Taking Reading Outdoors in Talkeetna 

A project of Rotary eClub 5010 International in cooperation with the Friends of Talkeetna Library.

The Talkeetna Public Library/Community Resource Center, a non-profit organization, is located about 2 miles from downtown Talkeetna, and serves three Upper Susitna Valley communities (Chase, Talkeetna and Susitna North), a combined population of about 1500 residents. As in many small communities, the library serves as much more than a site to obtain and read books. It also serves as a hub of the regional community, hosting community and public meetings, educational classes for children and adults, as a social center for residents and much more. 

The library is located in a beautiful Alaskan setting, and, when weather permits, library staff could conduct many activities outdoors, connecting nature with the programming. However, there is no seating outside nor a shelter for summer's rainy days. For that reason, the library has a need for tables with umbrellas so children's story time and summer reading program, classes and other activities could be conducted outside, whether sunny or rainy. 

The purpose of the project was to provide new opportunities for literacy programming and community-based education at the library. The goals was to involve a greater number of children and teens by providing an outdoor location to supplement current indoors facilities. Picnic tables with benches and umbrellas and a canopy tent were provided for this purpose.

This project was spearheaded by the eClub of District 5010. The club worked with the Friends of the Talkeetna Library, a non-profit volunteer group, to assemble the tables and tent. Rotarians will also be involved in other library programs, such as the children's reading groups and presenting educational classes.