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Home/School Community Alliances From: Don Gardner, Salinas Public Library NEWS UPDATE Toys Moving to the Salinas Public Library Salinas Adult School Parent Center Toy Lending Library Being Relocated 
Many items will go to the John Steinbeck Public Library, 350 Lincoln Ave., to set up a new toys collection that anyone with a Salinas Public Library card may borrow from. Plans are underway now to create a space in the lower level at the library to house the collection. It's expected that the first items will be ready to be checked out by the public in December 2009. Items will also be selected for use at the Cesar Chavez and El Gabilan Public Libraries in Salinas, the Library's Literacy Program activities, and at City Recreation Department community centers. The collection includes puzzles, games, manipulatives, costumes, and a variety of other types of toys. The collection became available when State Department of Education budget cuts required the elimination of programs wihtin the public school system that were not sustainable. The Parent Center hosted a meeting of interested community agencies to determine the future of the Toy Library. The Salinas Public Library presented a compelling case for acquiring the collection and received strong support from represented community agencies. The Parent Center and Salinas Public Library then began working cooperatively to find a method to transfer the collection to the Library where it could be made available to the Salinas community. Yvonne Ricketts, Coordinator of the Parent Center at Salinas Adult School, states, "The Library is the perfect entity to acquire the Toy Lending Library collection. Access to the greater community will be increased through the library branches, bookmobile, and on-line catalog. The collection will extend the current library resources for children and enhance opportunities for literacy and family education, and community support for young children. We are very pleased to be in this collaborative endeavor with the City." Elizabeth Martinez, Library Director, shares her view: "The Parent Center staff built a fine collection of toys that the community will now continue to have access to and enjoy. We"re delighted to work with staff there to transition the collection to the City." For additional information on the partnership, contact Don Gardner at the Library, 758-7455, or Yvonne Ricketts at the Parent Center, 796-6977.
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