How an Intentionally Inviting Play Library Benefits Young Children and the Community

A qualitative case study sought to investigate the impact of a recently opened Play Library in Istanbul, Turkey upon the acquisition and development of literacy and creative reading culture for attending children and their families. The research was carried out among pre-schoolers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds attending the Şişli Feriköy Kitap Okuyan Çocuklar (Children Reading Books) Play Library, which was the third Play Library opened in Turkey. Kitap Okuyan Çocuklar is a civil society group that works to establish local children’s spaces, blending the concepts of play-centers, children’s libraries, and family-centers as found in Western countries. The qualitative methods utilized during the research employed direct observation, interviews and questionnaires with stakeholders, which included librarians, children and their families.