Save our libraries and foster reading in our kids...

The Brooklyn Public Library is an integral part of Chase's life, even before he arrived in this world . I borrowed pregnancy and baby books to read to Chase while he was in my tummy. When he was born I continued to borrow books out so that we can "read" them together.

I want to share with you what Chase and I did yesterday that made me write this post today! Yesterday Chase and I went to story time at Bay Ridge Library's Babies and Books. I was just expecting babies sitting on a mat and a person reading them a book. Boy, was I surprised! There were lots of singing, rhyming, playing, and storytelling. Chase was definitely interested in the other babies as well as the storyteller. I was happy to be talking to parents whose kids were in Chase's age group going through the same milestones and issues. 

What is Babies and Books?

Babies and Books is a story time event that takes place once a week and last throughout the year. Their schedule changes so check their calendar. You have to go to the library 15-20 mins early to get a ticket because the slots filled up quickly. Babies and Books is 30 mins long. During the first 20 mins there were a lot of bouncing, singing, and rhyming. Then it was story time! The storyteller actually sung the story and used a baby doll to imitate the actions in the book. That took less than five minutes.  Then came the bubbles and music. The older kids loved it. They were trying to catch them, while the younger babies were staring up in amazement. Free play came next. The library provided the babies with blocks and variety of toys. Story time ended with a good-by song. Everyone also got a free book. Since it was the last activities in the room we were allowed to mingle and let the kids continue interacting with each other. Everyone had fun!

A friend of mine who lives in Brooklyn Height said that story time and other activities at her library were cancelled for the summer because there's no money in the budget to fix their broken air-conditioner. I was shocked by this because as a stay-at-home mom I'm always looking for something FREE to do with Chase and it's such a valuable activity to foster future readers. Apparently, there will be a budget cut to all Brooklyn public libraries by the end of June if there is not enough funding. So what can we as parents do to help our libraries?

Every time I go to the Brooklyn Public Library website to renew my books I got this message:

I'm sure like most Brooklynites, I closed the tab and went on to renew my books. Not today!!! I signed the online petition and donated money to the library. It's not a lot of money, but I hope it's enough to keep Babies and Books and other wonderful services at the Brooklyn libraries going!

Please help the Brooklyn Public Library by signing the online petitition and/or donate money so that our kids have somewhere to go for free activities and a good read!

07/03/2013 update:

Happy news. The funding for our libraries have been restored. 

"We've received full restoration of the proposed budget cut to the Brooklyn, Queens and New York Public Library systems. By restoring over $106 million, the New York City Council and Mayor Bloomberg have saved hundreds of BPL staff from layoff, making sure that your library is open at least 5 days a week and guaranteeing that millions of New Yorkers continue to get books, homework help, access to technology and life-long learning opportunities in their local library. Thank you to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Finance Chair Domenic Recchia, Cultural Affairs & Libraries Committee Chair Jimmy Van Bramer and Libraries Subcommittee Chair Vincent Gentile, along with the entire City Council, for standing up for public libraries." - Brooklyn Public Library website.

Happy Reading!