In December 2024, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML) was designated a member of the Family Place Libraries (FPL) initiative. This initiative promotes a national model for transforming public libraries into welcoming, developmentally appropriate early learning environments for young children, their parents and caregivers.
AHML become the second library in Illinois to receive this certification, a process that the library's Youth Services staff began working towards in October 2018, when they attended the FPL Training Institute. The library then began hosting its regular Play, Learn and Grow Family Workshops as part of the FPL initiative. To complete its certification as an official Family Place Library, AHML has now met all aspects of the initiative's seven core components:
- Develop age-appropriate programming that supports the importance of play and healthy parent/child relationships in early childhood development and learning.
- Engage in community outreach.
- Create special collections that consist of books, toys, early literacy kits, music and multimedia materials for babies, toddlers, parents, caregivers and service providers.
- Foster a welcome, developmentally appropriate space for children and caregivers to play, learn and grow together.
- Work towards collaborations and partnerships with health, education and Human Service agencies that serve families and young children.
- Employ librarians specifically trained in child development and family support.
- Develop a five-week workshop for parents and children.
Congratulations to the library's Youth Services staff for achieving this certification. To learn more about the library's resources, services and programs for youth, visit ahml.info > Youth.