Alta. library takes a book for a walk in the park

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Ponoka Jubilee Library started its Story Walk program after the COVID-19 pandemic closed its facility to in-person visits

PONOKA, Alta. — When COVID-19 halted in-person library programs at the Ponoka Jubilee Library, the librarians took the books and the programs outside and created a story walk.

The book, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, was cut up, glued on boards with a special water-resistant paste and placed along a path in a park outside the library, said Cynthia Bottomley, the Ponoka Jubilee Library’s clerk and programmer.

“We thought it was really nice for families to use the beautiful new park and have a little bit of a library experience. The entire story is there and people just go to each board for the next page,” said Bottomley.

“It was something we wanted to try to do to create a new little program our community could do because unfortunately we had to shut down all in-person programs again because of COVID-19 restrictions, but we do miss in-person programs. We felt this was a little more engaging with the community.”

Toronto Maple Leaf hockey players, RCMP, caribou, loons and other Canadian icons are part of the Story Walk. | MARY MACARTHUR PHOTO

Bottomley credits fellow library program co-ordinator Tiffany Toma with the idea, choosing the story and making the story boards.

At Halloween, Toma chose the book, Pig the Monster, to feature on their story board and it was a hit with children and the community walking through the newly built Old Hospital Rotary Park, outside the library.

“All the pages come from an actual book.”

Once the appropriate books are chosen, copies of the book are ordered, the pages cut and glued on boards before attaching legs to each board.

Once the Christmas season is finished, the boards will be brought back into the library and stored for later programs. Bottomley said they plan on continuing the story walks and expect another one to be placed in the park for Valentine’s Day.