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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