There are so many ways to expand your community and yourself in the world. We always say that supporting your library is supporting your community. So, how can you use the library to create a stronger community for yourself and your family?
You think of the library as a place to find books, and maybe to help your kids learn how to read. And that’s there! But the library provides important ways for you and your family to be more social – to make those connections that are so important.
Help your kids be more social
It starts when you’re young – kids need to learn how to interact with each other. Children learn socialization skills at some level at most of the library’s classes and events. Not to mention meeting other people! It’s a great way for both you and your children to make acquaintances and eventually friends.
It starts as young as you want – the Mission Library hosts Baby Toddler playdates every Wednesday afternoon. They also have storytimes with a stay and play part at the end on Monday mornings at Mission and Friday mornings at Northside.
But like we said, almost all the youth services events and classes help with socialization, even if it’s just learning how to be around other kids. Your child can come to a STEAM lab at any library branch, get homework help from older students at Central, and more. There are loads of ways for your child to meet other people at the library.
Meet people yourself
You can meet people yourself at almost any library class or event for adults, like Art After Dark at Northside. Of, if English isn’t your first language, you can find ESL conversation clubs at both Mission and Northside Libraries.
Of course, volunteering is a great way to meet people and help your community at the same time. We always need people to help with our bookselling operation; the library needs volunteers too.
See the world
Finally, travel remains a great way to get out into the world. Also, this is peak travel-planning time. Come find books about where you want to go at the library, in our Friends of the Library Bookstore at Central Park Library, or in our online store.
So please, use the library and the Foundation and Friends to be more social and see the world!