Some Words: Library Birthday Parties?

A few months ago, we hosted our kiddo's birthday party at a local bowling alley. While it was a roll-in/roll-out event, it was not cheap. Last year, we held her birthday party at a local playground with a splashpad. We had to get a park permit, purchase lots of food, put together goodie bags, decorate, and handle all the set up and break down ourselves. When it comes to kid parties, it seems that your options are cheap but hard or easy but expensive. 

That got me thinking, why can't the local library be a birthday venue?

For a small fee, you book a custom story time based around the kiddo that includes a few books, songs, and maybe a game. The library would plan and provide the materials for that. Then, you wrap  up the event with a quick cake or dessert the family provides. That's it! Everyone leaves happy and no one is stretched too thin in terms of money or time.

But, I also get why this is not a thing. Libraries already do too much. They are social work centers, healthcare providers, and daycares. They are on the frontlines of the overdose crisis. During disasters, they become hubs for Wi-Fi access and recovery services. And they do all of this with decreasing budgets and staffing.

Libraries are places that hold communities together and the staff are tired. They don't need one more thing to worry about.

But a parent can dream, can't she?

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