Registration for Jaffrey Public Library’s Winter Learning program opens online and in person on Jan. 24, with the program set to run Jan. 31 to March 25. This year’s theme is “Reading Colors Your World,” and the library team has planned a season of learning activities and reading challenges for all ages, children through adult.
“Reading Colors Your World” will be a hybrid program, meaning that all participants can choose to participate in person at the library, remotely at home or any combination. Full participation is possible at all comfort levels in the pandemic.
“We were never limited by our walls, and this COVID-friendly program reflects our commitment to serving all members of our population,” stated Library Director Julie Perrin. “If you are comfortable in public spaces, you can do the program in-person, visiting the library, but if you prefer, you can do it completely from home, or pick and choose. It is highly individualized, allowing everyone to choose the learning activities that fit their interests and comfort level, even if COVID surges continue. Our new normal dictates flexibility and we have built that in, without losing any of the joy of learning.”
In addition to library challenges that feature a prize castle and include both books and digital resources, the library has added multiple new programs for the upcoming weeks. For youth, teens and families, fiber arts, Lego challenges and multiple book clubs are on the list, including a new book club for the whole family, Families Read Roald Dahl, sponsored by the Jaffrey Knights of Columbus. The February winter vacation will include the library’s annual Silly Stuffie Sleepover, where local children drop off their stuffed animals for overnight fun and mischief at the library.
The adult lineup includes the return of the in-person mahjong group and multiple online book discussions with humanities experts, funded by a SHARP grant from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, through the American Rescue Plan. In addition, the library will introduce its new program, Project Grandparent, which provides preloaded learning tablets for children and workshop sessions, led by library staff, for grandparent caregivers on tech topics and educational resources, tailored to meet their needs. Project Grandparent is partially funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
Another winter activity for all ages is the return of the library’s seed library in early March. The program provides free seeds for the community to start their gardens and is made possible with help from Seed Savers Exchange, High Mowing Seeds, the Friends of the Jaffrey Public Library and local donors.
For information about the Winter Learning program or any of the events in the winter lineup, contact the library at 603-532-7301 or send email to Perrin at jperrin@jaffreypubliclibrary.org.