In the United States, the amount of time available for children for free play is on the decline, especially for children living in poverty. Unsurprisingly, and in line with ALSC's 2019 National Research Agenda, libraries have been investing in programs and spaces for children's play. Youth Service librarians recognize the importance of play for promoting children's language and literacy skills, brain development, creativity, resiliency, and physical health. However, advocating for and assessing play services can be a challenge. Further, there is little time to reflect on play offerings or to collaborate with others in the community who also provide play services. This workshop addresses some of these ideas by sharing a toolkit called 'Mapping Children's Play in Museums and Libraries.' The toolkit includes:
- observational tools for children's play
- a Diversity Audit Tool for play-based programs and spaces with a specific focus on fostering inclusion and belonging
- professional development materials designed to engage practitioners in collaboratively reflecting on their play spaces and offerings.
The toolkit supports professionals in articulating their own conceptualizations of play, observing play-based programs, assessing the design and use of play materials and spaces, and reflecting the extent to which the engagement in their play programs align with their intentions. Based on a three-year IMLS research project, the program will be presented by project investigators Dr. Peter Wardrip and Dr. Rebekah Willet; project assistant, Dr. Jacquie Kociubuk; and Lynn Montague, youth services librarian at Sun Prairie Public Library in Wisconsin.
