AUBURN – The Auburn Public Library will become a Family Place Library in February.

In 1996, Libraries for the Future began working to create and showcase libraries as family centers. The center offer well-defined and coordinated programs of services to support children from birth through age 3 by helping parents raise healthy and inquisitive children, destined to be life-long readers and learners.

Dubbed Family Place Libraries, they have been established in 175 libraries in 23 states, including Maine. Waterville, Topsham, North Berwick, Norway, Hallowell and Wilton Public Libraries are designated Family Place Libraries.

With the help of grant funding, APL has committed time, space and resources to healthy child development, by providing babies and toddlers with collections of books, toys and other materials; giving parents access to parenting resources; creating cozy space for young children and parents to share; programs; and offering parenting and child development workshops.

Deb Cleveland of the Auburn Public Library said Family Place is “as much an attitude as it is a place. It’s an attitude that has permeated through the entire staff and is reflected across the board in the services we offer.”

Partnerships with local agencies, organizations and professionals form the cornerstone of all Family Place Libraries.

APL’s growing list of local Family Place partnerships includes Pathways, Advocates for Children, Community Concepts, Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin and the YMCA.

The partnerships make it possible to organize parent/child programs that link child development experts (such as speech therapists, nutritionists and occupational therapists) with parents and their children.

Family Place partners generally donate their time and expertise, while librarians act as facilitators by organizing and promoting the workshops. At the workshops, experts mingle with parents and casually observe children, while they make themselves available to answer questions.

For more information about the Auburn Public Library’s Family Place, call 333-6640, or visit www.auburnpubliclibrary.org.