also added a little playhouse, a miniature lounging area with a small couch and small sits, some tables and new toys. Aside from tablets, everything else is positioned up in the children area.
EPL children’s program co-ordinator Christine Batke had a vision of how the renewed space was supposed to look like.
“I wanted it to be learning and education-based. It was the most important with everything that I’ve put into the area,” Batke said. “And I wanted everything in the space to make sense before we had a lot of toys being dumped out and just piled together.”
The area can be used for routine kids’ entertainment as well as for various children’s programs offered by the library.
Reid noticed that the renovation wouldn’t happen if not for the Affinity Credit Union.
“We really want to thank the Affinity Credit Union, because they gave us some generous financial support for that,” Reid said.
The library also had allocated some money for the children's area renovation and combined with the received grant this money was enough to accomplish the project just the way they saw it.
Earlier in time, with the support from the Certified Energy Servicesthe library has updated its teen's space. So now everything is up to date and is ready to be used.
The EPL already has the March calendar out and invites the community to join them in reading, learning, having fun and exploring the world. All programming is free of charge and everyone is welcome.
