Cerritos Library Offers Wealth of Programs for Children

Every second Wednesday afternoon of every month, children gather with their parents at the Cerritos Library to learn about how the aquarium located near the front of the library works.

Carrie Kurata, management analyst for the Cerritos Library, explains to the kids some of the origins of the 200 fish inside the aquarium and how the staff maintain it by feeding the fish and keeping the 15,000-gallons of ocean water fresh.

At the end of the lecture, children--and their parents--take turns asking questions about when the staff feeds the fish or how long the fish can live in the aquarium.

The monthly Aquarium Program for children ages one to 12 is one of many programs that the Cerritos Library offers children on a regular basis.

"There's always something fun to do at the library," Kurata said. "We're more than just books."

One of the library's most popular programs for young children is its 30-45 minute "Storytimes" program, which is held every Monday at 10:30 a.m. and every Thursday at noon. The "Storytimes" program for children under five is held in the Little Theater and incorporates audience participation and a DVD related to the book alongside reading the story.

Padmini Prabhakar, the programming services librarian for Cerritos Library, said that the popularity of the "Storytimes" program and other programs wildly popular with patrons means that those who want to participate have to register in advance.

"We get a lot of people to sign up [for these programs] every time," she said. "Our classes [that require registration] are usually filled up in the first three to four days."

Registration for these programs begin at the first of every month for residents and a week later for non-residents. With classes filling up in the first few days, non-residents will have it harder to sign up for these programs.

While programs like "Storytimes" and some of its arts programs like its cartooning and "Young Rembrandts" programs require advanced registration, many of its other programs for young children don't need registration.

Other programs for young children include "Friday at the Movies" every first Friday of the month, family nights every second Wednesday of the month and visits by various children's authors.

Prabhakar said the programs offered by the library go beyond the educational benefits.

"Our programs are not just educational and not about getting high grades," she said. "Children need to be well-rounded and appreciate subjects like the arts."

Baburaj Dharan, who attended the Aquarium Program with his son Akhil, said he was impressed with the many programs the library has to offer. He has enrolled his son in an upcoming class on cartooning.

"[The Cerritos Library] is going beyond compared to other libraries in the area and they have more programs," he said.

For more information on the Cerritos Library's programs, please call (562) 916-1388 or visit their website.