Dickinson, TX - March 1, 2023 - On February 13th, 2023, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) sent an official award letter to the Dickinson Public Library that they would be in the 8th Cohort of recipients of the Family Place Libraries Grant for FY 2023.
Family Place Libraries promotes a national model for transforming public libraries into welcoming, developmentally appropriate early learning environments for young children, their parents, and caregivers. Brianna Long, the Library's Children’s Department Manager, approached Family Place Libraries because the training and grant funding they provided aligned with the strategic focus of the Children’s Department at DPL.
"This grant will provide a fantastic opportunity for the library to engage the young families of Dickinson and provide them with the tools for early literacy and development for the children," said Long.
As public libraries across the nation transition into community hubs for the cities they serve, it is these types of learning environments that are key to making sure that children enter the school system ready and able to learn.
To be eligible for this grant, TSLAC funded tuition for staff to participate in the Family Place Libraries Training Institute, where they will be taught the core elements of the Family Place Libraries model and assist them with the initial steps to take towards transitioning DPL. The library is then eligible for up to three years of support following the training through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Dickinson Public Library will receive $6000 from the State funds to assist with further development of the Family Place Libraries program here in Dickinson.
"Our vision for the Dickinson Public Library has always been to make it an inclusive community center for all," said Julianne Lane, Library Director. "That is evidenced through our programming, the hearts of our staff, and now thanks to this grant, we can begin to give the library the makeover it needs to really pull all of the pieces together."
The library intends to use the $6000 grant to purchase manipulative toys, kitchenettes, dress-up clothing, and more to create a classroom feel similar to most preschools. They will also be purchasing materials to help train parents and caregivers on how to best help their children prepare to enter the school system.
To learn more about all that the Dickinson Public Library offers, you can visit their website at www.dickinsonpubliclibrary.org or visit them at 4411 Hwy 3, Dickinson, TX 77539.