‘In it together’ was the buzzphrase of the pandemic’s early days. Three years on, they continue to be the words that three libraries in West Niagara choose to operate by.
MINI GRANT- Grimsby Public Library
A mini grant of $750 from Niagara Community Foundation in 2022 enabled the Grimsby Public Library (GPL) to purchase 30 puppets for children’s and family programming. But rather than keep the cast of characters for itself, the library made the purchase with its counterparts in Lincoln and West Lincoln in mind.
“Instead of puppets at one location, we could share them amongst each other,” said Kathryn Drury, GPL CEO and chief librarian. “It makes it more affordable to have the resources to share.”
The acquisition of the puppets — a menagerie of animals, royalty, fairy tale characters, a girl pirate and one made in William Shakespeare’s likeness — builds upon a previous NCF grant awarded to the Lincoln Public Library to purchase a puppet stage.
Puppets hold huge appeal for audiences of all ages and can foster a love of reading, explained Drury and Peggy Cline, who oversees GPL’s children’s programming.
“There’s something about puppets,” Cline said. “You can really engage young children; it’s another way to engage families. It’s another way to tell the story.”
“When you have that puppet, it’s that visual representation of a different person or character that comes across more strongly,” Drury added. “It’s something different to do.”
Puppet shows also add a public health component to programming, allowing for natural physical distancing between audiences and library staff during performances.
The West Niagara Travelling Puppets, as the troupe is named, made their debut during March Break this year when they performed a show based on When the Lights Go Out in the Library by Megan McDonald.
The plot summary? Libraries are exciting places to explore, a reminder that wouldn’t have been possible without NCF.
“I really appreciate that NCF is there for these mini grants to allow you to explore different areas of programming that the library can provide,” Drury said. “It’s the perfect amount of money if you have a vision for a program and just need a little bit of help.”
Photo Credit: Aaron & Tara Photography
