05/31/2026
The Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library is always “buzzing” with learning and fun activities! We are extremely excited for the opportunity to develop an outdoor learning space there in the form of a pollinator garden. Stay tuned for more info about this project!
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Janet Malser grants fund children’s curiosity center and pollinator garden at the Pearle
DUDLEY — The Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley was recently awarded an $8,155 Janet Malser Grant to upgrade the Children’s Room with a new space named the “Crawford Curiosity Center.”
An underutilized cubby will be removed and replaced with a STEM-based busy wall designed for children ages one to six. The transformation will enhance the functionality, educational value and visual appeal of space, while directly supporting early childhood learning and development.
“STEM learning in early childhood is critical as it lays the foundation for later success in critical
thinking, spatial reasoning and logical problem solving,” Library Director Nicole Messier said.
Work is set to commence late fall.
Additionally, local nonprofit Local 4 Life was awarded a $2,600 Janet Malser Grant to install a pollinator garden on the front lawn of the Pearle.
Local 4 Life has partnered with the Pearle over the past two years to provide six educational programs for children and families in the Fels Community Room. These programs have featured hands-on learning experiences focused on topics such as soil health, composting, pollinators, plant life cycles, and agricultural crops.
The grant funding will enable these lessons to be expanded into an outdoor setting, creating opportunities for more structured and immersive programming. Examples of educational activities in this garden include nature-based literacy activities, age-appropriate science lessons, and environmental stewardship workshops.
It will also be used to support the library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program theme, “Plant a Seed. Read.”
This reading program idea is rooted in the concept of farm-to-table.
The garden space will also be open to informal use by library patrons, small groups, and families seeking a peaceful and educational outdoor environment.
