Barry-Lawrence Library receives
CARES grant
July 29, 2020
Verna Fry, of the Cassville branch of Barry-Lawrence Regional Libraries, demonstrates storyhour, which is now a virtual performance made possible with equipment provided through a CARES Grant to Missouri libraries.
Sheila Harris
The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library has been awarded a $25,066 grant from the Missouri State Library, according to Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Funds were made available through the CARES Act and Library Services Technology Act (LSTA).
According to Barry-Lawrence Regional Library director, Gina Milburn, because the funds must be used in a specific way – for the purpose of digital inclusion and technical support in the face of COVID-19 safety concerns - the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library applied for the grant for the purpose of purchasing 30 mobile hot-spot devices, which could be checked out by patrons.
“With the devices – with wireless service provided through T-Mobile - patrons will be able to access the internet from home, or any other location they need to work from,” Milburn explained. “We foresee that the devices will really be beneficial for students.
“However,” she continued, “they won’t be available for check-out until probably the end of August. We’ll have to determine a policy for their use – age limits, length of check-out time, etc. - so we’ll have to wait for a library board meeting in order to work out all the details. We’ll probably come up with some type of contract for patrons to sign saying they agree to bring it back and will be responsible for its replacement if it’s damaged. There are quite a few details to work out.”
In addition to the wireless hot-spots, the Monett and Cassville library branches each received a laptop, camera and green screen, providing them with the ability to record professional-quality virtual presentations – especially beneficial for children’s story hours.
Cassville Youth Services Director, Verna Fry, has already put the new equipment to use with the recording of “The Princess and The Pea,” a fairy tale which follows this month’s theme of “Imagine Your Story.”
In pre-COVID-19 days, Fry held two in-person story times per week at the Cassville Library. Now, since everything must be done virtually, she’s had to become creative.
“In May,” she said, “I did a virtual presentation I called ‘Rainy Day Storytime,’ with one episode in honor of ‘World Turtle Appreciation Day’ on May 23.”
Although the library reopened for patrons on June 1, children’s in-person story time is still on hiatus.
“All our toys and props have been put in storage in our story theater until further notice,” Fry said. “But, with the library now open, I created a make-shift virtual story-time studio in a downstairs storage closet. There are no windows nor telephones to distract with unwanted light and sound, so it works out really well, especially with our new studio equipment.”
The closet-studio is decked out with an enchanted forest backdrop, from where Fry reads to an imaginary audience.
“It’s a little harder to present virtually,” Fry said, “since I don’t have the visual cues from the children, but I’ve read enough stories that I know when to pause, and how much time to allow for my pretend audience to respond.”
Fry said she loves reading to the toddlers.
“Little kids are just so genuine,” she said. “I miss them so much. I’ll be glad when we can do in-person sessions again.”
To tune in to Verna Fry’s virtual story presentations, visit the Cassville Branch Library’s Facebook page. Sessions are geared toward four-year-olds and are 12 to 15 minutes in length.
The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library has been awarded a $25,066 grant from the Missouri State Library, according to Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Funds were made available through the CARES Act and Library Services Technology Act (LSTA).
According to Barry-Lawrence Regional Library director, Gina Milburn, because the funds must be used in a specific way – for the purpose of digital inclusion and technical support in the face of COVID-19 safety concerns - the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library applied for the grant for the purpose of purchasing 30 mobile hot-spot devices, which could be checked out by patrons.
“With the devices – with wireless service provided through T-Mobile - patrons will be able to access the internet from home, or any other location they need to work from,” Milburn explained. “We foresee that the devices will really be beneficial for students.
“However,” she continued, “they won’t be available for check-out until probably the end of August. We’ll have to determine a policy for their use – age limits, length of check-out time, etc. - so we’ll have to wait for a library board meeting in order to work out all the details. We’ll probably come up with some type of contract for patrons to sign saying they agree to bring it back and will be responsible for its replacement if it’s damaged. There are quite a few details to work out.”
In addition to the wireless hot-spots, the Monett and Cassville library branches each received a laptop, camera and green screen, providing them with the ability to record professional-quality virtual presentations – especially beneficial for children’s story hours.
Cassville Youth Services Director, Verna Fry, has already put the new equipment to use with the recording of “The Princess and The Pea,” a fairy tale which follows this month’s theme of “Imagine Your Story.”
In pre-COVID-19 days, Fry held two in-person story times per week at the Cassville Library. Now, since everything must be done virtually, she’s had to become creative.
“In May,” she said, “I did a virtual presentation I called ‘Rainy Day Storytime,’ with one episode in honor of ‘World Turtle Appreciation Day’ on May 23.”
Although the library reopened for patrons on June 1, children’s in-person story time is still on hiatus.
“All our toys and props have been put in storage in our story theater until further notice,” Fry said. “But, with the library now open, I created a make-shift virtual story-time studio in a downstairs storage closet. There are no windows nor telephones to distract with unwanted light and sound, so it works out really well, especially with our new studio equipment.”
The closet-studio is decked out with an enchanted forest backdrop, from where Fry reads to an imaginary audience.
“It’s a little harder to present virtually,” Fry said, “since I don’t have the visual cues from the children, but I’ve read enough stories that I know when to pause, and how much time to allow for my pretend audience to respond.”
Fry said she loves reading to the toddlers.
“Little kids are just so genuine,” she said. “I miss them so much. I’ll be glad when we can do in-person sessions again.”
To tune in to Verna Fry’s virtual story presentations, visit the Cassville Branch Library’s Facebook page. Sessions are geared toward four-year-olds and are 12 to 15 minutes in length.
