The Hicksville Public Library debut its newly renovated Children’s Room last weekend, which includes lower shelves for more kid-friendly browsing and a new room for older kids.
Renovations took three days and were funded by $30,000 in bullet aid obtained by State Sen. Jack Martins. The library lowered the bookshelves, so children can now reach the highest shelves on their own. A wall was also knocked down to transform a portion of the adult nonfiction section into an additional room for children’s books. The new room also has a TV and Wii game console. Library Director Elizabeth Goldfrank says the goal with the renovations was to create a unified space for kids of all ages.
“Children need a place to come together,” said Goldfrank. “Now when mom brings in a little child and older child, they both have a place to go.”
Children’s DVDs were also brought upstairs to make the whole room a one-stop shop for kids, much to the delight of seven year old, Dylan.
“I like that the DVDS are all up here now so I don’t have to go downstairs,” he said.
His mom Maura said she’s thankful for the library and its resources.
“It’s such a great place. Children are the future so it’s important to give them the foundation for reading and the love of books now, otherwise they’ll never have it,” she said.
Those who came to the children’s room during the grand opening enjoyed giveaways like Frisbees, refreshments and taking their picture at a photo booth. Clowns also performed magic tricks and made balloon animals. The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary was at the event to donate 400 dictionaries to children in third through fifth grade.
“A lot of times, it’s the first book these third graders have ever received. Not everyone can afford an iPad or digital book, and having a physical copy shows the importance of having a book that’s yours, that you can write your name in,” said Cheryl Rambler- Goveia, assistant governor for Rotary International District 7255.
Sen. Jack Martins also picked the winning ballot for the “Name Your Bear” contest, and the giant stuffed bear that will be in the children’s library will be called “Gumball,” thanks to a suggestion by a young library patron.
