Here at the Patchogue-Medford Library, our current newsletter has a running theme of “empowerment.” Most people do not automatically think of children when they hear that word but childhood is a great place to start planting those tools into a child’s mind.

How can the Library encourage child empowerment? The ultimate keyword is: education. Through educating and nurturing the minds of our young patrons, we are empowering them for the future. The Library has a wide variety of programs for children that enable their development, from our earliest play programs for babies and toddlers to our STEM/STEAM programs for school-aged children, from our Student Success Series for homework help to our sensory friendly programs.

All children are welcomed into the Patchogue-Medford Library and children at all stages of development are encouraged to find their place here. The Library can be the open door that is needed for a child to feel safe, welcomed, nurtured, and comfortable exploring the possibilities. When we create a welcoming atmosphere for all ages and developmental levels, children will then feel empowered to be their best. They feel that they have a sense of control over how they learn, what they enjoy, and even what might not work for them, which is just as important to create a sense of empowerment. Education is the root of empowerment, and here at the Library, we foster that growth. We are hoping to create lifelong library users from a very young age, children who feel that their library is working for THEM to ensure that their learning experiences are shaped with fun, entertaining, enjoyable programs and resources.

I encourage all of you to check out our latest newsletter for our current children’s program offerings. Please come visit our children’s department with your families; we have board games, Tech Tubs filled with awesome STEM items for in-library use, and many new, age-appropriate toys in our early childhood area! We are always trying to think of new ways to reach our young patrons so that they continue to feel a sense of presence, learning, and empowerment here at the Patchogue-Medford Library.