The Milford Public Library continues to champion early literacy for children ages 1 – 8 through its growing partnership with Tonies ®, an innovative, screen-free storytelling audio system designed to inspire imagination, language development, and a lifelong love of reading.
Tonies were first introduced at the Milford Public Library in 2022, thanks to a generous donation from State Representative Bryan Shupe, and have since made a meaningful impact on families throughout the community. The easy-to-use audio players and character figures enable young children to engage independently with stories, songs, and educational content, supporting early literacy skills while reducing screen time. Due to their popularity, Tonies have remained in consistently high demand among library patrons.
Building on this success, the Milford Public Library hosted a Tonies Literacy Day on October 14, 2025, welcoming families to explore hands-on storytelling experiences and learn more about the benefits of audio-based literacy tools. As a result, Tonies generously donated $1,000 worth of Tonies materials to the library. 25 new character figures are available for checkout beginning January 15, 2026.
“The library couldn’t be more grateful for the overwhelming support from Tonies,” said Children’s Coordinator Anis Lopez. “We’re excited for even more children to have the opportunity to check out Tonies and experience storytelling in a fun, meaningful, and screen-free way.”
For more information about Tonies or children’s programming at the Milford Public Library, visit the library or check out their website at www.milford.lib.de.us for upcoming events and announcements.
