MinneMama Adventures welcomes back Kelly Sullivan Noah as a returning guest poster. In her fun series, “Go and Stop: The Library Series,” she breaks down the numerous kid-friendly libraries our city has to offer. I hope you continue to enjoy her insight!
We’re featuring two libraries today: A Place to Go (a destination-worthy library) and A Place to Stop (a smaller library to know if you’re in the area).
A Place to Go
RAMSEY COUNTY LIBRARY: ROSEVILLE
VISIT WEBSITE
What is it?
The Roseville Library – the largest in the Ramsey system – is another great destination library. Rebuilt in 2010, it’s clean, beautiful, and user-friendly. Open white space with bright accent colors sets the tone for learning and interaction, and it’s easy to pass several hours here. We also meet lots of really nice families here.
The children’s area is huge. The left side is geared toward the older kids, with taller shelves, lots of comfortable seating, a study room, an oversized Lite Brite on the wall, and two Wii stations that are available in the afternoons for cardholders. The other side has low shelves and two play areas (one’s called a reading room, but has beautiful open space with bins of puzzles and activities) for infants through preschoolers. There are activities for small hands at every turn, from toys built into the walls to scattered treasures.
The best part? You can step outside to a fenced-in children’s reading garden when the season permits. I can’t describe how they’ve made it awesomely natural without feeling contrived. Little paths and natural structures invite a kind of outdoor play that just can’t happen on a climbing structure or in an open field. Make sure to visit at least once on a nice summer day.
Fit for what ages?
All of them. Seriously. Teens have a separate area on the other side of the building, but infants through preteens can easily spend an hour or two exploring their own interests in the children’s section.
How much are we talkin?
Already paid for by your tax dollars and donations, plus whatever tempts you at the attached Dunn Bros.
Want some tips?
Two individual bathrooms (one adult-sized, one kid-sized) are located in the children’s area, plus there is a comfort room for nursing moms with a recliner and toys for the toddler (we love you, building planner!). The children’s section is completely separated from the adult section and it’s huge. There are two areas for smaller kids, plus plenty of separate space for older kids. The teen area is on the opposite side of the building.
Our favorite time to visit this library is on a sunny summer morning before it gets too hot to play in the garden.
The library is featuring a free toddler obstacle course (tunnels and such) on Wednesdays in May 2015 from 10:30-11:30am for ages six months through five years. It will be held in the community program room or out in the reading garden, depending on weather. It’s posted in the library but not on their website, so feel to call to confirm before heading over.
A Place to Stop
HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: ROCKFORD ROAD (CRYSTAL) BRANCH
VISIT WEBSITE
What is it?
“Can we go to the Jack and the Beanstalk library?” I hear that request often. If I have an errand to run in the Crystal/New Hope area, a stop at this neighborhood library is the only bribe needed for enthusiastic cooperation.
To a child, the sculpture of the Giant and Jack coming from the ceiling is the defining feature of this library, though in practice it only garners a moment of welcome on the way to read and play. Speaking of reading, my kids spend more time reading here than at most other libraries…not sure why.
The children’s section is pretty standard for a library of its size, with a rotating selection of toys and activities to support the system’s five early learning elements of talk, sing, read, write, and play.
Fit for what ages?
Gears toward the preschool crowd, but there’s something for siblings of all ages.
How much are we talkin’?
Already paid for by your tax dollars and donations. The Hennepin County Library system also welcomes volunteers ages 12 and up.
Want some tips?
There are two unisex bathrooms (with urinals to tempt curious little hands) in the main lobby. In proportion with the size of the library, their children’s area is quite grandiose and wonderful. I only wish I knew how to play with firefighters’ turnout gear, megaphone, and engine…quietly enough for a library!
Thank you to our guest poster, Kelly!
Kelly Sullivan Noah lives in Maple Grove with her husband Sam and their two sons Adam (4) and Thomas (2). They have full-time jobs as a financial advisor and credit manager and are jumping into the world of homeschooling.
She is a frequent visitor of Twin Cities libraries and nature centers, finding them to be an inexpensive way to explore different neighborhoods and play with toys they don’t have at home!
