Allison Peck, the library’s public relations manager, said the club is still in the beginning stages, but needs as many Legos as possible.
“We’re hoping to get things up-and-running by the fall,” Peck said. “We’ve had several donations, but we’re hoping to get plenty more.”
The Champaign County Library began its Lego Club last week and had more than 40 children in attendance. Director Ty Henderson said the club, which meets once a month, will have a theme each meeting.
“We are always looking for ways to bring kids in and have fun,” Henderson said. “Visiting the library should always be a fun experience for kids. I think what people are finding is that libraries aren’t just about books anymore.”
Clark County Children’s Librarian Jennifer Reis said research shows working with Legos helps develop reasoning and creativity skills, which children also use for literacy. Research also shows a circulation increase in children’s nonfiction on those days, which Reis said tends to be more popular with boys than girls.
“It’s a place where children can get together and do something creative and have something positive to do with their peers,” Reis said. “It helps the community in that way.”
Lego donations can be dropped off at any library location or at the Lenski Room in the main branch.
Reis is still outlining the club, and hopes to have it after school. She also is hoping to display some of the children’s creations in cases around the library.
They’re also hoping to provide all of the Legos so it’s no cost to families, which makes the donations even more important.
“(Legos) are really expensive,” Reis said. “It will be an opportunity for maybe some kids who wouldn’t be able to play with them to play with them here.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0366 or michael.cooper@coxinc.com.
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