Rock Springs Library Creating a Children’s Discovery Center

Sep 24, 2019

Rock Springs Library’s youngest patrons will soon be able to explore a planned Children’s Discovery Center. (Photo from Wyoming Snapshot Day 2018.)

The Rock Springs Library on C Street, part of the Sweetwater County Library System, is embarking on an exciting transformation that will provide new fun and educational experiences its youngest patrons.

The library has joined forces with the City of Rock Springs, private businesses, and volunteers to launch a Children’s Discovery Center in the lower of level of the building. The Discovery Center will include exhibits with hands-on exploration and an environment rich in materials that inspire imagination. Younger children will be able to play in stores and offices in a miniature town. Older children will be fully immersed in science, technology, and building activities. Libraries across the nation are rethinking library space looking to provide new and different learning opportunities for children. They are now and will continue to be more than just a place for books; they’re a place to learn, to play, and to grow.

“The library system has been trying to come up with something for a while,” said Library Director Jason Grubb. “The recently remodeled Louse Wesswick Learn and Play Room at the Rock Springs Library was a small attempt. This room is regularly open for free play. When longtime resident Jana Pastor approached us about setting up a children’s museum at the library we knew there was an opportunity — and it’s a great opportunity — not to lose a library or replace a library, but to follow a national trend and offer additional services. The Children’s Discovery Center is the perfect concept. It weds traditional library services with new and interesting ways of learning. We’re very excited.”

In addition to the generous donations made by local businesses, the library also received grants from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation and the Wyoming Community Foundation that will be used to purchase a modular exhibit framework and wind exhibit.

The addition of the Children’s Discovery Center will take some time to complete, but the library staff is currently working to rearrange the space, so patrons will see immediate movement. The hope is to open the Discovery Center in the summer of 2020. For updates of the progress of this project, follow the Sweetwater County Library System on Facebook.

If you have a question about this or any other article, please contact us at statelibrary@wyo.gov

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