We're a Family Place Library!

The Dorris Van Doren Library has been selected as a Family Place Library through a grant from Family Place Library, A Model for Institutional Change.
We join the nationally acclaimed initiative for young children, families and caregivers.

Family Place Libraries provide a center for early childhood information, parent education, emergent literacy and socialization and family support. The Family Place Library builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parental involvement and supportive communities play a critical role in young children’s growth and development.

During the last two decades, research has conclusively proven that the ways in which adults respond to and interact with children between birth and 5 years have dramatic effects on the brain, impacting a child’s social, emotional and intellectual development. Researchers have also confirmed that learning is an interactive process and depends on the interwoven development of multiple abilities and skills. Resources like Family Place help foster the healthy development of these relationships.

We are currently hosting a five week parent/child workshop program that involves children ages 1-3 and their parents/caregivers. The program is facilitated by professionals from our community. The program is full, but we'll let you know when you can register for the next round of workshops.

This is the playtime setup during the workshops.

In the meantime, visit our Family Place area! The middle area of our library has been converted into a Family Place area where you and your child can read, play and learn in a safe and fun environment. The area is open during our hours of operation to children ages 5 and under and their parent or adult caregivers. This space features board books, toys, puzzles, blocks and more for little ones to explore. As your child's first and most important teacher, these activities will help you build your child's early literacy skills.

The Family Place area in the middle of the library.

The view from the fish tank. Look who we caught reading!

Summer Events June 17-22, 2013

Register for the summer reading club and keep track of your reading at elpasolibrarysr.evanced.info. Children, teens and adults can register with their library card number. Adults that register online will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad or a Kindle.

Here are the events for the week of June 17th:

Tuesday, June 18 from 4:30-6:30 pm
Tune in Tuesdays is part of the Teen Summer Reading Club. Listen to a half hour audiobook teaser while enjoying snacks. Play board and video games afterwards. This week's featured audiobook is Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross.

Wednesday, June 19 @ 4 pm
Our summer reading club children's programs are on Wednesdays at 4 pm. This week, the West Texas Regional Poison Center will teach us about the venomous critters of El Paso. All ages are welcome.

Thursday, June 20 @ 4:30 pm
Thursday Things is part of the teen summer reading club. Make a craft, play board or video games and enjoy snacks. This week we're making hexagon explosion boxes. Feel free to bring photos or other items you would like to decorate the box with.




Saturday, June 22 @ 2 pm
Don't forget to sign up before Friday for the Cook the Book Club potluck! Choose a recipe to make from this month's selection,The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, make it and bring it to Saturday's potluck.

Saturday, June 22 @ 3 pm
We'll be showing movies that were adapted from books as part of our adult summer reading club. All ages are welcome (movies are rated PG or PG-13). This week's movie is based on the novel One Shot by Lee Child.

Get a Clue @ Your Library!

We can't believe that we're already halfway through our Summer Reading Club, but don't worry there's still time for children and teens to register! The last day to register is July 7, 2012 and the last day to turn in reading logs is July 14, 2012. After registering, participants must read (or be read to) a minimum of 8 books or for 8 hours.

There are also still plenty of fun programs left to attend!

For children of all ages on Saturdays @ 1:00 pm:
June 30 Desert Weeds Printmaking by Oscar Moya
July 7 Special storytime and meet & greet with Chet Gecko
July 14 EP Police Department K9 Unit Presentation
Closing parties with Randy Collins (magician):

• Wednesday, July 18 @ 5:00 pm: Awarding of certificates for last names A-M (begins at 4:30 pm & continues after the program).
• Saturday, July 21 @ 1:00 pm: Awarding of certificates for last names N-Z (begins at 12:30 pm & continues after the program).

For teens on Tuesdays (crafts) and Thursdays (video games) @ 4:30 pm:
July 3 Make Paper Lanterns
July 10 Make & Eat Onigiri (Japanese rice balls)
July 17 Make Shredded Paper Bowls
Thursday, July 26 @ 4:30 pm: Mad Hatter Tea Party (crafts & awards)

Don't forget to turn in your reading logs to help us reach our goal of 7,000 books read!

Summer Reading Kickoff!

It isn't officially summer yet and for most, school hasn't let out, but the library is ready for its annual summer reading club program! Beginning this Saturday, children and teens can register for the summer reading program up until July 7. Infants on up to teenagers will be required to read (or be read to) a minimum of either 8 books or for 8 hours in order to get prizes, a certificate, and goodie bag. For more information, visit the library's website at elpasolibrary.org. You can also download the children's events brochure here. Don't forget, all events are free!

Saturday, June 2 @ 1 pm: Kickoff: Asombro Animal Adaptations Presentation
The children's summer reading kickoff event will feature a special science presentation from the Asombro Institute (formerly the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park). Learn about the interesting animals around us and the differences between physical and behavorial adaptations in animals.

Saturday, June 2 from 6-10 pm: TeenFest 2012
The teen's summer reading kickoff event will feature an after hours indoor/outdoor festival of art, games, crafts, info booths, and music. Local band Skunk will perform at 8 pm.