Kids and Families Belong in Academic Libraries!

The Family Study Room in Cannell Library at Clark College (Vancouver, WA) opened in Winter 2024. This space is available for students, community members, staff, and faculty looking for a quiet space to study or work while their kids are with them.

Photo of a room with a closed door that includes a comfy-looking chair, a rug depicting cartoon streets with toy trucks on top, and a whiteboard with a sheet of paper directly below it designated as a “whiteboard for kids.”

In addition to several adult workspaces, there is a small table and chairs, play rug and toy cars and people, and butcher paper “whiteboard” for kids to write and doodle on. Child-height shelves hold activities for kids of all ages:

Activity kits developed by Clark Early Childhood Education students, each with a book and related activity (counting, felt board, coloring, puzzle, etc.)
Picture books
Coloring books, crayons/colored pencils, stickers, and paper

Photo depicts a cubby with games and coloring books. A child with long hair plays with a game beside it.

We hosted a ribbon-cutting and story time event during Take Your Child to Work Day in April, bringing together families, library workers, and faculty from Early Childhood Education. It’s been fun to see students making use of this space with their kids, particularly during evening hours. We’re excited to make the library more welcoming to caregivers and children, and appreciate the inspiration from local and national libraries who have done the same!

Photo captures a meeting room with a large table and multiple chairs. A smaller kids table is just beyond it. Colorful childrens’ posters are on the wall.

Laura Nagel (she/her) is a Reference & Instruction Librarian at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. Her professional focuses include collection management, outcomes assessment, power/privilege/inequity, and using creativity wherever possible. Laura’s love for baking has earned her the moniker “piebrarian.”