PADUCAH — McCracken County Public Library revealed new playsets to the second floor, aiming to spark kids’ imagination and encourage creativity and socializing skills.
The play room is located on the second floor of the McCracken County Library. The seven new playsets are inside.
Sponsored in partnership with the Purchase Area Kentucky Regional Collaborative Network, the library introduced seven new playsets. These include an animal hospital, a wooden playhouse, a large dollhouse, a fresh mart grocery store, a retro diner, a wooden slide, and new make-believe costumes.
The animal care playset was designed to simulate working as a vet. Kids can bring their stuffed animals to the set and take care of them.
Justin Brasher, the McCracken County Public Library director, said the new playsets offer an opportunity for the kids to play, socialize and practice those life interactions. He also said it’s an opportunity for parents to use the library’s resources.
“For a lot of these toys, they’re expensive, and parents may not be able to get them at home,” Brasher said. “Whether you want to be a dog groomer or a veterinarian, or you want to be a professional chef, having those toys there gives them the opportunity to play, test it out, practice some life skills, and hopefully, maybe encourage the future chefs and veterinarians of tomorrow.”
Justin Brasher is the library director at McCracken County Public Library.
McCracken County Public Library offers many different resources such as the play room, story times, and family game nights. Gabby Jenson, a mother of two, said she’s taken her kids to the library for years because of the variety of toys and the chance to meet new friends.
“I feel like it’s such a safe place and just an awesome free resource,” Jenson said. “We can play and we have new friends that we meet here, and play groups that meet here. Also, it’s really nice that it’s inside. So, when the weather is really bad, we can come here and still have a place to get out of the house and play.”
Gabby Jenson is a mother of two. She said they enjoy going to the library, especially when it rains since they have a fun indoor place to play.
Brasher explained that all feedback comes from the kids and parents. When a touring science exhibit in 2022 brought a bunch of blue blocks to the library, it was a huge hit with the kids, prompting the library to listen and act on it.
“When the science exhibit toured, they loved it so much, we decided to get a grant to purchase blue blocks of our own,” Brasher said. “So, when people say, ‘We really appreciated this thing,’ or, ‘We really want to see more of this in the playroom,’ we definitely listen to that feedback.”
Brasher expressed excitement about the new project. He said when he was a kid, the libraries he went to didn’t have many opportunities to play and make-believe, so he’s honored to be a part of McCracken County Public Library’s new era.
A child plays with the house playset at the McCracken County Public Library on Mar. 11, 2025.
The library is already planning ahead, speaking of plans for summer reading programs and more events. Brasher said library staff are always looking for new fun things that kids are looking for.
“A lot of our goals are turned toward the summer reading program, which will kick off in June,” Brasher said. “That will be our biggest event of the year. We will have performers. We’ll have entertainers. We’ll have a kickoff party in June. But now that we’ve put some new toys in here, that should help us carry on until our new summer.”
For more information on what McCracken County Public Library offers for kids, check out the website.
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