Grand Opening of “Story Walk” along National Road Bikeway will take place on Mon., June 20, at 11 A. M.
June 17 — The event has been rescheduled for this coming Monday, June 20, 2022, at 11 A. M. The ribbon cutting ceremony is expected to last approximately 10 – 15 minutes. Save time to check out “Swashby and the Sea”!
The following PRESS RELEASE containing additional details was prepared and sent to the media by the St. Clairsville Public Library to announce the Tuesday event.
STC Library Invites Community to Story Walk Unveiling
St. Clairsville – The St. Clairsville Public Library and the City of St. Clairsville invite the community to the grand opening of a new Story Walk located along the National Road Bikeway on Tuesday, June 14, at 11:00 a.m.
The Story Walk is a collaborative effort of the Library and the City. The project includes a set of panels installed along the bike trail just south of the gazebo. Each panel displays a page of a children’s picture book. Participants follow the bike trail to read and interact with each page of the story. Books will be changed throughout the year to offer a fresh experience.
Activities at the grand opening will include a ribbon cutting and Story Walk unveiling, a Find It search activity, free treats and a chance for event participants to win a special door prize. Mayor Thalman believes the Story Walk will be a wonderful addition to the City. “This project combines the joys of reading and love of the outdoors. This is something that families can share in and do together in our City.”
The library received a $6000 federal grant in 2021 for this collaborative project. Library Director Doug Walsh said it was an honor to be one of the 45 libraries in the state selected for this grant. “This will be the first fully-accessible story walk in our area. We’ve had hundreds of people enjoy the library’s temporary story walk events. We’re excited to partner with the City to offer a permanent story walk in our community that will be available for people to read and enjoy all year long.” About 500 libraries in Ohio were eligible for the grant, which was offered by the national Institute of Museum and Library Services and awarded through the State Library of Ohio.
St. Clairsville Public Service/Safety Director Jeremy Greenwood planned the installation, which was completed the first week in June. Library staff will have full responsibility for selecting and changing the children’s books every couple of months. The book on display for the ribbon cutting event will be Swashby and the Sea, which is featured as part of the Library’s current summer reading theme, “Oceans of Possibilities.” Other activities the library has planned during June and July include an aquarium viewing party, story times, and reading challenges to donate fire safety equipment for the Cumberland Trail Fire District. In the months ahead Story Walk books will feature the Belmont County Imagination Library program, an area program to deliver a free book monthly to children from birth to age 5.
The St. Clairsville Public Library serves 16,400 people in the St. Clairsville-Richland district, as well as visitors from other areas. It is located at 108 West Main Street in downtown St. Clairsville, across from the courthouse. The library can be reached at 740-695-2062 or www.stclibrary.org.
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The City is grateful to the St. Clairsville Public Library Director and staff for their efforts to make this project a success! Mayor Thalman encourages residents to visit the Story Walk often.