Our StoryWalk® started as a small, temporary exhibit (called a “Story Path”) during the Covid-19 shutdown, using upcycled election signs we’d primed over! The launch event was the first outdoor, live program we offered in May of 2021. In addition to reading Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson, children were given the opportunity to make a bird nesting ball so they could further enjoy what they learned about watching backyard birds!
We followed up with other great books, including Chicken Story Time by Sandy Asher (with the local author coming to read it herself) and Rah! Rah! Radishes! by April Pulley Sayre just as our community garden was ready to harvest!
Our partnership with Longwood Gardens provides several outstanding StoryWalk® titles! In addition to Ruby’s Birds (above), we’ve also exhibited the 2022 and 2023 featured children’s selections! We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow, and Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie by Robbin Gourley.
Our simpler, temporary Story Path using plastic signs was a great way to reuse old materials and save money, but the Southern End has some fierce wind and our installations were not surviving for more than a week.
We wanted to offer a more robust exhibit with real signs, but funds in our library are always limited. So we sought and were awarded an ILMS grant which allowed us to purchase permanent signage!
The exhibit was installed in the summer of 2023. We partnered with several local organizations and businesses to bring this project to fruition:
. 
Lancaster County CTC teachers and students built wood frames as a project – the grant supplied the raw materials, the students gave their time for school credit and as goodwill!
Next, we had to find a way to move the materials around…enter another great partner to save the day! Note that the frames were kindly warehoused by our own staffer Roberta Walton while they were being finished!
Our early literacy sponsors, Reynolds & Shivery Funeral Home, provided volunteers who assisted our board president Chris Waite to do the hard work of putting things in place.
On launch day, we had lots of well-wishers come to our ribbon-cutting ceremony – then we walked the path for the first time!
Keeping the path safe for kids will fall into the domain of Troop 76, who have volunteered their time and effort to come and trim back the brush along the edges of the path.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
StoryWalk® is an innovative and delightful way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to your choice of frames, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you’re directed to the next page in the story.
StoryWalks® have been installed in 50 states and 13 countries including, Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea! They are always received with appreciation.
This project is made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.