Milton Child Care Center opens Lending Library

[Special to the Press Gazette]

MILTON — Over the past few years, lending libraries have become popular in many local communities.  The Milton Child Care Center opened its Lending Library in early November.

Lee Fahr built the reading library. He used recycled materials laying around his home.  He was delighted to build the library for the children of the Milton Center.  Mr. Lee is a retired Army Veteran. He served in the Vietnam War in the 101st Airborne Division, 1st Calvary.  Mr. Lee enjoys working with his hands, and creating unique structures from recycled materials.

Lead teacher, Joannie Broussard, had the idea to place a lending library at the child care center.  

"I wanted the children in the neighborhood to experience the love of books," Broussard said. "Children develop vital language skills from books and these skills create great problem-solvers. Books are a gateway to children’s learning, filling their minds with continuous paths to knowledge."

Once the word gets out about the library, the Center anticipates children visiting regularly. Children may keep the books they retrieve from the library. They may donate books too. It’s a win-win deal for the children.  Recently, a new letter carrier dropped off mail in the library.

The books for the library are donations from Capstone friends and families of the Center. Broussard also spoke with the Director of Outreach, Caroline Klags of My Father’s Arrow Thrift Store in Milton. The organization will donate books on a regular basis. 

Anyone who wishes to donate new or gently used books to the Lending Library may do so. Bring them to the Milton Child Care Center and provide a name and address so Capstone may offer thanks for the donation.

Broussard also added a decorative lawn ornament, flag, and lovely plants to give the reading library an inviting place to stop.

Milton Child Care Center is located on the Milton High School campus and is a program of Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers. The Center supports families by providing high quality early education and early intervention services for children ages six weeks to five years. Children are assigned to classrooms based on age, developmental readiness and availability of space. They also receive nutritious meals and snacks daily.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton Child Care Center opens Lending Library