I found out about this resource center while taking a class for my 16 month old at the community center. A fellow mom had raved about it - telling me that not only do they have books to borrow, but music and toys as well, so I was excited to check it out.
Here is what they have to borrow:
# Tools to support every area of children's development from birth through school age including:
* Educational toys- Math manipulatives, music and movement materials, emergent literacy resources, science materials
* Children's books to extend early learning
* Children's music CDs: Classical, jazz, world music and contemporary children's artists
# Child development, parenting, activity and curriculum books
# Family child care business reference materials
# DVDs and training materials for parents and early childhood educators
# Ages and Stages Questionnaires 3 - developmental screening tool for children ages 4 months to 5 years
# Lamination and Ellison die cut machines
They recently changed their return policy so that all items need to be returned in 2 weeks. They charge 50 cents for every day and item is overdue
Membership is $25 a year if you are an Irvine resident and $30 if you are not.
It's not a very large facility and it's usually only staffed with one person. Whomever is there is always very helpful and probably used to little kids running around crazy in there (like my little one).
Also, remember they are open only between 12pm-8pm. I appreciate the late hours for the working moms, but I do wish they were open earlier in the day.
The whole process of signing in at the window, filling out the rating forms for each item you return, and then searching the binders for the toy you are checking out is a little cumbersome. Also, I don't feel they are very organized because out of the three times I have been there they have called me twice for books I had already returned but had not been entered into their system.
My little one loves it though and it's fun to go to the park afterwards to look at the ducks and play in their playground. It's definitely worth checking out if you are there. read more