The JAE Children's Library

History
Jane Allen Emil was a dedicated member of the Remedial Reading staff and served on the Board of Directors of Northside Center for Child Development. The Children's Library was dedicated in February 1975 as a living memorial to this good friend who served Northside Center's children with warmth and devotion.

The Library
This small, intimate, 4000 book library is open to all children receiving services at Northside Center for Child Development and children from the surrounding neighborhood. Children in the Therapeutic Early Childhood Center have regularly scheduled visits and borrow books from the library on a weekly basis. Northside children, parents, clinicians, teachers and staff all utilize the library.

The Books
The library contains multi-leveled books of many genres:
Classics, folktales, poetry, chapter and, I Can Read books, as well as adult titles. There is special emphasis on therapeutic titles that explore such topics as sexual abuse, AIDS, adoption self-esteem, death, and recovery. The library also has a small video collection with educational, contemporary, literature based, and parenting themes.

Special Features

• Besides fostering a love of books and learning, the library features various group activities in its afterschool programming.
• Library Drop-ins provide reading opportunities for children as well as book related craft activities. Children also play board games use the computers, and listen to recorded stories.
• The library hosts three RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) Book Fairs during the year. At these events children are given books for their personal libraries. Parents also receive books to supplement their libraries.
• Storytellers bring life to various holiday celebrations such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Kwanzaa, and African American History Month.
• The library is open 9:00 AM. - 5:00 PM. Monday through Friday, and 5:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday.
• The library is a safe haven where children parents, and staff are encouraged to explore the world of books, and themselves.
• During the month of July, the library is transformed into a spirited reading laboratory. Four mornings a week educators work with groups of children on various reading skills. In one corner a group of five year olds might learn sound/symbol correspondence, while in another corner children might be rehearsing a play; still others may be engaged in trying to outwit their computers.
• On the last day of the summer reading program, children showcase what they've worked on before a gathering of their peers. A child may recite a poem they wrote, or participate in a puppet show using a sock puppet they made or a beginning reader may read aloud from their first premier.
• Summer is practically synonymous with fun. In the JAE Children's library we try hard to make learning fun all year round.

More:

Clinic Main Page

Chs

Saturday Morning Program

After School Program

Summer Day Camp

Educational Services

Special Needs Unit - Project SAFE

Parent Training

Children's Home Based Crisis Intervention

The Jane Allen Emil Children's Library

On-Site Graduate Student Training