It may be hot, hot, hot outside, but Stories in the Park is totally cool! Our annual summer outdoor storytime is held from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the following locations:
Monday at Willow Creek Park, 1117 Teg Dr.
Wednesday at Wetherby Park, 2400 Taylor Dr.
Friday at Mercer Park, 2701 Bradford Dr.
Please note that Stories in the Park at Willow Creek will still take place every Monday in July despite park construction. We've moved our location a bit further down Teg Drive, closer to Kiwanis Park. Just look for the Bookmobile and you'll find us! In fact, look for the Bookmobile at all Stories in the Park stops. You can drop off items you want to return before the program, then browse for more after. The Bookmobile stays at each Stories in the Park location until 11:30 a.m.
In addition to stories, many of our Stories in the Park programs have special guests. To date, goats and llamas have joined the fun this summer. To see what's coming up, check out our schedule on page 2 of the 2019 Summer Reading Program Kids Program Guide.
Kara shares her day on the Bookmobile
Kara Logsden, the Library's Coordinator of Community and Access Services, recently filled in on the Bookmobile for a vacationing staff member. Kara loves going out on our mobile Library. This is how she remembers her Tuesday on the Bookmobile:
"We started out at Weber Elementary, where we were greeted by a number of people in the neighborhood as well as people who drove to meet us. There were also many visitors who biked to meet us plus a couple who were at the Library last night. They reported that an employee said if they met the Bookmobile first thing this morning, they would find the DVD they were looking for. Sure enough – they were there when we pulled up and we had the DVD!
Our Oaknoll stop was busy with a lot of Holds picked up. We kept the doors open but realized that air conditioning would be needed at the next stop.
Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center was a nice surprise. Many neighborhood children visited as well as a number of adults. There’s usually a lunch program next to where we park, but with the holiday week there was no lunch and no summer program. We still were busy!
Melrose Meadows was the biggest surprise for me. We had a lot of neighborhood people visit as well as Melrose Meadows residents. We had hoped that this stop would increase in use and it certainly has. Lots of returns at this stop and Holds picked up.
Autumn Park was also a nice surprise. Two visitors used the lift to access the Bookmobile and everyone was so appreciative that we added this stop to our summer schedule. I saw the Library’s elevator repair person here and we both said to each other, 'What are you doing here!?'"
While the First Avenue HyVee stop wasn't that busy, Kara was excited to wrap up her day at Hills Elementary School, which she attended when she was little.
"It was a great day on the Bookmobile – especially with the air conditioning and all the happy visitors," Kara says.
Last minute notes about summer on the Bookmobile
Did you know you can complete the 2019 Summer Reading Program without visiting the downtown location? You can register for the program on the Bookmobile, turn in your completed game card and pick up your prize on our mobile library. Check out our Summer Schedule to find us out and about through August 16.
If you approach the Bookmobile and our doors are closed, it's because we have the AC on. One of the benefits about the Bookmobile is it's cool in the summer and warm in the winter, so be sure to try the doors. If we're scheduled to be at that stop, we promise they're unlocked!
