Summer has arrived. School is over for the summer. Families are planning trips. Kids and adults are signed up for swim classes, art camps, jazz and ballet classes, and more. Visits to the local aquarium are scheduled. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are seeking activities that engage the brain and keep the body active.
Along with those physical activities, we also need mental stimulation. A wonderful place to visit is the local library. Alan and I take our grandchildren, Rowan and Eden, to the library.
Our local library offers more than books. There are classes for children and adults. From games to crafts to story time, the library is filled with activities and ways to learn. We’ve created origami creatures, listened to special guests share about other countries, participated in a scavenger hunt in the children’s section, attended music hour in a special room, and sat in a window book nook to read books.
After we have chosen books to take home, we get in line at the checkout counter, and wait our turn. A table nearby offers coloring pages, word find sheets, information about the ocean, and a calendar of upcoming events. These things are for everyone to take home. No charge.
Last year, a display near the entrance offered free seeds for everyone to take home. This gave a great learning experience for kids and adults. We planted cosmos seeds and watched beautiful plants burst from the soil providing purple and white flowers during the summer.
Another project was a plastic bag with a bean inside. Instructions on how to take care of the bean and how to watch it grow were provided. Each project offered the opportunity to share what we learned with each other.
The Summer Reading Program offers prizes for a certain amount of books read. T-shirts, bookmarks, and coupons to local eateries can be earned.
My local writer’s group, the American Christian Fiction Writers South Carolina Lowcountry chapter meets at the library on the fourth Saturday of the month. We have a private room with tables, chairs, and a television screen for online presentations. The members of the group have expressed thankfulness for the library, the staff, and the volunteers.
The children’s area is decorated with unique art pieces. From a large mural of a dinosaur to paintings and drawings by local folks, there is always something new to enjoy at the library.
Recently, as we entered the library, I realized that “Storytime for Toddlers” was finishing. Toddlers filled the children’s area. Parents and grandparents followed as the smiling young ones walked from the book shelves to the computer area to the play area. The children’s section was buzzing with sounds of laughter and stories being read aloud.
I looked at Rowan. He didn’t complain about all of the babies and toddlers. He smiled and looked at his sister Eden. Rowan was on a mission looking for books. Bop (my husband Alan) and Rowan went to look for chapter books. Eden and I went to the computer games and to find stories about baby animals.
The staff is always available to help us find a book or to offer guidance. When we enter the Wando Mount Pleasant Library, we are greeted with smiles. As we search, the staff is happy to help us find the perfect book. When we’re ready to check out, we are greeted with more smiles. Sometimes, we receive bookmarks or stickers.
Some libraries offer food programs for the summer. Free food is given to those people who need nourishment.
Looking around, I notice people sitting in comfy chairs reading newspapers. I see folks searching for books. I see people returning books at the designated area. The activity inside the building is fascinating.
The Charleston Friends of the Library Big Book Sale event was recently held at a local auditorium. Over 50,000 books were available for purchase at low prices. This event helps raise funds.
I’m thankful for libraries and librarians. I’m also thankful for authors and books. I’m an author and seeing people reading and checking out books from the library makes me smile.
Have you visited your local library? What interesting activities did you notice?
Have a blessed day,
Melissa Henderson
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