The following was submitted by the Board of Library Trustees:
What’s in Wayland’s proposed new library for our children? At long last, all of our young people will have their own spacious rooms to call “home.” Up on the second floor, the children’s and teen rooms will sit side by side, allowing parents to move easily back and forth between children of different ages.
Filled with natural light, the children’s room will have twice the space of the one at 5 Concord Road. This space will be zoned with a play area for toddlers and preschoolers and a reading and work area for school-age students, each with books, materials, and activities to support their growing curiosity and abilities. Both zones will have comfortable seating for adults as well as youngsters. Child-sized, moveable book stacks will allow kids the ability to choose their own books, staff the flexibility to reconfigure the room to meet a variety of needs, and caretakers the sight lines to keep an eye on little ones. The activity room will be a hands-on active learning space encouraging exploration and literacy skills through arts, crafts, building, play, and story time. A family bathroom, stroller bay, and coat rack make the children’s room an easy destination. Whether families come to escape inclement weather, enjoy programs planned by the dedicated librarians, or discover new books to read, they will find the children’s room a cheerful, flexible, child-centered space with a robust roster of creative activities.
The library’s new location, next to the middle school and close to the high school, will quickly make it an after-school destination for teens and tweens—and in the new building, they will finally have a space of their own. In Wayland’s first-ever teen room, young people can read, study, or meet friends after school, on weekends, and during vacations. Programming will be tailored to this age group, and responsive to their changing interests and needs; they might play board games, join a book group, start a film club, stage a poetry slam, or create and build in the “maker” space. This room will provide rich, deep resources for our teens—space and assistance for their academic work, and collections that feed their minds. Young people will have input into the design and configuration of the space, which will include comfortable seating for reading, work tables for collaborative or group study, up-to-date computers and technology, and a flexible space for “maker” activities. Comfortable seating on the landing will offer additional space for socializing and collaboration. As 24/7 learners in this digital age, teens need a safe place of their own to gather, engage, and collaborate, where stimulating activities challenge and intrigue them as they begin to step into the adult world.
It is time for Wayland to build a library that complements the education our children receive in our stellar schools. This 21st-century building will offer our children the space, resources, and activities they need to feed their curiosity. Knowledgeable staff will be available to guide children and students and serve as resources for their caregivers. 5 Concord Road remains a beautiful, iconic building with many possibilities for the town, but the 19th-century facility cannot meet 21st-century library needs. It is time to take advantage of state grant funds and invest in a contemporary library that serves all generations, for today and the future of our town.
