9600 Dyer St. Suite C.
El Paso, TX 79924
United States
31.8866656, -106.415643
The Family Place play area at the Richard Burges Public Library has become one of the most beloved and most gravitational spots throughout our branch. Many of our families have expressed how resourceful it is to come to the library and have this welcomed-shared space for children to learn and play alongside other children in a safe environment. Additionally, many military families who have recently moved to Ft. Bliss, located in El Paso, TX have also expressed how the play area has provided them the opportunity to meet other military families or create new friendships in a new city. Our staff have also observed how the Family Place play has played a vital role in our community as we witness children strengthening their love of reading and learning with their parents or caregivers.
For the Family Place Workshops, the Richard Burges Library facilitated two sessions: one, 5 week course in the spring, and another 5 week course in the fall. Our number of registrations of ranged from 18-21 registered children alongside their families or caregivers. Some of our registered families, are families who attended our Baby or Preschool Storytimes and they were significantly impressed how our multi-purpose room transformed into a completely different scene filled with toys and activities.
One of the highlights of our workshops is the continued involvement of our valued community experts, who have generously partnered with the Richard Burges Library for nearly three years, beginning when we became a Family Place Library in 2023. These professionals are thoughtful in their approach to meeting and introducing themselves to families and have demonstrated a strong ability to engage parents while remaining mindful of the importance of parent–child interaction. Feedback collected through participant surveys consistently indicates that families view the community experts as an important resource, particularly for addressing questions and concerns related to developmental milestones their children may be experiencing.