Children’s libraries play a vital cultural and social role in shaping a child’s personality, expanding their horizons, and supporting their intellectual, emotional, and cognitive development. Through age‑appropriate reading materials and guided resources, these libraries nurture creativity, encourage curiosity, and help children acquire essential knowledge and skills.
Public libraries provide children with early access to free and diverse reading opportunities and are increasingly viewed as learning centers that promote self‑education and independent discovery. The growth of children’s libraries since the mid‑twentieth century reflects both the expansion of children’s literature and the recognition of childhood as a distinct and important stage of development.
Writer Qais Al‑Hanty highlighted the impact of libraries on children, noting that his work with children and youth for more than two decades has shown their strong influence on personality development, interests, knowledge, and openness to different cultures. He emphasized that interactive, creative activities inspired by books play a key role in strengthening children’s connection to libraries and supporting their psychological and social well‑being.
Al‑Hanty praised the programs offered by Darb Al‑Ma’rifa Library, part of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, which include guided readings, discussion sessions, reading initiatives, seasonal clubs, and creative writing workshops. He noted that these activities are delivered within a safe, creative, and supportive environment that contributes meaningfully to children’s development.
Writer and author Taghreed Al‑Najjar stressed that, despite easy access to digital information, public libraries—especially those serving children—remain increasingly important. Their role extends beyond providing information to building character, nurturing imagination, and developing intellectual and social skills. Libraries offer stimulating environments for learning and discovery through diverse programs that allow children to express themselves and discover their talents.
Al‑Najjar added that libraries help children build social skills by interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds and that modern libraries now offer interactive storytelling sessions led by librarians or guest authors. Children are also exposed to various literary forms and can participate in creative writing workshops that develop their expressive abilities.
She emphasized that libraries support families through guidance workshops for parents on child development, reading habits, and the role of books. Modern libraries, she added, successfully balance printed materials with digital tools, maintaining the core reading experience while keeping pace with technological advances.
Parents and children alike praised their experiences at Darb Al‑Ma’rifa Library, describing it as enjoyable, enriching, and impactful in fostering creativity, reading, and imagination within a safe and welcoming environment.
In this context, Nizar Al‑Hmoud, Director of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Library, affirmed that children’s libraries have become dynamic spaces that shape awareness, stimulate curiosity, encourage critical thinking and expression, and build lasting relationships with reading as an enjoyable and continuous experience.
It is worth noting that Darb Al‑Ma’rifa Library, dedicated to children and youth aged 3–16, was established in 2013 at the Jabal Amman Public Library branch as Jordan’s first interactive library for this age group. The initiative marked a qualitative shift in promoting reading, curiosity, and creativity among future generations.