All Locations Closed Saturday, January 24th Due to Inclement Weather

All locations of SEARLibrary will be closed on Saturday, January 24th, for Inclement Weather. Updates to further closings and hours will be posted online and through our social media pages. Facebook: /SEARLibrary  Instagram: @searlibrary

Grand Opening and Dedication for StoryWalk® at Monticello Branch Library

Image of logo for announcements
Image of flyer for grand opening of StoryWalk
August 14, 2025:

Southeast Arkansas Regional Library, with the Monticello Branch Library, are pleased to announce the opening and dedication of the StoryWalk® Trail at the Monticello Branch Library walking path. To celebrate this opening, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 2nd at 11:30 am. 
StoryWalk® is a literacy-boosting initiative that displays children’s illustrated books page by page along community walking routes. This interactive outdoor reading experience combines physical activity with a love of books, encouraging families to explore and read together. In April 2020, the StoryWalk® began at the Monticello Branch Library as a temporary installation to get families outdoors during the COVID-19 epidemic. A new book is carefully selected each month to reflect the season or community themes. As families stroll along the outdoor path, they can enjoy the story and discover a new adventure each month they visit! 
This project was made possible through a competitive “Libraries Transforming Communities” grant awarded by the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL); the Friends of the Monticello Library group, and various community sponsors. As part of the grant, Monticello Branch Library staff completed an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff hosted a community conversation with residents concerning accessibility for everyone. The grant funded an ADA-compliant permanent installation of a StoryWalk®. 
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. “Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”
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