Newly renovated Children’s Room officially opened
Florham Park Public Library
On Monday, August 12, the Florham Park Public Library officially opened its newly renovated Children’s Room to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The renovation project includes new carpeting, new shelving and furniture, the incorporation of cozy reading nooks, and the addition of custom storage and play areas to the room. The project was completed with the Soyka Smith Design Studio.
The atmosphere was festive, with Library staff, Trustees, Borough of Florham Park employees, Friends of the Library, Library volunteers, and the Soyka Smith design team mingling with attendees of the morning’s weekly storytime program.
The renovation project comes after nearly two years of planning that included community surveys and feedback and an extensive study of the collections and user behavior in the youth services area of the library. “Over and over again, we heard from community members that they wanted a space that is more interactive, playful, and comfortable for children and their families,” said Library Director Nancy Shah of the project. The library has observed a surge in interest and usage of the spaces, collections, and events aimed at young families with children in recent years, which is in line with a nation-wide trend in young people turning to public libraries for recreation and entertainment. “The last two years were our busiest years on record, and young people are driving that uptick in usage,” remarked Shah. According to Shah, the Children’s Room accounts for 20% of the Library’s space, and the collections housed there account for 45% of overall circulation.
The renovated space will optimize the presentation of library materials and make it easier for users to find what they are looking for. The room will be organized so that the front of the space is oriented more toward infants, toddlers, and young children, while activities and collections intended for older children will be located farther back in the room. Throughout the space, a variety of seating options will cater equally to children and their caregivers to ensure people can comfortably enjoy the space and use it for extended periods of time. “People are looking for somewhere to go and hang out, and a public library is the ultimate stop because we have plenty to keep kids occupied and it’s all free!” said Shah.
Courtesy photo
