By John Rodgers
Have you visited the library this spring? All Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) locations are open for indoor and curbside services, and residents across Cherokee County came by to celebrate April’s National Library Week.
The festivities began with a week-long fine forgiveness program, where visitors could have up to $15 in overdue fees removed from their accounts, no questions asked. (If you missed out on fine forgiveness during National Library Week, don’t worry. Announcements for future promotions are posted to the SRLS website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.)
“National Library Week serves as a reminder that everyone, whether you’re visiting in-person or virtually, is welcome at their public library,” Executive Director Anita Summers said.
Library visitors learned they could use their SRLS library card to check out a Google Chromebook to use at home, for school, in the office, or in the library. After all, why buy when you can borrow? The Google Chromebooks are part of SRLS’s “Library of Things,” a collection of borrowable items that includes board games, robotics, sewing machines and musical instruments. (Yes, you can borrow a ukulele from the library.)
Patrons have used the Library of Things to plan family activity nights, borrow sewing machines to tailor clothes for job interviews, or practice an instrument before investing in purchasing one.
April brought the long-awaited return of in-person (but socially distanced) programming at the library, including outdoor storytimes and Sequoyah-Con, an annual convention featuring superheroes, cosplay and virtual programs, which can be viewed on the library’s YouTube channel.
Visitors to Hobgood Park and Towne Lake Pass Trail enjoyed books outdoors with TrailStory, a collaboration between the library, Cherokee Recreation and Parks, and Woodstock Parks and Recreation. Signs with storybook pages and discussion questions were posted along the parks’ trails, where readers could follow along at their own pace all month. Be on the lookout for future TrailStories this summer.
Upcoming Events, Free Pick-up Crafts
During May, each SRLS library is giving away free pick-up craft kits for visitors to create DIY bird feeders, butterfly wind chimes, rainbow spinners, and much more. In-person program attendees will be able to celebrate spring by making flower seed bombs, paint miniatures, and dance with music and moves. To view the full schedule for pick-up crafts and sign up for in-person or virtual library programming, visit calendarwiz.com/sequoyahreglib.
Bio
John Rodgers is the community engagement manager for the Sequoyah Regional Library System.
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