The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library has been awarded a grant in the amount of $4,500 as part of the California State Library’s Early Learning with Families 2.0 Initiative (ELF) in order to develop and expand early learning opportunities for children and families within the library. As part of the grant, the Children’s Department will add a new early learning and literacy area, which will include child friendly furniture, fixtures and toys for young children and their caregivers to use in the library.

The Early Learning with Families area will launch in February 2014 and will be available to families during the library’s open hours. The equipment and toys – which include a play kitchen, a puppet theater, a Lego activity table, a magnetic wall, a play carpet and toy cars, building blocks, puzzles and other learning activities – will be made available on a rotating basis.

“We are thrilled we were awarded the Early Learning with Families area at the library”, said Senior Library Clerk Diana Garcia. “Imaginative play is essential to the learning and development of young children and encourages language skills, exploration, social skills, physical skills and creativity. It is our hope that the Early Learning with Families area will excite children’s wonder and provide them with opportunities for exploration and learning in the library.”

“The library competed among 71 library jurisdictions for the ELF Initiative and participated in a very competitive process to attain this award. Awards were based on completeness of proposals and actions plans that appropriately addressed the ages and stages of early childhood. Our library staff was very competitive and thorough in applying for and competing for the grant,” said City Librarian Norma Arvizu. “As part of the State Library’s Early Learning with Families 2.0 initiative, these allocations are intended to help libraries strengthen their services for young children from 0 to 5 years and their families and caregivers.”

The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library is the city’s public library located at 318 South Ramona Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Library hours are: Sunday 1-5 p.m.; Monday & Tuesday 12-9 p.m.; Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; and closed on Saturday.