Early learning providers can find a variety of materials to borrow from Trying Together’s ECE Lending Library that support and recognize learning abilities, promote cultural diversity, and cover everything from health to safety.
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The library, which is located at Trying Together’s offices at 5604 Solway Street, was created to be a community space for child care providers in Allegheny County to borrow learning materials as well as teacher and curriculum resources.
“The benefit for teachers is that they are able to rotate materials in their programs without having to worry about storage or extra added costs,” said Allison Robinson, a leadership development strategist for ELRC Region 5. “It gives them the opportunity to try new things – a new material they might like to try before purchasing it.”
Teachers can borrow materials for 30 days on the first Saturday of the month or on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
“We want teachers to see it as a beneficial place where they can come monthly to change out the learning materials for their classrooms,” Robinson said.
What the Library Offers
Robinson said the library’s most popular items are its theme boxes – such as boxes focusing on farm animals or other topics – as well as its infant-toddler boxes and book bundles.
The materials in the library can help children learn about a variety of topics, Robinson said.
“We’ve got a number of STEAM and STEM materials, so these can give them a start in science, technology, and engineering, which is important because that’s where so many of the jobs these days are focused. We have materials for math and basic reading skills and a wealth of new social-emotional materials.”
Robinson said that Trying Together is currently undergoing an equity audit for the library, and that it intends to stock additional diverse materials.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to get more representation in place,” she said.
Robinson said that the intention of the library is to help get children more interested in what they are learning.
“We talk about behavior issues in the classroom, but it’s often that children are uninterested in what’s going on in the classroom,” she said. “By coming to the lending library monthly, teachers can get them more interested. It’s not a magic wand, but it helps them to develop a love for learning.”
More Details
The library’s materials include:
- Books for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
- Infant social-emotional support kits
- Toddler dress up trunks
- Puppet sets
- STEM and coding kits
- Active play kits
- Storytelling kits
- Sensory items and kits
- Musical instruments
- Leadership resources
- Resources related to early childhood education and interactions with children
- Die cut machines
- Inspire Interactive Panels
The library is located in Room 204 of Trying Together’s office on Solway Street. It is open on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For details about how to access the library, how to check out items, and to view a full list of available items, visit the ECE Lending Library website.
