Everyone on the Youth Services Staff is committed to assisting you and your children when you call or visit the library. We offer a wide selection of materials appropriate for children from preschoolers through the middle school years.
For Parents and Caretakers of Young Children
Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. Our programs for young children are designed to develop early literacy, which is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write.
BOOK BEGINNINGS offers stories, songs and action rhymes for children from birth through 3 years of age accompanied by their parent or caregiver. The program and is held on WEDNESDAY mornings from 10:30 to 11:00 and is designed to develop the six pre-reading skills promoted by the Every Child Ready to Read@your library state-wide initiative.
STORY TIME includes stories, songs and creative activities for children from 3 through 5 years of age. This program for the older preschooler is held on WEDNESDAY mornings from 10:30 to 11:15 and is designed to further develop the six pre-reading skills promoted by the Every Child Ready to Read@your library state-wide initiative.
For Parents and Caretakers of School Age Children
Whether you are helping your child find books to read for pleasure or a school assignment, we are here to assist you. Both our fiction and non-fiction collections include materials especially chosen to coordinate with school curriculum and assignments. If you or your child are doing research online, we suggest the Ohio Public Library Information Network's Ohio Web Library which connects you to numerous comprehensive and reliable databases.
Parent Teacher Collection
Our Parent Teacher Collection of books and audio-visual materials can be found in the Youth Services Department. The books and magazines in this collection have been chosen to fulfill the research and resource needs of those working with children. Our materials include information on many subjects of special interest to parents including parenting skills, potty training, homeschooling, family centered activities, homework support and many more.
Websites of Interest to Parents
ALA/ALSC sites for Parents, Caregivers, Teachers & Others
The American Library Association, along with the Association for Library Services to Ohio Children, offers an extensive list of sites for parents, caregivers, teachers, and more.
Day By Day Ohio Family Literacy Calendar
With a perpetual calendar featuring songs, activities, book suggestions, and videos, this website supports early literacy skills and helps families, caregivers, and educators get young children ready for school.
Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library
This site provides caregivers with a list of background information on early literacy topics to encourage the learning of pre-reading skills. Includes books, videos and websites.
Family Education Network
Activities, crafts, recipes and games for children and their families.
Help Me Grow
Help Me Grow is Ohio's free parent support program that encourages prenatal and young child care (birth through age 3), as well as parenting education that helps you prepare your child for success in school and later in life. Once you're part of the program, they'll visit you at your house... no need to load up the car every time you have an appointment!
Ohio Web Library
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) connection to numerous, reliable research databases for doing homework or other information gathering needs.
Scholastic/HMH Reading Counts Book List
This site lists books with their Lexile level, title, author, and other key metrics.