by Catherine Vasko
In early 2023, grant applications were submitted for permanent StoryWalk® Exhibits (StoryWalk for short) to be installed near the Carroll Valley and East Berlin branches of the Adams County Library System (ACLS). On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, official word was received that the applications were approved. That’s right, folks – two new StoryWalks are coming soon to a park near you!
The permanent StoryWalk in Carroll Valley will be in Carroll Valley Park, which is right beside the Carroll Valley Borough building where the library is located. This is also where the Carroll Valley branch has installed temporary StoryWalks since August 2020. Prior to that, there was never a storywalk of any kind in the Fairfield Area. What started as a fun way to bring the library to the community during the pandemic quickly developed into more.
“We have hundreds of people that participate in our StoryWalk every month,” says Sherrie DeMartino, Branch Manager of the Carroll Valley Library. “Kids and adults come in and tell us how much they love it, so I think a permanent storywalk will be very well received! We love finding cute and funny children’s books that we think will be enjoyed by both adults and children. We love the Mother Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins! We also try to get fun books for the holidays, seasonal books, and maybe one that’s a little spooky for Halloween.”
Over in East Berlin, the StoryWalk for the Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Library will be located in the East Berlin Community Park. Similarly to Carroll Valley, Trone only began installing temporary StoryWalks during the pandemic. When asked what excites her the most about the upcoming installation, Dana Henry, Children’s Specialist at Trone, replied that StoryWalks are akin to “drive-thru literacy” or “walk-thru literacy” – a quick way yet meaningful way for children and their families to get drawn into a story and become interested in more. Her hope is that the StoryWalk will lead families to the library, whether they are current patrons or prospective!
The permanent installations will come with longevity and sturdier, more durable materials that can withstand the elements and changing landscape. “The posts and boards that we currently use for our StoryWalk need to be replaced often. Permanent posts will save us time and labor and will also be easier for the Borough’s maintenance crew to mow around,” says DeMartino. Similarly, the temporary StoryWalk at Trone did not fare well against the elements this winter. Seemingly, one of the signs had gone missing when, in actuality, it had been concealed underneath a pile of snow, bending the signage a bit. The panels of the permanent StoryWalk will not only be easy to locate, but will be able to withstand the unpredictable winter weather of Central Pennsylvania.
Specific dates for installation in Carroll Valley and East Berlin have not yet been determined. Once materials are able to be ordered, it will take one to two months for them to arrive. Volunteer opportunities for community members to assist in the installation process will likely arise, so keep an eye out! Not to mention, celebrations over the finished results will vary between branches. Make sure you keep up to date with them on Facebook to stay in the know!
What stories are YOU looking forward to seeing installed in the Carroll Valley and East Berlin parks?
Catherine Vasko is Branch Manager of Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin.