Kutztown Community Library is bringing the library to children at Highland Estates in Kutztown.
“Kutztown Strong came to me. They wanted to do a literacy program for the Highland Estates,” said Youth Librarian Taylor Kutz. “We’re working together to do a storytime each week for elementary school students.”
Held right after school at Highland Estates Community Center, the weekly storytime includes a story, crafts, snack and help with homework.
“I like it because it brings the library to a group of people that don’t necessarily have access to us. I like that I get to bring the library to whole new group of kids,” said Kutz. “They’ll be better at school work in the long run. Hopefully we can give them tips and tricks to help them (with reading).”
Kutz is working on the project at Highland Estates with the Kutztown School District and Kutztown University. Several KU students visit Highland Estates with Kutztown Strong on Wednesdays and visit with Kutztown Community Library on Mondays. Kutz hopes more KU students volunteer for the library.
“I’m excited to see where this goes and if we can build the group of kids that are coming,” she said.
Kutz also brings storytime to St. John’s Daycare and Shaynah Kinner in Kutztown every other week.
On behalf of the library, Kutz applied for a Pennsylvania Department of Education grant through Sen. Judy Schwank to create a mobile library to take to events such as street fairs.
“So we can have pop up libraries to be at street fairs and other locations so that we can take the library to them,” said Library Director Janet Yost.
Kutz explained that the grant would enable the library to go to different locations such as the Community Block Party or grocery stores, bringing books from the library’s collection. People could check in and out books, sign up for library cards and Kutz would be able to teach how to use the library website.
“Just to bring our library out to people who may not be aware of us or may not have access to us,” said Kutz.
Their goal is to reach out to more people in the community and promote the library’s services and encourage reading.
