The Jaffrey Public Library has found a way for its young patrons to take a piece of the library’s usual summer programming home with them.
This summer, the library was set to provide some naturalist and STEAM programming for its youth members, through grants provided by MilliporeSigma in Jaffrey and the Children’s Literacy Foundation. However, the current restrictions provided by the coronavirus pandemic have put a hold on the library’s in-person programming. And that’s a big part of what they do, Director Julie Perrin said.
The library has moved some of its programs online, through what it has termed “Library-to-Go,” but were also seeking a more direct way to include kids in science, computer programming, art and insect collecting.
“We have done a lot to expand our digital offerings with our Library-to-Go program, but recognize that we are all tired of being online, and we really wanted to find a safe way to offer more than that to our community this summer,” Perrin said.
So, the library put together 50 kits as part of their Summer Learning program, themed “Into the Wild: Imagine Your Story.”
Perrin said the first week of Summer Learning, there were more than 85 participants, and in its second week, that number topped 100.
The kits include an activity, and all the materials kids need, plus themed books to go along with it. Art kits include easels and art supplies, science kits include microscopes or binoculars and field science guides, and others provide activities from knitting looms, sewing machines, music activities or mahjong sets.
The first 50 kits were snapped up nearly immediately, Perrin said, and library staff is working on putting together more while the kits are out of circulation.
The kits are the newest piece to the library’s summer learning program, which still include the classic “BINGO” style format, where participants mark off activities such as “reading outside” from a BINGO card.
On July 1 and July 2, the library is also planning to implement its first outdoor browsing day, where materials are scheduled to be available on the library lawn for patrons to peruse and check out.