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As part of its efforts to promote reading, the Richmond Public Library has introduced Storywalk to the community.
Photo by Chung Chow
Library adopts Storywalk theme
Richmond Public Library is taking an
innovative approach to reading.
Adopting The StoryWalk® Project, created by
Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the
Kellogg Hubbard Library, the local project aims to share the joy of books with
the public—by taking the art form outside.
“We thought (The StoryWalk® Project) was a
fantastic idea so we decided to create Storywalk kits for our library and make
them available for borrowing,” says Melanie Au, co-ordinator of children and
family services at the Richmond Public Library.
“We would love to see some permanent
installations along trails (for example along the dyke and Richmond Nature
Park), stands that display the pages of a book and allow the pages to be
changed once in a while, so that people walking the trail can read different
stories at different times.”
The local project is a partnership with the
Richmond Fitness and Wellness Association and City of Richmond Community
Services. Au says the goal is to promote language and physical literacy as well
as outdoor play. Ten Storywalk kits have been created so far, using funds
generously donated by the Friends of the Library and Decoda Literacy Solutions.
Each kit includes laminated pages of a book and a facilitator guide with
instructions for leading a Storywalk. Since this is a pilot collection with a
limited number of items, Storywalk kits will only be available to community
centres, city park facilities and schools for borrowing. This lending policy
will be re-evaluated in the fall after the library has a sense of the demand
for this collection.
Storywalk programs were held earlier this
year at the Richmond Move for Health Week Wee Walk on May 16 and Richmond Nature
Park Sense of Wonder Walk on June 24, in addition to the Early Years Fair
earlier this month. The library also has additional programs scheduled on Aug.
20 at the Steveston Library and July 26 and Aug. 16 (in partnership with
Richmond Family Place) at the Hamilton Community Centre Play and Learn program.
“Storywalk programs so far have been received
with enthusiasm and many community centre and school staff are excited about
being able to use the kits in their classrooms,” says Au.
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