Check it out: Lending Libraries offer educational toys, books and more

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.

Parents, caregivers, teachers and childcare providers looking for educational toys, books, games and more to support children’s development at home and in the classroom have a valuable resource in Oakland Family Services’ Lending Libraries.

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.

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

• STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) learning

• special needs support

• literacy and number skill-building

• physical activity

• family engagement and more.

“Educational resources tend to have a higher cost, so by offering these items for free, we are able to provide more families the opportunity to support education and development at home using high-quality materials,” said Early Learning Communities Navigator Holly Rydquist. “The items we provide can support children’s learning in a variety of areas they may not otherwise be exposed to, all while having fun and engaging with their family!”

Rydquist said the Lending Libraries are also perfect for trying out a toy at home before deciding whether to spend money purchasing it.

Teachers and childcare 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 childcare providers can use in their classrooms to best support the children in their care,” Rydquist said.

How to use Oakland Family Services’ Lending Libraries

Anyone is able to access the Lending Libraries during regular business hours. Oakland Family Services has three libraries, in the following locations:

• Pontiac Children’s Learning Center, 114 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac, MI 48341.

• Walled Lake Children’s Learning Center, 1885 North Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, MI 48390.

• Oakland Family Services’ Berkley office, 2351 West Twelve Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072.

Parents whose children attend the Children’s Learning Centers have access to the Pontiac and Walled Lake libraries during drop-off and pick-up. If you don’t have a child who attends one of the centers, you can drop in during regular business hours and ask for Holly Rydquist or any other member of the Early Learning Communities team. You can also set up a time to visit by calling Rydquist at (248) 858-7766 ext. 1302.

The Berkley Lending Library is located right inside the building, so anyone has open access.

We ask that all Lending Library users check their items out using the posted sign-out sheets. After that, enjoy the items for two weeks before bringing them back and dropping them in the return bin.

Come back often, because items at the Lending Libraries are rotated out on a bimonthly basis, and there’s always something new to find.

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