Families invited to explore Lansdowne Children’s Centre’s Resource Library

Corey Arnold, Receptionist and Resource Centre Coordinator, shows some of the specialized developmental equipment that families can borrow from the Resource Library to work on life skills such as buckling buckles and buttoning buttons.

Inside the doors of Lansdowne Children’s Centre in Brantford lies a vibrant, hidden gem that has been quietly empowering local families for nearly three decades...

First brought to life in the late 1990s through a groundswell of generous community support, this specialized resource library owes its foundation to a major, globally recognized Brantford employer – one whose legacy as ‘a family company’ extended deeply into backing local child development.

Yet, while its origins are rooted in this historic philanthropy, the Resource Library's true value remains a living, breathing opportunity today. For many Lansdowne families, a treasure trove of dormant benefits is waiting to be awakened: a completely free repository of therapeutic toys, specialized development equipment, and expert educational materials designed to help unlock a child's potential right at home.

There are pieces of equipment for clients to practice occupational therapy skills, such as tying shoelaces, zipping zippers and buttoning buttons, as well as tabletop scissors.

There are toys, including ones for infants and building block sets for older kids.

There are simple musical instruments, balancing equipment, a wide variety of books for children and adults on a range of topics, DVDs, puzzles, board games and more.

“There’s lots of different things,”

said Corey Arnold, Receptionist and Resource Centre Coordinator.

The Resource Library has a wide range of books, for both caregivers and children.

The Resource Library is free for all active client families to use; even if they’re on a break from seeing a therapist, families can still access it.

Corey noted that summer and winter holidays are an especially great time for families to check out what’s available.

“We have the classic ‘away from electronics’ games to keep you entertained,” she said.

Corey noted that some caregivers will go to the Resource Library with their child as a reward when they’re at the centre for an appointment, while others will pop in on their own when they have some time between errands – and whatever approach works for individual families is OK.

“I just want people to know that it’s available, and have them come and look,” Corey said.

Families wishing to use the Resource Library only have to register for the service once.

To sign out an item, a caregiver needs to fill out a borrowing slip with their name (not their child’s name, to protect privacy), the date the item was borrowed, and the item’s ID code, which can be found under the barcode.

When the item is returned, there’s another slip to fill out to mark the date it was returned. The item is then cleaned and put back on the shelf for the next person to discover.

Corey noted that families might be hesitant to borrow items, because they’re concerned about an item getting broken or pieces going missing while they have it checked out.

The Resource Library is free for families to utilize.

Of course families are asked to take good care of the items when they borrow them, but there’s also an understanding that “Things happen,” Corey said.

If there is damage to an item, pieces go missing, an item gets lost, etc., families are just asked to flag it for Corey so she can document that and repair or replace the item – and if necessary, remove it from the system.

“It doesn’t cost the families if things go missing or get lost,”

Corey said.

Families can borrow up to four items for 21 days. If a family needs to extend the borrowing period, they just need to ask Corey for an extension.

Previously, the Resource Library had around 7,000 items; within the last year, Corey did a purge to remove items that were broken, outdated, etc.

Today, there are over 4,000 items.

While more items are being added by Lansdowne as the budget allows, families are also welcome to donate new and gently used items to the Resource Library – in particular, there is a shortage of infant toys.

“We’d be glad to add it to our resources,” Corey said.

As more people become aware of the Resource Library, Corey hopes they’ll take some time to check it out.

“Many families don't even know it's there,” said Corey.

What’s more, “Many staff don't actually know it's there” either, Corey said, because while the Resource Library is included in the tour when new staff are onboarded, many are just told about the library “without actually going in and physically seeing what resources they have available to themselves as well.”

Looking to the future, there will be more ways to access the Resource Library.

There’s work being done behind the scenes to create an online catalogue of items to help families see what’s available even if they don’t have time to come into the centre and explore in person.

The new building is also expected to open up some possibilities as to how the Resource Library and its catalogue might be used on site, similar to what happens at a public library.