Library StoryWalk planned for Verona

Books don’t have to be, well, books.

Along a fence in an Oakmont Carnegie Library garden is a StoryWalk, a series of laminated poster-sized pages from a selected children’s volume set up sequentially so youngsters can enjoy an educational stroll.

And the concept looks to be coming to Verona.

During the July 11 borough council meeting, library director Beth Mellor and Karen Crowell, assistant director and children’s librarian, spoke about the possibility of establishing a permanent StoryWalk as part of a project that originated in Vermont and now has installations in 13 countries.

Verona officials responded positively, and the next step is to select an optimal location. The borough building is a possibility, and council member Trish Hredzak-Showalter suggested conducting a survey.

In addition to the StoryWalk, the library will offer free books in the borough by way of publisher Scholastic Corp.’s Family and Community Engagement program, at another site to be determined.

“They’re brand-new, popular titles that children enjoy, picture books through sixth-grade books. We could even get young-adult books, if needed,” Crowell said. “This is so that they can build their own home libraries and establish literacy skills.”

Books already are delivered to the Summer Lunch and Fun Camp at Verona United Methodist Church and to the Verona Community Garden during story times.

Regarding the StoryWalk, Mellor said money for the project is available from the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which uses Allegheny County’s extra 1% sales tax to help support libraries, parks and trails, arts and cultural organizations, and other ventures.

“The Oakmont library would maintain the StoryWalk, and we would change the stories out four times a year,” she said. “The stands are mounted in the ground. They have a vinyl cover that you can lift up, so you can switch them.”

While some of the featured books have as many as 30 pages, most are about 19 or 20, and otherwise empty StoryWalk stands could benefit community organizations.

“If, for instance, your historical society or another group wanted to use one of the stands to promote something, or even just highlight a historical going-on in Verona, we would say, go for it,” Mellor said.

The topic will be on the agenda for council’s next work session, scheduled for July 25. A video of the July 11 meeting is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcsFeaU-yc.