Investing in Shrewsbury's Youth

When the completes its proposed renovation, children will have a wonderful new space to read, play and learn thanks in part to a local resident and her family-owned law practice.

For Shrewsbury resident Attorney Mary Casey, founder of the Harbor Law Group in Northborough, a children’s room is a library’s treasure. With a generous business donation to the renovation project in honor of children who will pass through the new library doors, Casey hopes to help the institution continue providing youthful visitors with a love of learning, sense of freedom and opportunity to discover. The children’s room has always been “definitely a very special place,” she said.

“The new Infant and Preschool Discovery Area will be a welcoming and enjoyable place for babies, toddlers and their families,” said Ellen Dolan, library director. “The area will offer our youngest visitors and their caregivers appropriate play and seating space, as well as materials that will encourage early literacy development and socialization for preschool-aged patrons. The design will encourage families to spend time playing, learning and discovery the joys of children’s literature.”

Fondly remembering trips to the Shrewsbury town library from her own youth, “I really cultivated relationships with the librarians, which I still feel today when I walk into the library,” Casey said. “I love that you can borrow a book and also love that you can give it back.”

Borrowing, versus the permanence of purchasing, gives a sense of freedom to explore different areas. She often stops in without a specific plan and then leaves with a treasure.

Nowadays, visits to the library with her five young grandchildren involve a world of play and stories. “They love the toys,” she said, as well as spur of the moment art projects. Her little ones also get very excited hearing a couple stories while there and then choosing some books to take home.

Influenced by a love of libraries and shared experiences with her now adult daughters and their growing families, Casey has taken the opportunity to direct her company’s donation toward the new infant/preschool area. “I think most people’s introduction to the library is when they are young…positive library experience when young takes them through all their years, from birth to old age,” she said.

Linda Dashnaw, head of children’s services, shares the same sentiment. “One of our main goals is to get children in, so they become early readers and develop a love of the library at a very young age,” she said.

In conjunction with the proposed renovation, Dashnaw aims to develop additional programs for preschoolers and their parents around the six pre-reading skills: print motivation and awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge, narrative skills, and phonological awareness.

Expressing her appreciation for all the community support in general and Casey’s contribution in particular, Dashnaw is pleased that the updated Infant and Preschool Discovery Area will be spacious and accommodating. “Everything will be all together,” she said. “It will be a very secure, beautiful space.”

Though the actual name for the new children's area is still an unknown, Casey hopes to make reference to a meaningful quote or saying relating to children. “It (the name) will have a small phrase that will be welcoming and thought provoking.”

“I expect this will be a very popular and busy spot in our new library for young families,” Dolan said.

To donate to the Shrewsbury Public Library building project, contact the library at 508-842-0081.