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Come to Discovery Place and Read, Play, Learn, Grow!

Newly christened the "Discovery Place," the children's area offers improved lighting, new blinds, family and child friendly seating, a writing station, educational toys and games, and more.

The East Shore Area Library’s Discovery Place concept was based on the guidelines and suggestions from the Public Library Association’s initiative, Every Child Ready to Read. Research about how children learn to read shows that, to become a good reader, children need to develop certain specific skills in their preschool years, before they actually learn to read. How do you help them to do this? It’s simpler than you might think:

Play: In the Discovery Place you will find blocks and other toys for building and exploration, a play kitchen, and AWE computer stations with a wide assortment of learning games.
Write: In the Discovery Place there are magnetic letters that allow children to play with letters to see patterns or words, as well as a writing station where children are encouraged to share their thoughts with a picture or note. If their works are “mailed” to the librarian, they are posted for a time for others to see and talk about.
Talk: At the Discovery Place, there are many opportunities for parents and children to engage in conversation—for instance, while using toys, exploring the environment, or creating or viewing a puppet play on the puppet stage.
Sing: Rhymes and songs posted around the Discovery Place, and poems on the “Poe-Tree,” encourage parents and children to have fun together as they build language skills while reading, singing, and playing with words.
Read: The Discovery Place is located in The Library’s picture book area, where you are surrounded by over 17,000 picture books, early readers, board books and early non-fiction. In addition to a variety of comfortable seating, you will find knowledgeable and dedicated staff to help you find interesting and age-appropriate materials.

A Giving Tree is taking root in Discovery Place at East Shore Area Library and your purchase of a leaf will help The Library add to the improvements made possible by a generous grant from the Samuel and Gail Lindenberg Family Foundation. Find out how to add your name to one of our leaves.