Brewer Creek Trail has a story to tell
New Story Walk installed by Kendall Young Library
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The newest addition to the Brewer Creek Trail is a StoryWalk, a new service of the Kendall Young Library
What is a Story Walk? It's a simple idea based on three irrefutable facts: we could all benefit from reading more books; most of us don't get enough physical exercise and who wouldn't value more family togetherness?
Last week, Library Director Ketta Lubberstedt-Arjes invited us to take a walk on the Brewer Creek Trail to introduce StoryWalk.
We met at the trail parking lot on Beach Street, and started walking east. There, on the north side of the trail are 20, newly-installed, purpose-built stands, each holding two pages from the book, "This Year, A Witch," by Zoey Abbott. Just in time for Halloween, the book, which is suitable for 4-8 year olds, is fun for the entire family.
"The idea of a StoryWalk was on my list for years. I first heard about it at a library conference," Lubberstedt-Arjes said.
A StoryWalk is basically getting permission to reproduce the pages of a book, place those pages in a protected environment along a walking trail or sidewalk. The story continues as you walk along the trail, so individuals or families can walk a bit, stop and read, then walk further to the next pages and this continues until the story is concluded.
The library tried the concept during the covid pandemic, when the library was closed and there was heightened interest in outdoor activities.
"We had one around the library grounds, and another in Twin Parks. The 4-H and ISU Extension held a StoryWalk downtown," she said.
"Once we talked to a company making StoryWalk signs, but they wanted $15,000. It wasn't affordable," Lubberstedt-Arjes remembers. Yet the concept was one she couldn't walk away from.
"We started fund-raising and writing grants," she said. A break-through came when Carole Koehler, of Webster City, came through with what Lubberstedt-Arjes called "a generous donation."
Then came a $1,000 grant from Enhance Hamilton County Foundation. Two fundraisers - bingo at the Gridiron, and a percentage of the total sales for a day at the Webster City McDonalds, each raised more money.
Then, the library discovered Barking Dog Exhibits of Strum, Wisconsin. The company makes both wood and metal interpretative signs that completely encases the pages of a book in a sealed, water-proof case. Their quote of $5,000 for 20 signs finally brought StoryWalk within the library's reach. Ariel Bertran and Breann Lesher, both of the City of Webster City, obtained permissions, and arranged installation of the signs along the Brewer Creek Trail.
The library plans to change StoryWalk book titles once a month. All books featured on the Boone River Trail Story Walk will also be added to KYL's permanent collection, so those less inclined to walk the trail, or when weather conditions in months like January, interested readers can access the books in the comfort of the library, or their own home.
The youth reading programming has been a priority at Kendall Young library since its founding in 1905. Expansion of the early literacy, summer reading, book clubs, STEM, hands-on learning, teen lounge, and Read-Around-The-Town programs in recent years are reaching more young learners than ever.
Now, Story Walk promises to reach young readers and their families in an entirely new way.