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Kansas public libraries showcase e-resources and expand Children’s Cabinet-funded family play spaces
Summary
In an Aug. 13 Children’s Cabinet webinar, a Southeast Kansas Library System representative detailed statewide library e-resources, the Kansas ecard and a Children’s Cabinet CBCAP-funded "family play spaces" initiative that has driven higher family engagement and circulation in pilot libraries.
Tammy, a representative of the Southeast Kansas Library System, told attendees at an Aug. 13 Children’s Cabinet webinar that "Public libraries make good community partners" and outlined services Kansas libraries offer to support early childhood learning and family engagement.
Tammy said there are "318 public libraries in Kansas," organized into seven regions that provide training and coordination to local libraries. She described how libraries partner with Head Start and other early-childhood programs to host socializations, family play dates and community events that pair attraction-based activities with reading incentives to combat "summer slide." "Summer library programs are really designed to keep kids engaged and keep their brain practicing," Tammy said.
Tammy walked through digital resources available through the State Library of Kansas and the statewide Kansas ecard. Key resources she highlighted included Explora Kids, Britannica School, Mango Languages, Bookflix and Vooks. To access these services, patrons request a Kansas ecard at their local library; Tammy said ecards have no fines, use the patron's date of birth as the password (MMDDYYYY) and must be renewed every two years if unused for two years.
She demonstrated Bookflix's read/watch/game features and noted Vooks allows users to record read-aloud narration for playback. Tammy also explained the Cloud Library interface and state-specific collections such as Kansas notable books and the William Allen White Book Awards, hosted through Emporia State University for upper-elementary and middle-school readers.
Beyond public-facing resources, Tammy described professional interlibrary-loan collections (developed with Child Care Aware) that require an agency or teacher card. These include early-literacy kits (flannel boards, puppet kits), STEM kits (micro:bits, Makey Makeys), a special-needs collection and some pickup-only items that are not sent via courier to avoid damage.
Tammy outlined the 'family play spaces in public libraries' program, funded through the Children’s Cabinet with CBCAP grant support. Libraries apply to become place-based family play spaces, form partnerships with local early-childhood organizations, complete coursework (a micro-credential is in development) and codesign programs with families. "Family play spaces is evaluated through a partnership with KUCPPR, and it continues to grow," Tammy said; she added the program has been recommended for a fifth year of funding.
She presented pilot-site outcomes: Columbus Public Library nearly doubled play-space use from quarter 1 to quarter 3 and saw youth circulation rise; Garnett Public Library grew from almost no birth-to-5 family visits to roughly 600 families in quarter 3; and Toronto (a small lake community) reported strong turnout despite a small resident population and high local poverty. Tammy urged local agencies to contact libraries to form partnerships and suggested sharing the slide deck and brochures she provided.
Tammy closed by offering her contact information and saying the slide deck (with corrected links) will be shared with attendees.
