Location: Basement
Phone: 404.730.1845

*New* Click on 'Bookflix' to preview a new storybook online database!

Basic Collections
The Children's Department includes materials in all subject areas for children from birth to 8th grade. We have a variety of books, periodicals, and many other media including:

Picture Books for children to read independently or for parents and/or teachers to share with children; Easy Books for beginning readers; Fiction, or "chapter books" for older readers; Non-Fiction for older readers and curriculum support; Biographies for older readers and curriculum support; Magazines for leisure reading; Board Books for infants and toddlers; A variety of popular Paperback books; Read-a-longs; Audio cassettes; Video tapes; DVD's and CD's.

Additionally, there are several sub-collections: Award Winning Books; ABC Books/Phonics; and Counting Books; Spanish Language; Parenting Collection and families of Children with Special Needs.

The Children's Department also features the High Collection and Research Room. The High Collection is a special collection of non-circulating children's books. The funds to establish the initial collection were donated in memory of Mrs. Hattie Wilson High, by her daughters. The collection consists of award winning books in addition to various editions of classics and representative selections in the field of Children's Literature. There are many children's books from the early 20th century, and some specialized bibliographies of other collections in universities and the Library of Congress. Additionally, there are some unusual examples of bookmaking, such as pop-up books and other paper engineered books represented in this collection. Recently, a reference research collection supporting a curriculum in Children's Literature has been added to this collection.

Technology
We offer a computer lab featuring seven personal computers for use by children. These personal computers offer the full Microsoft Suite of software including Word, Publisher, Excel and PowerPoint. In addition to the seven computers in the lab there is one look-up station for the general public.

Programs
The Children's Department also develops, creates and implements programs, exhibits and book displays to foster reading and promote cultural diversity. These programs and special activities help to provide a way to introduce books and the library to children, offer new experiences with literature and give children enriching educational and cultural experiences. Some of the programs offered include:

Pre-School Storytime
Through Storytime we aim to introduce young children to the joys of literature, language, rhythm and rhyme, through stories, songs, poetry, finger plays and simple crafts. We provide storytime programs in the library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Please call to schedule a group reservation.

Arts and Crafts
We offer arts and craft exercises to expose Children to a variety of new and different ways to express their individual creativity, thus promoting positive self-esteem. Arts and crafts also reinforce hand eye manipulation and help with the development of fine motor skills. Arts and crafts programs are provided frequently through the Super Saturday at the Library programs; Storytimes; Seasonal and Cultural programs throughout the year; as well as through the Summer Reading program.

Feature Movies
We know that Children are very visually oriented and enjoy viewing feature movies. We use feature movies to entertain and inspire Children. The feature movies may be educational and informative to children by showing them new places, things and lifestyles. We provide a variety of feature films as a part of the Super Saturday at the Library programs as well as through the Summer Reading Program.

Cultural Programs
We try to expose Children to a variety of cultural programs throughout the year. Research tells us that exposure to other cultures helps to promote diversity awareness. Some of the cultural programs that we have hosted have been the African Dance Connection; Lloyd Arneach, Cherokee Storyteller; Barry Stewart Mann's Viajandoo pro Poesia; Flamenco Dance; Lisa Chyn's Chinese Music and Dance Workshop; the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre; and the Piccadilly Puppets.

Classes
We offer instruction in using our web database; we provide guided tours of the Children's Department and the Central Library. We provide information and advice to Children their parents and caregivers concerning appropriate and available literature.

Outreach Programs
We offer a variety of Library programs off-site. We know that we serve a very diverse community and it is our aim to be inclusive to the entire community. Some of the Outreach Programs that we offer include: Library Card Drives; Literacy Enhancement Programs such as Infant/Toddler Lapsits; Book Talking Programs to promote special as well as seasonal Library programs; Storytimes; Art & Crafts; and Community Deposit Collections.

Vacation Reading Program
The Children's Department participates in the state-wide Vacation Reading Program.

Back to Top Back To Central