Lynn’s children’s library has more to offer

LYNN – Leomary Gomez likes reading fantasy books, especially C.S. Lewis’ stories, but her interests also extend to that mainstay of the 21st century public library.”I like playing games on the computer,” she said Tuesday as she spent a school vacation afternoon in the 5 North Common St. children’s library.The basement reading room is a favorite destination for hundreds of kids during school breaks, but Librarian Theresa Hurley and her co-workers want to attract kids after school and during the summer months.With the help of the library custodians, they reorganized the room to provide more space for tables. They also secured a grant to offer an early literacy program called Mother Goose on the Loose.The program oriented to infants and toddlers incorporates music, movement and stories. The children’s room offers it Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.Hurley said the free program introduces children to music, vocabulary and gives parents and other caregivers a half hour session in learning new ways to play and read to small children.The library’s opportunities for older children include interactive music games offered in a room next to the children’s library. Olivia Caldwell of Uxbridge spent part of her vacation visit with her grandmother, Christina, at the library playing “Dance Dance Revolution.”Hurley credited the Friends of the Lynn Public Library with raising money to provide other resources.”We were lucky enough through the Friends to get 20 copies of the last Harry Potter book. They all went out the same day,” she said.On most days of the school year the children’s library is a place to study for students who attend the Cobbet School or spend part of their after school time at the Boys and Girls Club.”The computers are always busy,” Hurley said, adding that the children’s room schedule for the remainder of February includes a book club on Feb. 25 at 3:30 p.m.; Bingo at 3 p.m. and a Feb. 28 craft class at 3 p.m. for second through fifth graders.