Sewickley Public Library's family storytime, other programs shifting to fall programming

The best part of Jennifer Farmerie’s day is seeing the smiling faces of families at the Sewickley Public Library.

She has seen many as the children’s department head for the past eight years.

From reading at storytimes to welcoming special guests at various programs, good vibes abound when Farmerie’s on the clock.

“It really is fun,” Farmerie said. “I enjoy connecting with the families. I enjoy singing the songs and sharing stories with the kids.”

One of her more popular programs, family storytime, is changing from twice a week to just weekly starting in September.

The all-ages program will continue 10 a.m. Mondays starting Sept. 9 through Dec. 2 at the Ohio Township Nature Center, 325 Nicholson Road.

Its second weekly session, Fridays at Henle Park, is finished for the year.

Children would dance under a giant colorful parachute and then later hear a story while lying on top of it. It would usually start around 11 a.m. and lead up to the noon opening of the Leetsdale park’s splash pad.

The change from twice to once a week is part of the library’s fall programming transition.

The nature center is nearly seven miles away from the library at 500 Thorn St.

Farmerie said about 40 people, more than half of them children, participate in storytime.

Registration is required for the free program.

“We have craft kits and we’d like to make sure we have enough crafts for all of our friends who are coming to storytime,” Farmerie said. “They are themed seasonally. We’ve got a lot of fall crafts and we have a Halloween craft and a thankful craft.”

The library has had a partnership with the nature center for years.

“It’s an area that doesn’t have their own library,” Farmerie said. “We bring our programs to that location. They are in our 15143 ZIP code. We do serve a lot of families in that area. They have a beautiful facility. There’s also a nature trail and the outside gazebo is near the playground.

”It just lends itself to family storytime.”

Farmerie said she is grateful for all the special guests who helped out during the summer programming, including volunteer firefighters from Cochran Hose Company. They talked about fire safety as part of a July storytime.

“These special programs definitely boost our attendance and it brings more families to the library,” Farmerie said.

She hopes to welcome other special guests to the library, particularly those who are experts in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Other library programs this fall include Mother Goose on the Loose on Tuesday mornings and Wiggle Waggle Wednesdays, both at the library starting at 10 a.m.

More information about library programs is available at sewickleylibrary.org.

Love Your Library Month

The Love Your Library campaign began Sept. 1. Gifts made to Sewickley Public Library during September capture additional matching funds provided by The Jack Buncher Foundation to support the library’s annual operating budget. While the campaign focuses on raising money for libraries, it also calls attention to the significant role libraries play in meeting ever-increasing demands for educational opportunities and vital community services.

Special events at the library during Love Your Library month include the Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale Sept. 6-8; a raffle to include an Amazon Fire Tablet and a quilt made of Sewickley Public Library T-shirts, and a celebratory Food Truck Round-Up on Sept. 26.