The Butler Public Library has been named a Family Place Library, a designation recognizing its dedication to early childhood development, parent education and family support.

As part of the Family Place Library initiative, the library will offer free parent/child workshops, each consisting of five sessions covering topics such as early literacy, speech and hearing development, nutrition and music play.

“The parent/child workshops are the central idea and program of a Family Place Library. We offer outside professionals who come into the library and discuss a different topic each week,” said Peter Bess, youth services librarian.

“We already have professionals from around the Butler area scheduled to speak. It’s all going to be on a one-on-one, very informal basis.”

The first sessions will be Mondays in April, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. The second sessions will be Tuesdays in April from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Each session is limited to 10 families, though more sessions may be scheduled, depending on interest.

Children must be between ages 1 and 3 to register. As of Thursday, the program still had five openings in its Monday sessions and three openings in its Tuesday sessions.

“The hope is that things will go very well in April, and we can try to do it again in August and September,” Bess said.

Registration is under way. For information or to register, contact Bess at 724-287-1715 or pbess@bcfls.org.

The library’s children’s department already has been updated with a special toddler/preschool play area using $5,000 in a federal grant, awarded through the Library Services and Technology Act and administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. The area will have books and toys for the children and child-rearing books and DVDs for parents.

“The grant is intended to provide everything it takes to implement a Family Place Library,” Bess said.

He said key features include “developmentally appropriate programming for young children and their families, as well as a specially designed place for young children and their families to learn and play together.” A Family Place Library also has to provide a collection of books, toys and other materials for babies, toddlers, parents and service professionals, plus offer parent/child workshops.

The library is the only one in Butler County and one of only about 300 in 23 states nationwide to be named a Family Place Library. The New Castle Public Library also is on that list.

Bess said he and Lori Hinderliter, Butler County Federated Libraries administrator, in October attended a four-day training session for the new program at its birthplace, Middle Country Public Library in Centereach, N.Y.

The Butler library received its grant in January.

“As part of the grant, our library, each year, has committed to spend $1,000 of our budget each year to help this program stay relevant,” he said, adding that the money can be used for things such as books and toys.

Bess, who also does toddler and pre-kindergarten story time, said the additional programs and “offering a space where the kids and their parents can play and learn together,” just add to his enjoyment at work.

“I love sitting in my office and just hearing (the children) play,” he said.

“Ever since I was little, (the library) has been the place to get introduced to everything. This is a great opportunity for us to get together with other professionals and really reach out to the families even more,” he said.