The Parenting Information Center

The Library’s Parenting Information Center (P.I.C.) has been providing accurate and up-to-date information to parents since 1992. Established with a $50,000 grant from the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the P.I.C. contains resources that address topics such as discipline, behavior modification, educational advocacy, disability awareness, coping skills and socialization. Located in the Children’s Room, the P.I.C. consists of three key components: the book collection, the video collection and parenting programs.

Family Place Project

In keeping with our commitment to family-centered services, the Library partners with the Middle Country Public Library to bring the Family Place Project to Port Washington. The Family Place Project is a national initiative aimed at strengthening library services for children and families. Financial support for Family Place comes from the Port Washington Library Foundation. The library currently offers the following Family Place services:

The Parent-Child Home Program

The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) is an innovative, home-based literacy and parenting program serving families challenged by poverty, low levels of education, and language barriers. The PCHP bridges the achievement gap, preparing children to enter school ready to be successful students. Funded by the Port Washington Library Foundation and the Judith C. White Foundation.

The Parent-Child Workshop

The Parent-Child Workshop is designed to provide a setting in which the child and parent can work and play together. Community resource professionals and librarians are on hand during the workshops to discuss speech and language, physical fitness, literacy, nutrition and behavior. The Parent-Child Workshop has been in place at the library since 1997, and is offered free of cost about three times a year, serving 25 families per session.

Born To Read
Congratulations new parents! The Port Washington Public Library is proud to be a part of Born To Read, a nationwide initiative that promotes early literacy. Born To Read was created to reach out to new parents and their babies in an effort to encourage the sharing of books together. This special bond between parents and children can begin from the time a child is born.

We invite Port Washington families with babies born anytime in the year 2010 and 2011 to participate. Please visit the Children’s Room to receive the Born To Read welcome gift. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library.