‘Draws the kids in’: Light wall and play floor highlight Arlington Heights library’s new children’s section

Arlington Heights Memorial Library’s $745,000 transformation of its children's department - highlighted by an interactive digital wall feature and virtual play floor - was formally opened Monday.

The 4-by-8-foot Everbright wall, which hearkens to the Lite Brite toy of the 1960s, and nearby floor projection system are centerpieces of the library’s Kids’ World area, where officials held morning and afternoon celebrations to mark completion of a three-month renovation project.

“That wall really draws the kids in,” said Executive Director Mike Driskell. “The point of conversation as people are passing through that entryway is, ‘What is going on back there?’ It’s really cool.”

In selecting features for refresh of the space, Driskell and his team looked at what other libraries have in their children’s departments. Virtual play floors - which sense movement and interact with a projector mounted above - also are in place at the Barrington Area Library and Naperville's Nichols Library.

Arlington Heights’ Friends of the Library donated the floor projection system, and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Foundation paid for the light wall.

“These were really the two big ones,” Driskell said. “We felt these are really going to make an impact. These are the things that kids are really going to like.”

Another addition includes a “tween space” for kids in grades 4-6. The foundation also donated a maker table for crafts and do-it-yourself projects.

For the youngest learners, there is also a “baby garden” with soft play toys.

The Lindsey Room was updated with new flooring, paint and a two-faucet sink, which will allow library officials to move more art programming there. The foundation also provided a “Tinker Cart” for arts and crafts creations of kids in grades K-3.

Construction crews built out a new oval entryway to the kids’ department, providing a clear visual path to the back wall with Everbright and projection system, Driskell said.

They also added an all-gender bathroom and wellness room, which is a quiet area for nursing mothers or anyone who needs a calming space.

And just to the left of the entry, there’s a new snack area.

Officials said they had enough money left in the budget to replace worn flooring in the library’s primary vending cafe and add two conference rooms to The Hub, which is the space for teens in grades 7-12.