New ‘Purposeful Play’ Area Coming to Woodbury Library

At the R.H. Stafford Branch Library this fall, the Minnesota Children’s Museum will install a new “Smart Play Spot.”

The area, which will join several others at metro libraries, looks to help youngsters learn as they “engage in purposeful play” at several stations, said Dawn LaBrosse, youth services coordinator for Washington County Library.

In Woodbury, the Smart Play Spot will have a nature theme and feature:

• a hideaway tree trunk with a garden and hidden animals;
• a play boat with magnetic rods for pretend fishing;
• a Washington County Park building featuring city and county parks and trails;
• a picnic table and grill with prop food and utensils;
• a farmers market with plastic produce; and
• books and written prompts to encourage “playful literacy learning” and child-caregiver interaction.

The area is expected to be installed this September, LaBrosse said. It will go in near the circular windows by the children’s section at the Woodbury library.

LaBrosse said she has taken her children to Smart Play Spots in other counties.

“They’re great. They are amazing,” she said. “It’s basically a mini children’s museum in the library.”

Smart Play Spots provide children an “interactive opportunity to practice the five basic building blocks of literacy: singing, talking, reading, writing and playing,” according to a release from Washington County.

Kids learn best while playing, LaBrosse said, and library officials are excited about the new Smart Play Spot.

“It should be a great addition,” she said.

Funding

The Washington County Board on Tuesday, July 2, approved using $19,000 in library funds toward the project and to accept a grant for $1,000 from the Minnesota Library Foundation.

The Minnesota Children’s Museum will pay up to $25,000 of the cost, and the Washington County Library system must match that with up to $20,000.

The Minnesota Children’s Museum received funding from the state’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Fund for 50 percent of the costs for the design, construction and installation of Smart Play Spots in 12 libraries across the state. Libraries provide the remaining $20,000 in matching funds.

There is a Smart Play Spot at the library in Maplewood. There are 10 others across the state that had been installed as of May 31.