Harlem Public Library Receives National Recognition during StoryWalk® Week

 

December 1, 2021

Tucked into National Picture Book Month, StoryWalk® Week was celebrated from November 15-19. While Harlem Public Library didn't have a Story Walk during that window of time, the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services celebrated Harlem's use of the strategy on their Facebook page on November 16.

The Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS) is comprised of libraries of all types and sizes. Their mission is to support and encourage library staff and leadership to provide quality bookmobile and outreach services that meet diverse community needs. As an organization, they strive for inclusion and equity while working to extend relevant and responsive services to individuals and groups who face barriers to library access. Library administrators, support staff, library staff, governmental officials, trustees, friends of libraries, and professionals from other fields comprise this movement.


During StoryWalk® Week, a week-long event celebrating the inspiring work of libraries who implement StoryWalk®, ABOS promotes literacy, reading, health, exercise, and movement in communities and neighborhoods across the United States and the world. For this year's celebration, they featured the StoryWalk® from the Harlem Public Library in Montana.

According to Library Director, Colleen Brommer, especially during the corona virus pandemic, the facility had a hard time getting people to the actual library, given all the restrictions and health guidelines in place. So, they created a StoryWalk® at the Harlem City Park in the summer of 2020 as part of their summer reading program. In this way, the library was visible to children, families, and other community members.


"We first heard about StoryWalks during a Montana State Library webinar. So we decided to try one out. Our StoryWalk also enhanced our outreach services. Because we didn't have a space to set ours up, we partnered with our City Works crew to display it in the park. We also partnered with the school and the administrators of our local recipients of a 21st Century grant so that we would have funds for set up in the park and to give out free books to children. The event provided a safe, socially distanced, family-friendly way to get books to children and families," Assistant Librarian Carly Vauthier reported.

When asked whether they planned to do another StoryWalk in the future, library staff replied in the affirmative.

Continued on Page A2:

National Recognition

"Yes, we'll plan to do one again during summer reading. The first summer of 2020, we only did two different books, and this past summer of 2021 we did four books. It's pricey because we need two copies of the book, laminating sheets for each page, and Velcro."

A StoryWalk is an outdoor reading experience whereby a children's book is deconstructed-literally taken apart- and the pages of the book are laminated and placed on wooden stakes or in permanent kiosks along a walking trail. Conceived as a way to inspire parents, teachers, and caregivers to take young children out of doors for physical activity and to learn, StoryWalk® helps build children's interest in reading while encouraging healthy activity for both adults and children.

The StoryWalk® Project was created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

With the StoryWalk concept, Harlem Public Library is giving new meaning to a walk in the park.

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/12/2024 17:03