SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Rusty Pliers, “America’s favorite Hillbilly ventriloquist,” has performed comedy and magic for children in past years for the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Club.

Storyteller Beth Horner is scheduled to share for the 2020 Summer Reading Club. Schedules of events and presenters can be found at blrlibrary.com.

Summer fun with the Library Programs offered with virtual elements

Roberta Sanford visits the Marionville library branch. Masks are not required, but are recommended and available to patrons. All library branches continue to take steps to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 36 | July 2020

Sign-ups are available for the Summer Reading Program online through the library website at blrlibrary.com/src or by paper application at each library branch.

The summer reading club will run through August 1 with the grand prize drawings on August 3. Information about each of the presenters and schedules of events is also available on the library website or by calling your local library.

“The only thing that has really changed is limited in-person activities. There will be interactions but not always in real time.”

–Janea Coker, BLRL Youth Services Director

For the 2020 summer, the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library (BLRL) will offer its Summer Reading Club (SRC) with a new twist. Due to the restrictions suggested by the local health departments, the nine branches of the library system will continue to make strides to keep patrons safe. But these limitations won’t stop the library from providing programming for all ages in

Barry and Lawrence counties.

After reopening their doors to the public on June 1, the library system announced new procedures including limiting time patrons are in the library, designating the first hour of each day to senior citizens, and providing masks and hand sanitizer. During the shutdown hundreds of programs had to be cancelled. Leaders turned to technology and online resources to continue providing access to materials for all patrons.

With the SRC, leaders such as BLRL

Story by Anne Lisenby Smith

Youth Services Director, Janea Coker, was given the challenge of providing quality programming using safety measures.

“The only thing that has really changed is limited in-person activities,” said Coker. “There will be interactions but not always in real time.” Like past summers, programming is offered across three age categories: child, teen and adult. Most of the programs will be offered only online. The benefit is that patrons who might miss the live event can access the videos and still participate. Coker hopes to have in-person programming available at the end of the summer, dependent on safety recommendations at the time.

“Normally we have 160 presenters across the nine branches for the summer program,” said Coker. The same amount of programming is being offered but on different virtual platforms. An unexpected benefit to online outreach was discovered during the statewide stay-at-home order. “It’s opened our doors to allow us to find new patrons,” Coker said. “Teens in New Jersey and Arizona who had moved from Missouri are participating in virtual programs.”

As in the past, there are prizes available for participants in the SRC. With the summer 2020 theme of “Imagine Your Story,” themed badges can be earned. For example, participants can earn the Genie-ous badge by asking a librarian for a book recommendation or the Creative Cat badge for completing a grab and go craft.

Once five badges are earned, the participant wins an age appropriate prize and can enter the grand prize drawing.

Local “LEGO Lady,” Kara Fletcher, gained fame as a contestant on Fox Television’s LEGO Masters. She has previously shared her love of LEGOS with children at the Barry-Lawrence Library branches. Library staff hopes to share local LEGO lovers’ joy of brick building with Fletcher during upcoming programs.

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“Let’s do something different,” said Gina Milburn, BLRL director, about the grand prize choice. This year’s grand prize will be a $25 Walmart gift card and will be awarded to one person from each age category at all nine library branches. That equals 27 grand prizes this year, more than in the past. Library cardholders in good standing are eligible for the grand prize. All other participation is open to the public. The library encourages locals to sign up for a library card that provides access to books, DVDs, audio books and multiple online resources for e-books and more.

SRC materials are also available for local school classrooms, preschools and day cares. Participating groups or classes aren’t eligible for prizes but will be given bookmarks and activity sheets. After completion of the program, the teacher will earn a collection of books for his or her classroom.

“It’s about community and togetherness.” Coker said about the overall goal of the library.

After the June 2 election, Coker and Milburn are excited that the community voted to support the library system. This allows the library to continue providing programs like the SRC as well as to expand the library collection and technology resources. Funds from the levy will also cover costs of maintenance to library buildings.

“We’ve also submitted an application for the CARES (CoronaVirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act grant,” Milburn said. “We’re waiting for a response.” If funds are given to the BLRL system, Milburn plans to allocate it for Wi-Fi hotspots and improved technological equipment that includes a computer, webcam and green screen to be used for virtual programming.

Milburn, Coker and all the library staff thank the community for their ongoing support. They look forward to seeing familiar faces in the libraries this summer and sharing new resources with the community. n