Library branches in Salt Lake County aren’t just places for books and reading. Local libraries offer a welcoming community with access to information, technology, lifelong learning and, in some cases, a free meal.

The County Library’s Kids Café program provides a meal to any person 18 and younger, no questions asked. With six locations, the Café serves hundreds of children during a time when food insecurity is rising.

“It’s important to us that children and teens have access to nutritious meals that can support their health and ability to focus and learn,” said The County Library Public Relations Coordinator Marissa Hodges. “It helps to address food insecurity in the community, it provides them a vital resource and it helps parents stretch their budgets a little bit.”

In partnership with the Utah Food Bank, the Kids Café is available Monday through Saturday at Midvale’s Tyler Library (8041 S. Wood Dr.), Hunter Library in West Valley (4740 W. 4100 South), Kearns Library (4275 W. 5345 South), West Valley Library (2880 W. 3650 South), Magna Library (2675 S. 8950 West) and Granite Library (3331 S. 500 East) in South Salt Lake.

The Kids Café is open at different times at each location, and some libraries also offer breakfast. Hours of operation can change, so check the County Library website at slcolibrary.org for details.

Hodges said librarians have received positive feedback on the program, but patrons are sometimes upset that the meals are not available to adults. To address that, Kids Cafés have added a “share bucket” so any community member can access food.

“Sometimes we have extra food and if there’s food that kids don’t want, we have started what we call a share bucket,” she said. “It’s a place where kids can put those unwanted items for anyone who needs or wants food. It’s available there for them to take. Many branches have started that and now community members contribute to it as well. It’s a way for us to offer food resources to folks beyond the 18 and under limit.”

Besides tracking inventory, staffing volunteers and breaking up the occasional food fight, the Kids Café program is an effective way to bring meals to children. It offers not only nourishment, but a safe place where kids feel a sense of belonging.

Hodges shared a story one of the librarians related to her, about a 12-year-old girl who wanted to give some of her food to a man in need.

“The girl picked up a meal and turned to a nearby homeless man and said, ‘You can get some if you’re hungry,’ she said. We then had to explain to her that the program was only for kids up to age 18. The little girl stared hard into the librarian’s eyes, wordlessly daring her to stop her as she passed her meal to the man. It was very moving.”

Hodges said the program has also strengthened trust in local libraries, opening people’s eyes to the possibilities a library offers. “We really are more than just books and movies. We’re a complete community resource.”