Something for Everyone at BPL
By Albert B. Kelly
Think of the library, and you naturally think of books. It
only makes sense since the library has many thousands of books on just about
any topic under the sun. As a confirmed lover of books and reading, my area of
interest is history; yet Bridgeton Public Library has a wide selection that will
have something of interest no matter what your passion might be.
But the Bridgeton Public Library is more than just books. On
any given week, BPL has various programs that aim to serve a variety of age
groups; everything from pre-school and elementary age children to teens and
seniors. Of course BPL has its mainstays from month to month, but they also
include monthly special events. I encourage everyone to check out their website
from month to month at www.bridgetonlibrary.org
to view the line-up.
One regular monthly feature is “Story Time”. Generally held
on Tuesday morning’s beginning at 10:00am, each session features a different
storybook with songs, crafts, and related activities built around the day’s
theme for children up to age 6. No registration is required, so parents can
just come as they may from week to week.
One new feature will be Spanish Story Time for children ages
2-6 years old who have English as a second language. While the sessions will be
bi-lingual to accommodate all in attendance, it is part of expanding efforts to
serve our diverse community of children who are part of the fabric of our
community. This new offering is on Saturdays.
For teens, each Tuesday is “Teen Tuesday”. With a start time
of 6:00pm, the program varies weekly and might include movie night, DYI
projects, arts and crafts, or guest speakers addressing topics and issues of
importance to teens during this season of life.
For adults of all ages, there are films and book readings
sprinkled throughout the month as well as workshops and special events. There
are also opportunities to get involved in the library in terms of its mission and
relationship to the community through advocacy groups Save the Library and Friends
of the Library that meet at the library monthly.
Both STL and Friends play a critical role in supporting the
library and undertaking capital improvements that would likely remain undone
without their efforts. We’re fortunate to have them.
The Bridgeton Library includes the Lego Club and the
Minecraft Club in their monthly line-up and this is a great way for young
children to engage in creative thinking. I’ve heard that Lego projects and
Minecraft often serve as an introduction to STEM concepts- providing a
foundation for moving into robotics and more advanced STEM activities.
For reluctant readers, BPL has their “Read to Therapy Dogs”
program each month at the library. Until BPL had started the Therapy Dogs
program, I had never heard of using this technique to help young readers gain
more confidence, but it is a wonderful concept. In recent years, I have read of
how therapy dogs are used in a variety of settings from nursing homes to
schools and even among our veterans.
So there’s a lot to do in any given month at the Bridgeton
Public Library, but the thing to remember is that most of this programming is
free to the public. In a community with fiscal and economic challenges this is
not always a given, but it is part of serving the community and acknowledging
the challenges we face.
Our library is always looking for volunteers on the
programming side. Do you have a special skill or a passion that could benefit
others? If so, consider teaching a workshop or heading up an activity or a
program. Business leaders might serve as a guest speaker for teens- providing
insight and guidance about their business and what it takes to succeed.
While you might not have time to offer, would you be willing
to help the library with a donation? Funding is tight these days and there’s always
a need for updated facilities and upgraded equipment. There’s also a need for
enhanced security. So every donation is appreciated.
I highlight BPL because many families and individuals depend
on our library to engage with the world. Providing more resources remains a
goal, but it is difficult given the fiscal constraints and competing needs. Yet
the staff, as highlighted by the line-up above, accomplishes much with what
they have and because they do, there’s something for everyone at the Bridgeton
Public Library.