Ashtabula Rotary Club Supports
Kingsville Public Library Summer Programming
For many years the Ashtabula Rotary Club has supported Kingsville Public Library’s summer movie night with a contribution of $1,000.00. This year, due to social distancing challenges, the Library staff created an outdoor event for families to enjoy safely. Ashtabula Rotary was very pleased to continue our contribution for this new event. Rotarians were introduced to the project at the August 12 Rotary Meeting via Zoom by Mariana Branch, Director and A J Petro, Adult Services Coordinator of the Library. A written description of the program was provided in their August 10 press release:
The Kingsville Public Library is excited to announce the opening of Ashtabula County’s first StoryWalk® on August 21st located in Kingsville Township Park across from the library. StoryWalk® is a creative and engaging way for everyone to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. The pages of the children’s book, “Stella Fairy of the Forest” by Marie–Louise Gay, have been transformed into signs with reader questions and ideas for an interactive experience. This activity was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and has continued to develop with the help of Rachel Senechal, from Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalks® have been installed in 50 states and 12 countries including, Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea. “We wanted to find another outdoor library activity for the community to enjoy when we realized the summer outdoor movies would need to be postponed until next year for public health and safety. With the support of the Kingsville Township Trustees, allowing us to set up in the park, and the generosity of Rotary Club of Ashtabula, funding the purchase of materials and books, it was the perfect time to introduce this StoryWalk® activity,” said Mariana Branch, Director. “Our creative library staff also decided to hold the Imagine! Storybook Cover Contest to have a creative display of oversized 3-D book covers around the library and near the park to view.”
A virtual ribbon cutting will take place on Facebook at 10am on Friday the 21st and both the StoryWalk® and Storybook Cover Park will be open for the public to enjoy by walking through or driving by during the month of September. To make this grand opening extra special, popular book characters will be waving to visitors who are driving through Storybook Cover Park on Academy Street from 10am-11am. Visitors may stroll through the park starting at the sidewalk into the park on Academy Street and follow the numbered signs. Caregivers with children are encouraged to read the story out loud and have the children answer the active reader questions. Social distancing is requested from all visitors participating in these activities.
Submitted by
Mary Lou Howe
Ashtabula Rotary