Keene Public Library has joined the Family Place Libraries™' national network, providing a welcoming community environment with resources to help families nurture their children's development and early learning during the critical first years of life. A Family Place Library works to help ensure all children enter school ready and able to learn.

• A specially designed space in the children's area for families with young children to relax, play, share books and meet other families.
• Parent-Child Workshops- a five-week series of fun, play-based activities for toddlers and their parents and caregivers. Rich with toys, books, and art activities, the Workshops allow families to spend time together, make friends and talk one-on-one with specialists on various aspects of child development and early literacy. Visit our online event calendar to see our current schedule of workshops.  
• Collections of books, toys, music, and multimedia materials for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, parents, and caregivers.
• Librarians are specially trained in child development and family support.

As a Family Place Library, the Keene Public Library will partner with local family-serving agencies and professionals to help parents of young children build foundations for early learning. Research has proven that the ways adults respond to and interact with children from birth to five years have dramatic effects on the brain, stimulating a child's social, emotional, and intellectual development. Parents and caregivers are their children's first teachers, and the Library is here to help them in that role. 

The Family Place Libraries™ model is now in over 500 libraries in 31 states serving thousands of young children and their parents/caregivers. Keene Public Library is proud to be among them. This expanded public library role is made possible in our Library with support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Friends of the Keene Public Library. A nationwide network of children's librarians who embrace that literacy begins at birth, and libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families. 

A proven change agent, Family Place Libraries transforms libraries into community centers for early literacy & learning, parent education and engagement, family support, and community connectivity, helping to ensure all children enter school ready and able to learn.

Family Place Libraries create fun and welcoming environments where children and their caregivers can play, learn, and grow together. These specially designed spaces feature interactive Materials for very young children and parents, including board and picture books, age-appropriate toys, puzzles, dramatic play items, blocks, and drawing stations, providing a rich space for little ones to explore.

Our librarians connect parents to needed community resources and enhance library services and programs through partnerships with health, education, and Human Service agencies that serve families and young children.

For more information and to join special events and programs, please call the Youth Department at 603-757-1856.