By Kelly McCabe, Youth Services Coordinator
The large back garden at Questa Public Library is the perfect spot to host a Summer Reading event on the sunny July day – and the perfect setting for my first visit to Questa. The garden was completed last year as project of the Friends of the Library and offers space for solo and group gatherings in the shade and the sun – all facing a beautiful view of the mountains. On the day I visited it was the site of a special “Mud” program provided by Twirl, a non-profit organization based in Taos that offers educational programming for children through community partnerships.
The special program exploring mud – clay used for art creations and more “dirty” mud for wet-play – were part of the 7-week Adventure Begins at Your Library Summer Reading Program created by Library Director Sharon Nicholson and Program Director Monican McClelland for the families of Questa. Patrons attending programs each week and recording their reading could earn tickets to enter for their choice of adventure-themed summer reading prizes, including a telescope, fishing pole, tent, headlamp and drone. The library also gave away themed Brag Tags throughout the summer to encourage attendance at events – and I was very excited to walk away with my own complete set! The library is grateful for the support of a local teacher to fund summer reading prizes and also received funding from the Taos Foundation and Chevron Grants for Good.
Director Nicholson was happy with this summer’s theme and the opportunity to focus on the natural environment and safely enjoying adventures in nature. One of the highlights of the Summer Reading Program was a three-part camping series with Wilderness Educator Spencer Warnock (known to the kids as “Survivalist Spencer”) that taught attendees to build a temporary shelter with natural materials, prepare for a camping trip, and experience a real campsite at a local campground. Next year’s art theme – Color Our World – will be another great fit for Questa. During my visit beautiful artwork filled the walls as a preview of the Queta Art Tour.
Questa’s final end-of-summer reading event was equally spectacular – a visit from Careflight 16, an emergency services helicopter that landed in the field behind the library and introduced young patrons to their mission.