Library planning fun summer programs for children throughout area

Members of the Forrest City Public Library board learned of several summer events planned at the facility this year.

On June 28, from 10 a.m. until noon, the library will host its Tails and Tales summer reading kickoff party, according to Sheila Gracey, children and youth services coordinator for the library.

"We will have bounce houses, hot dogs and more things," Gracey told board members during their meeting.

"Children in kindergarten through sixth grades will get their names entered for a drawing each time they attend a program between June 30 and July 26," said Gracey. "Then, we will draw names at the finale on July 28."

According to Gracey, all programs will begin at 10 a.m., at the library. Some of the programs are being made possible from funding provided by the Lois Nimocks Beason Library Endowment.

Gracey told the board that on July 6, 14 and 21, the library will partner with the St. Francis County Extension Service for a Kids in the Kitchen program.

"They have a lesson and bring prepackaged food for the kids to take home," said Gracey. “I have a lot of carpet squares, so we can move it to another room or outside if it gets big enough."

Other Tails and Tales events will include a story time and craft on June 30 and July 19 and 26; a movie day and craft on July 12 and a story by the Arkansas State Parks on July 7.

At the finale on July 28, the library will have live animals and prize drawings.

"We are hoping we have a good turnout," said Gracey. "They are having summer school and a lot of kids are going back to that."

Gracey also reported the 100th anniversary event saw a good turnout and that the PBS summer special recently hosted by the library also went well.

"We had over 70 who attended the 100th anniversary celebration," said Arlisa Harris, FCPL Director. "We think the numbers were higher than that due to people coming in and leaving, but we counted at least 70."

Also on June 28, adults can look forward to the return of the popular adult coloring program from 5 until 6 p.m.

"Supplies will be provided and no registration is required," said Harris of the program.

Harris also told the board that the library will be applying for an Outdoor Recreation Matching Grant due to the library being located in a public park.

"There are just a lot of steps we have to go through," said Harris.

(Continued from Page 1) She told the board that the library had to do several outreach events as well as a public meeting for the grant.

The public meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 21, at 5:30 p.m.

"We are looking forward to receiving feedback from the community to help us develop outdoor space that will allow us to expand library programming," said Harris.

According to paperwork Harris provided the board, the grant is a 50/50 matching grant up to $250,000 and is administered through the Arkansas Department of Tourism to increase outdoor recreation opportunities in the community and is the same type of matching grant the city previously used for Stuart Springs Park.

Harris also told the board that the library could use money from the recent voter-approved bond issue to match the amount the library needs for the projects.

"We have to do the leg work, but the city will have to apply on behalf of us," said Harris. Harris told the board that Glynis Lynch, grant writer and human resource administrator for the city, shared the Stuart Springs Park application with her. “We don't have to reinvent the wheel and can see the process the city went through before."

Harris told the board she has received some feedback on outdoor ideas.

"I had one patron call about a pavilion in Memphis. I'm in the process of writing all of these suggestions down to include in the packet we turn in for the grant," said Harris.

Harris said several people have also been measuring the library's land for paperwork that is due in August.

Harris also explained that St. Francis County is eligible for $20,247 of funding through the American Rescue Plan Act specifically for the library.

"There are four categories we can apply for," said Harris. "The money is there. We just have to say we want it and why."

Harris told the board that she plans to focus on the enhanced technology category.

"We need a new server, and they cost around $10,000," said Harris. "And we need new public computers. They are three years old, but they get a lot of wear and tear."

Harris also said employees have been touring area libraries as part of staff development.

"We were initially invited to go to the new West Memphis Library and decided to then visit other libraries in the area, so we started in Helena," said Harris. "We got a really in-depth tour of the Helena Library. It is always a good idea to do a tour of libraries to bring back ideas to ours."

Other libraries visited included Poplar-White Station Library and Benjamin Hooks Library in Memphis as well as the Crittenden County Library in Marion.

"We made really good contacts," said Harris. "I've been in close contact with the librarian in Phillips County several times already discussing ideas."

Harris requested the board also approve her attending the Association for Rural and Small Libraries meeting Oct. 20 through 23.

"It is, to me, the best conference I've attended," said Harris of the conference held for rural and small libraries. "Each workshop, every little break-out session is held for rural and small libraries. It has really great information."

The board agreed to allow Harris to attend in person as well as other employees to attend virtually.

The board also approved a temporary trial run of getting a credit card machine to allow patrons to pay fines and memberships with a card.

"It's $9.95 a month and then if someone wants to use their credit card it is a 4% charge," said Harris. The board agreed to review the usage again at the end of the year to see if the library would continue to offer that service.

The board also agreed to increase the youth services pay scale by 50 cents per hour due to recent raises due to minimum wages in other positions.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 12, at 4:45 p.m.