All about Family Place

In 2022, your Eagle Public Library was certified as the first Family Place Library in the State of Idaho. Family Place Libraries™ are a network of children’s libraries nationwide that believe that literacy begins at birth and that libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families. Family Place Libraries feature:

• Specially designed spaces
• Programs for ages 0 – 5
• Materials and resources for parents
• Family support services

In early 2023, the library’s public meeting room was re-purposed to become the Family Place Space which houses the library’s collection of beginning reading books, children’s picture books, and audiobooks. The Family Place Space also offer collections of toys that are developmentally appropriate for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Research shows that play fosters a variety of skills that children need: social, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional. Through play, children express feelings, communicate, build imagination and vocabulary, and develop eye-and-hand coordination; all vital steps in their journey toward reading and writing. The room previously housing what is now part of the Family Place Space plus materials serving elementary school aged children, now has increased space for elementary school aged materials and space for older children.

Stay & Play

A component of Family Place Libraries is the special five-week Stay & Play program designed for parents and caregivers with children 1-3 years old. During Stay & Play, children have the opportunity to experience developing early childhood skills through play parents have the opportunity to spend time with their child, make friends and speak one-on-one with specialists in child development, nutrition, and more. The five-week Stay & Play opportunity is offered twice a year.

Stay & Play schedule and Registration

Additional Family Place information

Family Place Space proposal to Eagle Public Library Board of Trustees, January 18, 2023
Photographs