Impact Stories
With your help, DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) offers fun and engaging programs for patrons of all ages. Participants and staff love to share how Foundation-funded programs make an impact.
Learning Spaces
Learning Spaces helps parents turn everyday moments into opportunities for learning. Through play, conversation, and exploration, families build the language, literacy, and social-emotional skills children need for kindergarten success. Learning Spaces empowers parents and caregivers in their role as their child’s first teacher.
Learning Spaces is a free, research-based early literacy program developed by United Way, serving children ages 0 – 5 and their caregivers. Close to 450 families discovered the joy of learning together at DCPL’s Learning Spaces last year at Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library and at Scott Candler Library. DCPL added a Learning Spaces program at Hairston Crossing Library in the fall of 2026.
Learning Spaces taught me that every moment is a teachable moment. We talk about everything we see on our car rides now. –Lisa, mother of a three year old
My child’s vocabulary has blossomed since attending Learning Spaces because she has the opportunity here to socialize with other children and adults. –Megan, mother of a three year old
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
A few years ago, we began following young library patron John as his mom shared updates on his 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten adventure. Just one day before he walked into his first Kindergarten classroom, John proudly finished book number 1,000!
Today, John’s favorite school subjects are math and reading, and he has been on a roll with his sight words. “John ends every evening with a stack of books,” his mom told us. “He still asks what number book we’re on — because he wants to reach one million!” Now John has a new goal: reading bedtime stories to his baby sister, who already has 50 books on her storytime scorecard.
Stories like John’s are possible because of you. Your generosity provides 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten kits and incentives to thousands of DeKalb families each year. You are helping children fall in love with reading before they even step into a classroom.
Take the Internet Home with You Initiative
The DeKalb Library Foundation funds close to 300 hotspot devices available for check out across DeKalb County Public Library’s 23 library locations. Close to 2,000 patrons benefitted from this service over the past year. In our yearly survey, more than 77% of responding hotspot users shared they have limited to no internet access in their homes. Patrons also shared how important this service is to them: 100% of the respondents to the survey indicated the hotspot service makes a difference in their lives. Additionally, we spoke personally with many of the survey respondents, and they told us in detail just how impactful this initiative is to them and their families. Jenny’s family does not have internet at home. DeKalb County Public Library’s mobile WiFi program allows her to go online with the hotspot instead of using her phone’s data. “This program is extremely important to me. My kids use it to do their homework, and I pay bills and access the internet.”