Early Literacy

Play is the work of children and one of the early learning activities embedded in our library programs and activities. In addition to talking, singing, listening, and reading, play helps build the skills necessary for school readiness.

• These activities happen continually at our Family Play Space where your children will find puppets, blocks, tunnels, and places that open their imaginations. Here they will develop language and listening skills and curiosity for the world. The Family Play Space was funded by a grant from the Michael J. and Aimee K. Rusinko Kakos Foundation through The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

• Play K at the library allows children 3-5 years and their grownups to “play Kindergarten” using materials from six different themes. It features PA Kindergarten Readiness skills and activities. This program is made possible through a grant from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries as part of its Cruise Into Kindergarten initiative.
• A Block Party is an hour of fun playing with wooden blocks, but block building is no idle pastime. Research shows that block play helps children develop social-emotional, social studies, math and physical growth skills, among others. Primarily for two to six-year olds, children are only limited by their imaginations! We will be hosting two Block Parties each month. This program is made possible through a grant from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

• Our AWE Early Learning Center is a digital learning tool for ages 2 to 12 and their grownups! The GHAL has two kinds of stations, aka AWE Computers. Three AWE Computers are for ages 2 to 8 and one AWE Computer is for ages 8 to 12. The learning that happens continually at this center is both infectious and AWEsome! The station is open all library hours.