Ideas to Action: Kenosha Public Library Helps Keep Community Active and Healthy
Marcia Siehr, Head of Outreach Services, Kenosha Public Library
Lisa Langsdorf, Youth Outreach Librarian, Kenosha Public Library
Kenosha Public Library’s original plan for our KPL Mind and Body project was to help keep patrons physically active and entertained while safely waiting outside the Bookmobile and Book Truck for their turn to board through dance, but the project has changed a bit since its inception. Due to the pandemic, the city parks were closed for most of the summer and fall, the pools did not open, the summer parks programs were canceled, and chess in the park was canceled. We requested permission to do some dance parties at our after-school stops but were denied by the district because they don’t want any gathering or lingering.
Of the events we did offer, our first music and motion outside program called “Book Truck Boogie: Latin Hits” to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month had zero attendance on a Saturday. This would have been our first special event to feature the new PA sound system and our new hula hoops that were purchased for the project. We also offered a bi-monthly “Walk and Talk Book Club” program through the end of October but it was also not well attended. Perhaps the civil unrest experienced in Kenosha at the end of August also affected the feeling of security in the community. We think that many families were hunkered down, safe at home, and staying there.
In late fall and early winter, we had some unexpected mechanical problems with our Bookmobile. We switched to using our smaller outreach vehicles in creative ways to bring service to the community. We have not given up and anticipate spring with hopes to bring our activities to the parks and other Bookmobile stops. We offered 10 books in a bag, and many people took us up on this offer, especially while we were closed to the public. Participation in this has leveled off since the branches and vehicles opened back up to visitors. We have been pre-selecting and dropping off bags & bins of books for participating schools and daycares that would normally have been Bookmobile stops but this year cannot welcome visitors.
Stopping the spread of the virus is being taken seriously by our patrons and having access to library materials is essential for many people for their mental well-being as well as their physical well-being.
At the public Bookmobile stops, we have been offering a monthly to-go family kit, purchased with funds outside of Ideas to Action dollars. These give us something to talk to the families about while they are waiting for their turn on the Bookmobile. As the weather turned colder and the snow piled up, we found families spending only a few minutes on the Bookmobile. Many families are placing all holds ahead and sending a parent to pick up. At a typical weekly stop where we would have had 4 to 6 family visits, we now have only 1 or 2. During COVID, we restricted visitors aboard to a single family at a time. We put materials on tables and carts outside until the snow fell so more people could access items at the same time.
We were planning to put together 10-book kits in canvas bags with KPL logos, but we think these may not be necessary. Instead, we think that putting together healthy lifestyle/fitness kits may have more impact on our community. Families seem interested in activities they can do together. Our “Library of Things” has been very popular this year. There are outdoor games and large motor skill activities that support our Mind and Body Program. We would like to redirect the funds that would have been used for canvas bags towards Mind & Body kits focused on topics like anxiety, depression, gentle exercise, couch to 5k, Zumba, and more.
Once the weather warms up, we’ll add our hula hoops and share stories like The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen read by Oprah Winfrey using our new speaker system and then offer socially distanced hula hooping. Families can challenge themselves and each other. We can then also offer other music and motion programs. We plan to offer outdoor storytime at Bookmobile stops three to four times a week this summer followed by dance parties. We will be using some of the grant funds to purchase two lapel microphones or headsets to facilitate doing the outdoor storytimes, mostly at park stops.
We have learned that the community wants the Bookmobile stops to continue. The teachers and students want to visit with us and keep our connection strong. Getting and staying healthy is a priority for families. Stopping the spread of the virus is being taken seriously by our patrons and having access to library materials is essential for many people for their mental well-being as well as their physical well-being.
Comments are closed.