Head Start goes to the library

Students from The Mildred G. Burno Head Start Center received their first introduction to library services during a field trip to the Darlington County Library System last week.
Students from The Mildred G. Burno Head Start Center received their first introduction to library services during a field trip to the Darlington County Library System last week.
The three-year-old students participated in an interactive tour led by Branch Manager Tracy Taplin and Circulation Manager Crystel Byrd, who introduced fundamental concepts of library organization and book care. The children learned to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction materials through hands-on demonstrations.
“This is the first time we’ve hosted a class visit since I began as Branch Manager in June,” Taplin said. “It was a learning experience for us, and these children demonstrated exceptional behavior.”
During the visit, students were given sample library cards and encouraged to return with their parents to obtain official memberships. The program was divided into rotating activities, with one group exploring literary concepts while another engaged in artistic projects.
Youth Services Librarian Catie Whitt directed a crafts session where children from Mrs. Dobson and Mr. Sheppard’s class created penguin collages using construction paper. Meanwhile, students from Ms. LeVette Dixon and Ms. Ericka Washington’s class participated in the library orientation.
Despite their young age, the children showed strong comprehension of the concepts presented, according to library staff. The visit represents part of the library’s ongoing efforts to promote early literacy and community engagement.