Story Time led by Executive Director Susan Baier with students from Alyssum Montessori School
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) -The Allen County Public Library invited guests to tour the new StoryScape at a grand opening on Friday, September 23. StoryScape is the newly reimagined early child learning center located at the Main Library in the Children’s Services department. The space uses hands-on learning tools and library materials to encourage young children to read, sing, write, talk, and play.
The space replaces the much-loved Early Child Center which welcomed children for more than 13 years. StoryScape builds upon that prior success by introducing a flexible space of more than 2600 square feet primarily focused on ages 7 and younger.
StoryScape features a Baby Garden for infants and toddlers to practice gross motor skills and three learning stations for early learners to practice imaginative play, hands-on learning, and themed exploration with parents, caregivers and big siblings. The spaces will regularly refresh to engage children with interesting new play opportunities.
Representatives with the library released the following:
“This is a place where children get to be the authors of their own stories and caregivers get to join them in that journey,” said Youth Services Manager Marra Honeywell. “The look of achievement and wonder when a new crawler crosses the Baby Garden bridge or the accomplishment that comes with finding prehistoric treasures in Dino Dig is quite the cause for celebration.”
StoryScape also connects this play experience to the world of books and reading. The space hosts the popular StoryTime sessions each week and the Librarians have taken great care to place books at kid-level. The goal is to connect playtime to books and learning.
Alyssum Montessori student in StoryScape’s “Dino Dig”
The space was funded primarily through a $250,000 gift from the Allen County Public Library Foundation, as well as, Library reserve funds. It was envisioned following the closure of the Early Child Center with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and has been under construction for the past year. It opened in June 2022.
“At the Allen County Public Library Foundation, we were proud to support this engaging space that celebrates books and learning,” said ACPL Foundation Board Chair Rich Beckman. “StoryScape gives the Library the opportunity to change and grow as our community changes and grows. This is how we as a community support them in encouraging lifelong learning and discovery.”
StoryScape is open Sundays noon to 5 p.m., Mondays 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
For more information about StoryScape and other youth activities at the Allen County Public Library, call (260) 421-1200 or click here.
