Reading program fosters community engagement

The world has seen a lot of changes in the last year due to COVID-19, but that hasn’t stopped Randi Strutton, at Atlanta Public Library, from continuing to serve patrons and engage children in a fun new virtual reading program hosted through Facebook Live.

Strutton posts a live video story time on the library’s Facebook page every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. accompanied by a craft video on Thursdays that kids can do at home, with supplies often provided and able to be picked up from the library. According to Strutton, the virtual reading program has had a very positive response from the community, the posted videos reaching between 200 and 400 people.

“We are so grateful that technology has allowed us to still have that interaction, to a degree, with our patrons,” said Strutton. “For the kids it’s been almost a year now since they’ve been in a story time. So it keeps them where we’re still familiar.”

Like many libraries across Texas, Atlanta Public Library has taken advantage of available resources for the virtual reading program. Publishers of children’s books on Project Gutenberg, a digital library of over 60,000 free eBooks, have opened their copyright laws for live video readings, allowing libraries like Atlanta’s to continue with its usual reading programs, but on an online basis.

The idea of the virtual reading program came after COVID-19 forced the library to shut down for two months last year. Strutton discussed the program with former Library Director, Jackie Icenhower, and Assistant Director, Tammie Davidson, citing a hope to keep the community involved and children engaged during the difficult time.

“Our hearts want them back, but we also want them all to be safe,” said Strutton.

The virtual story time took a break for the Summer Reading Program, but made a return for the holidays in December and has been regularly hosted ever since, but like most people, Strutton is excited to see an end to the COVID-19 situation, “We look forward to the time when we can have them all back and hanging out and playing and doing what they’ve gotten used to doing,” she said.

Patrons interested in in the virtual reading program can check the Atlanta Public Library’s Facebook page for a schedule of times for live and recorded videos for the week as well as if there are any craft materials that can be picked up from the library, which Strutton posts every Monday.

The library remains open and available for checkout of materials Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.