Grundy Library Unveils Refurbished Children’s Area
The Grundy Library unveiled its refurbished Children’s Area on Saturday after a $16,000 make-over funded with support from community members and the Grundy Foundation. The goal of the project was to transform the Children’s Area into a thoughtfully designed space for the youngest members of the community by creating a bright, interactive, and welcoming environment where children can build foundational literacy skills, and families can connect, learn, and grow together.
The area has been rearranged to allow space for mobile furniture and more room for children to play. Twelve book bins were purchased to allow the youngest readers to gain crucial literacy skills by placing the collection at various heights, making it easy for them to choose books. The more open space and the addition of out-of-the-way stroller parking creates better sight lines in the play area for parents. A new slat wall encourages families to engage with the various resources, programs, and events on display.
New toys and a Playaway QuestPad (one of the first available in the area) provide expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and discovery. The new toys encourage imaginative play, creativity, and skill development, while the QuestPad offers children engaging educational games in a dynamic digital learning format. These additions reflect the Library’s ongoing commitment to fostering learning through play.
To further enliven the Children’s Area, the Library introduced all-new, brightly colored furniture that creates a joyful atmosphere for young visitors and their families. A brand-new Story Time rug serves as the centerpiece of the space, featuring a vivid rainbow color scheme with alphabet letters and numbers displayed in cloud-shaped designs. Together, these elements shape a vibrant and inviting environment for early learning, enriched by the Library’s expansive windows overlooking the Delaware River, which brings in natural light. In addition, new signage better defines the space, and the area has been repainted, giving a fresh new look.
“When children walked in on Saturday, their eyes lit up. They were so excited to explore, play, and discover something new.” said Marks. “One dad jumped right in, using the rug to work on letters with his child. It was incredibly gratifying to see over 80 family members celebrate with us.”
“We are extremely grateful to the over 50 donors who contributed to this project,” said Jameson Gilpatrick, Executive Director of the Grundy Foundation. “With their support, we now have an improved space, tailored to the needs of our community, where young minds can be nourished and learning and fun go hand in hand.”
The Grundy Library celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year, having opened on June 24, 1966. Among other special programs, a new exhibit will open in September on the history of the Grundy Library, and a short film will premiere about the history of libraries in Bristol Borough starting in 1850 through the early 1960s.
The Grundy Foundation serves the Bristol Borough community under the terms of the Last Will & Testament of Joseph R. Grundy. Through his generosity, the Foundation oversees the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library and the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Museum, providing resources and leadership to empower them to fulfill their missions and to serve as leading hubs of knowledge, culture, and inspiration for the Bristol Borough community, Bucks County, and beyond. Both the Library and the Museum were named in honor of Joseph’s only sister, Margaret. The Foundation also helps non-profit organizations achieve their missions through a grant program and other means of support.
