Stairway To Fun

By Reagan ConnellyThe Wymore Public Library has fun and exciting events planned for the public this summer.The library does their program through the Gage County Extension office so the theme this year is “Oceans of Possibility.”Director Austin Jackson said though the summer programming will not include reading this year there will be many events for the community to attend.Jackson said that during the COVID-19 pandemic the program had to be canceled and the library is working back up to where it was before the pandemic.“I hope by next year we can have the reading again,” Jackson said.The Gage County Extension Office has four events planned for the summer.On June 17, the library will have “Dolphin Tail Design.”On July 8, the library has an event titled “Treasure Your Heart.”On July 15, there is an event called “Our Blue Planet.”Finally on July 22, there is an event called “Salt, It’s Not Just for Taste.”All events will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m.In addition to these, Jackson said he has some events of his own in the works which will be announced later.Jackson said he has plans to rent out the pool for one event as well as hosting events with many games and activities at the library. He said the library does not hold sign-ups for the events and they are open to the public of Wymore.“To be truthful this is my first Summer Reading Library Program, so we’re going to start out small this year but grow as we go,” Jackson said.Jackson indeed does have big plans for the library.“One thing I’ve changed is the checkout system,” Jackson said. “I’ve totally revamped that.”The library previously used the stamping method for due dates, however Jackson did away with that, and the library now uses receipts.“With the stamping system, when families would come in and check out thirty or so books it would sometimes take up to five minutes to check out,” Jackson explained. “But with the receipts it’s much quicker.”Jackson said he also reorganizing the kids’ section. Previously the section was catalogued by author, but that doesn’t make sense for little kids who aren’t interested in authors, Jackson said.The new system will have the books organized by topic and separated into labeled bins. This will make it easier for children to find exactly what they are looking for.Jackson is also putting together a space for teens to read as well as a gaming space in the basement of the library.“Video games are very expensive so we will have some games here as well as some systems for kids to use after school,” Jackson said.He added that he hopes to partner with Southern Public Schools new Esports team to let the students practice at the library.Jackson took over as the director last year and will be celebrating his first anniversary as director in June. He has big plans for the library and believes he is exactly where he is supposed to be.“To be truthful, I really like it. I’ve always been a reader, so this is the perfect job for me,” Jackson said.

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