For parents of young children in New Caney and surrounding East Montgomery County communities, finding welcoming places where little ones can explore, make friends and develop important early learning skills is about to get easier. The R.B. Tullis Library in New Caney is preparing to open a new Family Place Library, bringing an educational play space, parenting resources and opportunities for families to learn together to the heart of the community.

The Montgomery County Memorial Library System (MCMLS) will celebrate the addition with a Family Place Library Grand Opening on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 1 p.m., at R.B. Tullis Library, located at 21569 U.S. Highway 59 in New Caney, TX 77357. 

For families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the new space will offer more than a place to check out books. It will provide opportunities for children to build early literacy, social and problem-solving skills through play, while giving parents and caregivers a place to connect with one another and access resources that support their children's development.

What Is a Family Place Library, and Why Does It Matter for New Caney Families?

Family Place Libraries is a national early childhood education and literacy initiative that helps public libraries create welcoming, developmentally appropriate environments for young children and the adults who care for them. 

The program is built around an important understanding of early childhood development: children learn through everyday interactions, whether they are stacking blocks, looking at picture books, pretending to cook dinner or talking with a parent during playtime.

By encouraging shared reading, imaginative play and meaningful parent-child interaction, the Family Place model helps families build foundations for school readiness and lifelong learning.

For New Caney parents searching for free educational activities for toddlers, preschool learning opportunities or family-friendly things to do in East Montgomery County, the new Family Place Library will add another community resource that can be enjoyed during regular library hours.

The R.B. Tullis location will become the third Family Place Library within the Montgomery County Memorial Library System, joining the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library in The Woodlands and the R.F. Meador Library in Willis. 

According to MCMLS, families have responded positively to the Family Place programs at both existing locations, where the spaces have become valued resources for young children and caregivers.

"Libraries are places where families come together, children discover the joy of learning, and lifelong memories begin," noted Dr. Janna Hoglund, MCMLS Executive Director. "Family Place at R.B. Tullis Library gives us a wonderful opportunity to welcome families, connect our youngest learners with their community, and inspire a lifelong love of reading and discovery."

Inside the New Family Place Library at R.B. Tullis

The new Family Place educational play area is being designed with young children and their families in mind, offering a comfortable setting where children can explore at their own pace and caregivers can participate in their discoveries.

Families visiting the space will find a variety of hands-on learning materials, including a dramatic-play kitchen, puzzles, building blocks, transportation toys and a drawing station. Accessible board books and picture books will encourage shared reading, while a dedicated Family Place parenting resource section will provide information to help adults support their children's growth.

Each feature serves a purpose in early childhood learning. Building blocks and puzzles can encourage problem-solving and coordination, while pretend play helps children practice communication, creativity and social interaction. Books introduce new words, ideas and stories, particularly when parents and caregivers read alongside their children.

The space will also give families opportunities to meet other parents and caregivers, something that can be especially meaningful for those with young children who are looking to build connections close to home.

The Family Place play area will be available to library visitors during R.B. Tullis Library's normal operating hours, allowing families to incorporate educational play and reading into their regular library visits.

Parent-Child Workshops Will Bring Families and Early Childhood Specialists Together

Beyond the new play space, R.B. Tullis Library will introduce Parent-Child Workshops, a central part of the Family Place Libraries model.

These play-based workshops will give parents, caregivers and young children opportunities to spend time together while connecting directly with early childhood development and literacy specialists.

The workshops are designed to make learning enjoyable and accessible, while also providing adults with opportunities to ask questions, explore parenting resources and better understand how everyday activities contribute to healthy childhood development.

The library team will also work with local family-serving agencies and professionals to help connect parents with information and resources that support early learning.

For families navigating the early years of childhood, access to knowledgeable professionals and opportunities to meet other caregivers can make a meaningful difference. The workshops are intended to help create those connections in a familiar community setting.

Dates, registration information and additional details for the Parent-Child Workshops will be announced at a later date.

Texas State Library Grant Helps Bring Family Place Resources to East Montgomery County

The expansion of early childhood learning opportunities at R.B. Tullis Library is made possible through grant funding from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. 

The funding supports the materials needed to establish the Family Place program, helping MCMLS expand the services available to young children and their families.

The Family Place Libraries model is already established in more than 500 libraries across 32 states, reflecting a broader effort to recognize public libraries as important partners in early childhood education, family support and community development.

With the addition of R.B. Tullis Library, families in New Caney and nearby communities will have access to the same nationally recognized early learning approach already offered at two other Montgomery County library branches.

“We are excited to bring new resources and opportunities to the families in our community," said Tina Russell, R.B. Tullis Library Manager. "Joining the Family Place Libraries™ network strengthens our ability to support early literacy and meaningful family learning. We are grateful to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for funding the materials that make this initiative possible.”

Families Invited to November 2 Family Place Library Grand Opening in New Caney

The Montgomery County Memorial Library System is inviting local families and community members to celebrate the new space during its official grand opening.

• Date: Monday, November 2, 2026
• Time: 1:00 p.m.
• Location: R.B. Tullis Library, 21569 U.S. Highway 59, New Caney, TX 77357

The celebration will include a welcome address, ribbon-cutting ceremony, cookies and light refreshments. Families can also participate in hands-on craft activities and watch a short video introducing the Family Place Libraries program and its emphasis on early learning, parent support and community connection.

The event will offer parents and caregivers an opportunity to become familiar with the new educational play space and learn more about the resources that will be available during future library visits.

For additional information about the grand opening, residents can visit the R.B. Tullis Library website or contact the library directly. 

A New Gathering Place for New Caney's Youngest Learners

Public libraries have long been places where families discover books, find information and participate in community activities. The addition of Family Place at R.B. Tullis Library builds on that tradition by placing greater emphasis on the earliest years of childhood.

For a parent spending an afternoon reading with a toddler, a preschooler discovering a favorite activity or a caregiver meeting another local family, the new space could become a familiar part of everyday life.

It also reflects the library system's continued investment in making educational resources accessible to families throughout Montgomery County, including those in the growing New Caney area.

As the November 2 grand opening approaches, families can look forward to discovering a new place where learning begins with play and community connections can grow alongside their children.

Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for updates on R.B. Tullis Library, family-friendly events and community resources throughout New Caney and East Montgomery County.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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