Youngsters will be given free rein at the Iola Public Library this month with a special event called “Loose in the Library.” This fun-filled evening of pizza, games, and a scavenger hunt will culminate in a library-wide game of hide-and-seek on the evening of January 17.
The idea for the event came from youth services librarian Lese Cole, who fondly recalls the youth cooking sessions she led in years past at the old Flewharty Annex. “When the kids were done cooking, we’d let them play hide-and-seek in the house,” Cole said. “They had a blast.” Although the library no longer uses the Flewharty house, Cole hopes to recreate that same sense of fun and freedom with this new event. “This is our attempt to let them have that free range again,” she added.
Sign-up is required by Saturday for youngsters aged 7 and older so organizers can plan accordingly for the pizza and snacks. To register, call (620) 365-3262. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m., approximately 30 minutes after the library closes for the day.
The evening will kick off with a pizza feast, followed by a variety of games for children to enjoy. Organizers will also explain the ground rules for the hide-and-seek game. While most areas of the library will be open for play, some sections such as the Southeast Kansas Library System office and the administration wing will be off-limits. “We’ll have a few places blocked off,” Cole noted. “Everything else is open.”
In addition to “Loose in the Library,” the library will hold its monthly Stay & Play session for youngsters 6 and under on January 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. This relaxed hour allows children and their parents or caregivers to read, play games, or simply explore what the library has to offer. No advance registration is necessary for Stay & Play.
Both events aim to keep children engaged with the library as they grow. “What we see is kids tend to lose interest in the library by the time they get to be 13 or so,” Cole explained. “This is our effort to get them in here before that.”
Alongside these events, Cole is also looking forward to the annual Everything Chocolate fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Library. Volunteers will bring in a variety of homemade treats and snacks to be sold prior to Valentine’s Day, offering yet another sweet way to support the library community.
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