The idea of transforming a corner of Family Pride Laundry in Springfield, Ill., into a learning space where children can read began with a local college student, according to a recent article in Illinois Times.
“I was really attracted to it because I love working with kids,” explained Amanda Brown, a 20-year-old student studying elementary education and communications at the University of Illinois Springfield. “I thought this would be a perfect way to be able to help the community.”
Brown, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Springfield-Downtown, received financial support from the service group to buy a bookcase and other amenities. She also is contributing a collection of books from her own childhood and receiving other literary donations from a variety of sources.
“Officially, they are supposed to just read the books there,” she said. “But we know that some kids are going to fall so in love with a book that they will take it home with them, and that’s OK.”
Ryan Flynn, whose family owns the Family Pride location, as well as three other laundromats in the county, said he would like to see this project expand to other laundromats.
“It gives kids something to do, because there really isn’t much for them at a laundromat,” he noted.
Brown pointed out that the demographics of families using laundromats fit perfectly with those who likely would benefit most from libraries and access to free literacy materials.
“The goal is to provide opportunities for kids to read, practice and improve their reading skills,” stated Tom Bazan, past president of the local Kiwanis Club. “We want to cultivate the joy of reading in kids by providing them with this opportunity.
“And maybe they will see a book they really like, and they’ll begin to fall in love with reading. Mom and dad can come alongside and help them. We want to regularly restock books for two reasons. First, it’s to create a good rotation so that the same books aren’t there week after week. Also, we recognize that the kids are going to love the books so much that they’re going to want to take them home.”
Brown launched the laundromat library on November 6, and said she views it as just a first step.
“We want to reach as many children as we can,” she explained. “Some children aren’t old enough to go to school where they can check out books. So, this is a great place for them to be exposed to books. And it’s a great place for caretakers to relax and spend that extra time with the children and read to them. Early reading is so important for young children. And it really sets them up for future academic success.”
