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Date: 8/3/2021
SOUTHWICK – Southwick Public Library Director Lynn Blair discussed upcoming programs, both new and returning, that the library will be putting on over the next two months.
Blair said that the library has partnered with the Climate and Environmental Justice Group from Voices Rising Together. She said the Library and VRT are planning several programs for Climate Preparedness Week, which is Sept. 24-30.
“We also decided to be a Climate Preparedness hub. So we have resources in the lobby, brochures just to help people get a better idea of extreme weather, and things that are going on as far as climate change,” said Blair.
Blair said that the library has also hired two new staff members to the Children’s Department. Rylee Seaver was hired as a part-time children’s librarian, and Molly Encarnacion as the new coordinator of children’s services.
“We have a whole new staff in the children’s room led by Molly, who has some pretty great ideas, and a pretty full calendar for August and September,” said Blair.
Encarnacion said that in-person story time will be making a comeback after it had been paused during the pandemic.
“People have been asking about that almost daily since I’ve been here,” said Encarnacion.
She said that “maker spaces,” an interactive community artwork station, will return to the children’s room monthly. A maker space art piece, to which people of all ages can contribute, will be set up Aug. 16-20 in the Children’s Room.
She said normal individual crafting activities will return, as well. Lego Club will also be returning in September as an after-school activity.
Encarnacion said that “Animal Adventures” will return Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. An animal expert will come to the library on a regular basis, with live animals. Blair and Encarnacion said that they did not yet know what kinds of animals would come to the event.
She said that a baby sign-language program will return in August and September, as a weekly class on Zoom. She said it is for parents of children aged 5 months to 1 year.
The Southwick Public Library had shut down for several months during the pandemic, and at one point was open for curbside service only, with any events taking place via Zoom. Blair said that she is glad that things can take place in-person again, but that they found there were some programs that actually worked better online than they did in person.
“[The pandemic] did impact us, but it taught us new ways to be adaptable. Everything was changing so quickly that we kind of had to think on our toes,” said Blair.
She said that some of the genealogy programs she sometimes runs worked better virtually, because of the ability to share her screen and jump around to different pages, while people could watch in their own homes.