Lending Libraries are back in action!

Angela and her daughter Nakiya decide which item to check out of the Lending Library at Oakland Family Services’ Walled Lake Children’s Learning Center.

After a pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oakland Family Services’ Lending Libraries have reopened!

The Lending Libraries, run by the agency’s Early Learning Communities, offer a variety of items geared toward children ages 0-5 that any community member can borrow free of cost. The libraries are an excellent free resource for parents, caregivers, teachers and child care providers looking for educational toys, books, games and more to support children’s development at home and in the classroom.

The Lending Library at Oakland Family Services’ Children’s Learning Center in Pontiac.

Inspired by HighScope, the curriculum used in Oakland Family Services’ Children’s Learning Centers, the Lending Libraries offer resources focused on:

• S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) learning

• special needs support

• literacy and number skill-building

• physical activity

• family engagement and more.

Teachers and child care providers can use the Lending Libraries to introduce new materials into their classrooms and access professional development tools, including HighScope resource books and DVDs.

“We also have a variety of materials in our Lending Libraries that cater to an array of special needs, including flexible seating, attention span, sensory needs, motor development and much more, that teachers and child care providers can use in their classrooms to best support the children in their care,” said Holly Rydquist, Early Learning Communities navigator.

How to Check Out an Item:

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Early Learning Communities team has worked hard to find ways to sanitize all library items and allow them to safely circulate to providers and families in the community. To request an item, fill out the form at this link.

For the time being, the Lending Libraries are not open for in-person browsing, but the Early Learning Communities staff can help you narrow down your selection(s) and schedule a pick-up at one of Oakland Family Services’ locations:

• 114 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac, MI 48341

• 1885 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, MI 48390

• 2351 W. Twelve Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072

When you are done using the item(s), please reach out to Holly Rydquist at (248) 858-7766 ext. 1302 or hrydquist@ofsfamily.org to schedule a drop-off.

Early Learning Communities and its Lending Libraries are provided at Oakland Family Services through funding from United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

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