This article was written by Zuri Bethel
Ever since the new Webber Park Library opened back in 2017, children and adults alike have experienced the welcoming atmosphere of the librarians and staff. I’ve been a teen volunteer there for a little over a year now, and have been delighted to be able to serve my community in this way. The librarians have been very supportive, and have encouraged me to grow and develop skills at my own pace. Recently, I’ve learned of the many programs that help the children in our community thrive. Two programs, lunchtime and kids’ book club, stand out from the rest.
The Street Eats lunch truck, which was provided by Minneapolis Public Schools until August 30, arrived at the Webber Park Library at around 1 p.m. during the work week. The free lunch, which varied from day to day, was open to those age 18 and younger. On Tuesdays, a hot meal was given, such as hamburgers or turkey dogs. On other days, the meals were mostly salads and sandwiches. A fruit and option of milk was always included.
The kids’ book club has only been up and running for two summers, but the impact on the kids involved has been very positive. Starting on June 12 and ending on August 14, kids anywhere from Kindergarten through 7th grade were invited to come to the library every Wednesday from 2:30-4 p.m. It’s what’s called a drop in book club, meaning no reading was required before hand, and kids didn’t have to come to all the meetings.
This summer, the kids read Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott for the first five weeks of the club. The first meeting consisted of several get-to-know-you games, and then reading time for about 30 minutes. Participating kids could read as little as a sentence and as much as several pages. It all depended on how comfortable they were. The staff helped the kids that needed it, and ASL interpretation could always be requested. The reading was followed by fun, book-related activities, such as making dragon themed bookmarks, conducting science experiments, participating in a scavenger hunt, or even using Skype to contact Zetta Elliot, the author, and asking her questions.
For the last five weeks of the book club, kids focused on reading Jake the Fake by Craig Robinson. Hopewell Music Corporation North partnered with the library, and the activities for this book were all centered around music as a result. The kids were able to do things like create a group song and experiment with different instruments! Both of the books read this summer had African-American main characters and authors, which is a direct result of the library’s focus on providing books with authors who are people of color.
The library also partnered with Webber Park Friends, who made it possible for every kid book club member to receive their own copy of Dragons in a Bag and Jake the Fake.
The goal, according to Webber Librarian Erin Bogle, is to “Bring about fun and engaging programs that encourage kids to explore their interests and passions.”
So for next summer, think about involving your kid in the book club or lunch program, and remember that the library is always looking for new volunteers!