So far this month, you’ve seen how the Rogersville Public Library brings families together through a shared love of reading and provides free, fun experiences for the community throughout the summer.
There’s another huge way that the library helps the town: by providing a way for people to come together, make friends, and form lasting connections.
Specifically, the Rogersville Public Library has become a hub for local moms, who bring their kids to the library’s regular storytime events.
Thanks to this issue’s sponsor:
His & Hers Consignment & Mercantile
in Rogersville, Alabama
These storytimes are much more than just a fun activity for kids; they’ve become a way for parents to connect with each other. They’re an avenue for them to build adult friendships, a much-needed resource during those challenging and often isolating years of raising young children.
“It’s fun watching the community that has formed within the storytime group,” said Kimberly Corbett, the library’s director. “The parents become friends and they all watch out for each other.”
In fact, the storytime events themselves have become a community effort. The events start with a librarian reading a picture book, but then Kimberly says that “everyone pitches in during craft and snack time.”
I love this library. I was able to build a community and find friends for myself as well as my children.-Caitlin Beam on the Rogersville Public Library
I met Caitlin Beam and her two young children at the library’s Animal Tales event, and she was eager to talk about how central the Rogersville Public Library is to her social life.
“I love this library,” Caitlin said. “When I first started having children—I am not originally from here —I was able to build a community and find friends for myself as well as my children.”
She said that the library helped her continue to foster those relationships through COVID, and she’s been impressed by how the staff has “rallied around all of its patrons.”
The storytime allowed her to form a tight-knit group of mom friends, and she never would have met them if not for the library.
“There’s one mom—her daughter owns the local coffee shop—and she’ll occasionally bring coffee. A lot of times, after we’ve had storytime at the library, we’ll go to the park for the kids to play in the splash pad or on the playground. And so we also get to further our relationships outside of the library.”
The library is a central hub of activity that anyone can participate in. No money required. We serve everyone.-Kimberly Corbett, director at Rogersville Public Library
Aralie Blankenship also has a group of mom friends she goes to storytimes with. For her group, the library is a way to stay connected with lifelong friends, even through life’s busiest seasons.
“We’ve been friends since middle school,” Aralie said of her friend group. “We’re in our 30s now with lots of littles running around. It’s nice to have people to go through these phases in life with. We do a lot together, but (the library’s) storytime is one of our favorites!”
The library helps Aralie and her friends maintain their adult relationships while also creating memories with their kids.
“We love being able to bring our babies for many reasons. They get to enjoy time together while learning, playing ,and having fun in a safe environment. The library makes it so fun with not only a story, but music, crafts, and snacks. All the ways to a kid’s heart!”
It’s not a coincidence that the Rogersville Public Library helps its users form these connections. It’s central to the library’s mission.
“The library does serve as a community center,” says the library’s director Kimberly Corbett. “The library is a central hub of activity that anyone can participate in. No money required. We serve everyone.”
What connections have you made at your library?
Did you meet a new friend at your local library? Formed a community through a shared hobby or interest? Maybe you met your partner or spouse at a library event? Share your Alabama library stories here!