Have story, local libraries will travel

Staff Reports
·2 min read

CANANDAIGUA — The OWWL Library System is partnering with libraries in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston counties to launch OWWL Libraries Traveling Summer StoryWalks. Ten different books will rotate through nine locations each week through Sept. 4.

A Storywalk places an illustrated children’s book, taken apart and displayed page by page, along a walkway or path. Community members can move from panel to panel and enjoy the story displayed on 18-by-24 boards. The OWWL Libraries Traveling Summer StoryWalks will feature 10 books total, each spending one week at each location. The shortest story is 17 panels and longest is 25.

Libraries that do not currently have, support, or sponsor a StoryWalk (or variation of) in their community were eligible to apply to be a part of the program.

The following libraries were selected as Traveling StoryWalks locations: Arcade Free Library; Avon Free Library; Cordelia A. Greene Library (Castile); Gorham Free Library; Honeoye Public Library; Newark Public Library; Mount Morris Library; Phelps Library; and Pike Library.

StoryWalks simultaneously foster early literacy and community health and wellness and can be enjoyed by all ages. Erin Robinson, director of the Arcade Free Library, said, “It has been a wonderful opportunity for our community to be a part of this program. We have had several families plan their trips to the library around the StoryWalks, arriving early for storytime so they can stroll the pages and enjoy the first two books.”

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. For a full list of the books and the OWWL Libraries Traveling Summer StoryWalks, visit owwl.org/traveling-summer-storywalks.

The Canandaigua-based OWWL Library System provides support and services to the 42 OWWL libraries serving Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties. Visit owwl.org/libraries for a full directory of OWWL Libraries.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: OWWL Library System take StoryWalks on the road host traveling reading program.