The Learning and Sharing Collection

HCPL believes in the importance of play and the use of toys to promote early literacy. Parent-child interaction with books and toys is critical for school readiness and early childhood success.

In 1975, HCPL received a federal grant that funded the purchase of books and puppets to be used with the Sharing the Gift volunteer outreach program. The materials were the basis of the Learning and Sharing Collection, which has been open to the public for 40 years.

The Learning and Sharing Collection includes toys, puppets, puzzles, books, and kits designed for children ages birth to five, as well as sets of books for the Sharing the Gift volunteers. Learning and Sharing Collection toys are available at all 11 HCPL branches. Items can be borrowed for 21 days.

The Learning and Sharing Collection contains over 100 titles with multiple copies that are used for library programming. These titles can also be borrowed to use in the classroom! Check out the titles available as Learning and Sharing Classroom Book Sets.

Kits in the Learning and Sharing Collection contain age-appropriate materials selected by librarians to support specific skill development and different stages of early childhood. Use the words “early literacy kit” when searching in the library catalog to find a complete list of kits in the Learning and Sharing Collection.

Click on the links below to view different types of toys in the Learning and Sharing Collection:

Finger Puppets	Hand Puppets	Games	Music Toys
Puzzles	Storytime Pals	Wooden Toys	Animal Toys
Concept Toys	Imagination Toys	Science Toys	Baby Toys
Skill Toys	Young Parenting Kits	Skill Kits

Sharing the Gift

The Library continues to monitor Covid metrics and looks forward to the day when we will be able to resume volunteer visits as part of the Sharing the Gift program.

Sharing the Gift, sponsored by HCPL since 1975, is a story time outreach program staffed by community volunteers, using materials supplied by the library’s Learning and Sharing Collection. The theme-based story time programs, prepared by the Sharing the Gift Librarian, include age-appropriate books, fingerplays, action rhymes, songs, and puppets for preschool children ages two to five. Each month from October to May, Sharing the Gift volunteers present story time at licensed day care centers, nursery schools, and preschools throughout Harford County.

Adults interested in volunteering may contact the Sharing the Gift Librarian at the Bel Air Branch (410-638-3151). HCPL children’s services staff train new volunteers every September.

Day care or preschool directors and teachers who would like a Sharing the Gift volunteer to present story time at their centers may contact the Sharing the Gift Librarian at the Bel Air Branch (410-638-3151).