by Jessi Burns, Director of Public Services
When most people think of libraries, they think of a quiet space full of books and places to read. However, libraries—including our community’s libraries—are so much more.
Librarians transform spaces to provide opportunities to come together, create, and learn for all ages. We recognize that kids need an outlet after school. Libraries provide not only a space for kids to read and do homework, but also to gather with friends, engage, and unwind through the afterschool programs we offer.
Juniper Library in Grand Lake offers a weekly program that is driven by the participants in what they do. Kids from kindergarten to high school can participate. They have developed a community garden, created blankets for children in long term care at the Children’s Hospital, engaged in friendly competition as they play Wii games together, and they regularly receive homework help.
The Fraser Valley Library’s afterschool program varies from month to month. There, kids can do arts and crafts, play Bingo or other games, create science projects, get homework help, watch a movie, and more.
Kremmling Library’s Afterschool Club is a seasonal affair held once a quarter for students in kindergarten through second grade, which often includes crafts. Additionally, creating gingerbread houses is an annual program held each December for kindergarteners on up to fifth graders.
Granby Library and Kremmling Library also offer LEGO clubs. Granby Library’s is available on the first and third Fridays of each month, while Kremmling Library’s is scheduled on the second Tuesday every month. These clubs are a fun, unstructured time for kids to play with a huge assortment of LEGOs and to collaborate with their friends on their creations.
At Fraser Valley Library, kids can play and create with the library’s LEGOs collection enhanced with Cubelets robotics on the first Wednesday of every month. Not only that, but during the same time, they can read to Sophie, a trained service dog who provides a relaxed, comfortable, and safe environment for kids to read to a loyal listener. The programs run concurrently so that kids can do both if they wish.
Granby Library and Hot Sulphur Springs Library each offer a family movie matinee once per month. These movie matinees are open to all ages, and many kids come after school to watch. G or PG movies are shown, and snacks are provided!
Kremmling Library also provides Virtual Reality (VR) sessions for teens in sixth grade and older. VR is a new technology that’s fun for gaming, creating music, or traveling to new worlds—all without leaving your library.
Our libraries are happy to provide a safe and enriching environment for kids to come together and learn. Library staff are enthusiastic about helping children and are dedicated to cultivating more and better learning opportunities for the kids in our community. Check out our program calendar at www.gcld.org and our librarians look forward to seeing your child at an upcoming afterschool program!
