There is a new interactive feature maintained by the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library in Fadear Park in downtown Barriere that encourages literacy.
Librarian Pam Rudd said as far as she knows the story walk is the first one of its kind being permanently installed in B.C.
“I approached the District of Barriere with the concept in 2020 and in less than a month I had the donations needed to build it in the park.”
Rudd describes the walk as being an “interactive activity outside of the library that encourages literacy, connection and play” and this feature is a joy for her personally to watch from her window in the library that overlooks the park.
“It’s so wonderful to see not only children but even adults and elders acting out the story along the pathway and at times seeing people skip and dance through the stories together as they progressively read them.”
The story walk had a grand opening in 2020 during the pandemic and it is permanently installed with the books being rotated every two months year round. The displays are actual purchased books that have been deconstructed and mounted in order along the walk says, Rudd. “We put appropriate titles into the installation displays.
The next installment of a seasonal well-loved classic story, ‘The Mitten’ by Jan Brett will be happening just before the large events on both Saturday Dec. 9 with Ho – Ho Hold your Horses at the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Grounds and district of Barriere’s Winterfest on Sunday Dec. 10.
“During the Sunday on Dec. 10 in conjunction with Winterfest, we will be promoting the use of the StoryWalk® as well as having a scavenger hunt in Fadear Park. There will be a hunt for a laminated card with a book title on it and that will be exchanged in the library for a book to take home of that same title the kids can keep. This will be our second scavenger hunt and it’s a way to involve the library outside of the library walls,” says Rudd.
The Thompson Nicola Regional District approved this unique extension of outdoor literacy and interactive play and the District of Barriere provided the install at no cost to the local library in support.
The stories are “changed out” between six to eight times a year and the library welcomes title suggestions for future installations at: barlib@tnrd.ca or call 250-672-5811
The story walk feature has been made possible by: Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach, Raise a Reader Program, The TNRD, The District of Barriere, Yellowhead Community Services and Visual Signs Printing. Donors: Shyanne Johnson, Barriere TIMBER MART, Scott Kershaw, Ward Stamer, Pat Appel and Jay Deyman.
