The Gilmer County Library’s Summer Reading Program, which would normally invite families, children and adults to the library to enjoy live educational entertainment and activities, will be offered online in a virtual format this year.
The library, which has been closed to the public since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began offering check out of materials through a new curbside sidewalk service just last month.
It will still be some time before any in-person activities or gatherings are held there, noted Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) Executive Director Anita Summers. (See story on the library’s phased reopening also in this week’s newspaper.)
“When the libraries closed in March, we had not yet completed our summer programming plans,” said Vicki Luther, interim Gilmer County Library manager.
“We quickly switched gears to planning virtual programming and, out of an abundance of caution, administration made the decision to suspend all onsite programming at least through the end of July. No programs were canceled as none were ever finalized.”
The virtual SRLS Summer Reading Program officially began June 1 and will run through the end of July. It’s being conducted using an online program called Beanstack, which includes tools that help users discover books and set reading goals, Luther noted.
Reading program participants typically keep a log of their summertime reading material and that, too, can be done using the program.
“With Beanstack, users can set reading goals, participate in challenges, earn badges and share their reviews of completed titles for others to view,” noted John Rogers, SRLS Community Engagement Coordinator.
The Beanstack summer programming will be available on the SRLS webpage, SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org. The app can also be downloaded to use on Apple and Android devices.
Adults, teens and children can sign up for Beanstack individually or as a family free of charge, Rogers confirmed.
This theme for this year’s summer program is Imagine Your Story, which highlights the literary genres of fantasy, mythology and fairy tales.
Online summer programming conducted by staff members of Sequoyah system libraries will also be offered on Facebook and YouTube, Luther said.
A schedule can be seen on the SRLS webpage under the “Calendar” tab.