In 2021, the Avon, Avon Lake and Domonkas (Sheffield Lake) libraries put new Social Emotional Learning kits into circulation, and after only three months they had been checked out over 100 times!

Through a unique grant opportunity offered by Rotary District 6600,  North Coast Rotary solicited and coordinated the contributions of several organizations to support the purchase of SEL kits for libraries in our service area. Major donors included North Coast Rotary, Avon Lake Kiwanis and the Avon Lake Historical Society.  The Avon Kiwanis, Friends of the Avon Library, Friends of the Avon Lake Library and Friends of the Domonkas Library also contributed.  

The Avon Branch and Domonkas Branch of the Lorain Public Library System collaborated with the Avon Lake Public Library to develop contents, parent/teacher information sheets and lists of resources for up to 30 kits.  

Anger, grief, fear, anxiety, mindfulness and empathy are the topics addressed in the games, books and related information in these kits.  Topics were selected based on expressed needs of families and teachers especially during this COVID period.  Donna Kelly Sprinkle Manager Avon Branch, Sybil Wendling, Manager Children’s Services Avon Lake Library, and Anne Godec, Manager Domonkas Branch worked closely over four months to organize the project.  

A final review was presented Tuesday March 16, 2021 at the North Coast Rotary Meeting (via Zoom).  Kits became available for loan at Avon, Avon Lake and Domonkas libraries beginning the following week.

Wondering what Social Emotional Learning is?  This is excerpted from the Ohio Department of Education:

“Social-emotional learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions. Research demonstrates that students who receive support for social and emotional learning in schools do better academically, socially and behaviorally. Social-emotional learning has also been shown to positively impact economic mobility and mental health outcomes. Developing these skills in our students is an important part of meeting the needs of the whole child.”