West Plains – After COVID-19 canceled the West Plains Public Library’s in-person portions of the 2020 Summer Reading Program, the library was once again excited to invite kids and adults to participate.
“I truly believe that what I see the most out of kids and parents is relief,” said Director of Library Services Shawnie Kennedy. “Relief not to have to be cooped up any longer, and relief to be able to socialize again. To feel a part of the village once again, instead of isolated. I think the kiddos are excited for the program, even though there is extra reading, because it is outside of the home, it involves other kids and they get a break from being cooped up.”
The program began June 1 with a “Kick Off Carnival” and will continue through July.
Through the first few weeks of the program, hundreds of kids have attended the scheduled storytimes, craft and activities.
“This has also been a great way for the library to get back into the swing of in-person programming,” said Kennedy. “The library is more welcoming than ever, more focused and ready to celebrate the lack of restrictions and limitations.”
Below is a schedule of events and activities for remainder of the program:
Ages 3-12
- Tuesdays – Storytime and crafts
- Thursdays – Presenters and activities
- Thursday, July 29 – End of Summer Reading Program party and prizes
Ages 13-18
- Fridays – Teen Program Days. Teens can earn book bucks for reading milestones and program participation.
- Friday, July 30 – End of Summer Reading Program party and prizes.
Adults
- Every other Wednesday – Adult Summer Reading Program with prizes for events and reading milestones.
“I really want people to learn to love the library and all it has to offer, instead of just using the library because we have books or computers,” said Kennedy. “If we give the young people in our community great experiences and memories of being at the library, that will carry through to adulthood and they are likely to pass it on to the next generations.”
The West Plains Public Library is located at 750 W Broadway Street. Hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can learn more by calling 417-256-4775 or visiting https://www.westplainslibrary.org.
