LACIE SILVA – Editor
Whitwell’s story hour to reduce weekly time slot to twice a month due to low attendance.
At the Whitwell city meeting on November 09, Cathy Black addressed the board of commissioners regarding her report for the Library. Black encourages people to bring their children for story hours but advised they had to reduce their schedule to just two times a month due to the lack of children attending the story hour specials. Starting in November the story hour will now be the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m.
Black also reported for September and October the library went into the Whitwell Head Start classes to read and make a simple craft for a total of 30 children in each month. For Halloween, the library set up game, crafts, and treats for children and families. They also joined the fire department handing out candy and flyers for their new story hour.
In the report, Black expressed her remorse for cutting back the story hour stating, “The program features stories, crafts, and other activities to help foster a love of stories and reading and to help prepare the children for entering preschool and kindergarten while playing and having fun.” Black also stated her hope that more people will make time to foster this love of reading in their children and have a higher attendance to increase the story hour again in the future. 
The Orena Humphrey Public Library is located at 1130 Main St, Whitwell, TN 37397 and is open Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The library is closed Thursdays and Sundays. Upcoming Story Hours for the remainder of the year will be held on November 22, December 13 and 27 at the library starting at 10 a.m.
The Marion Tribune – November 23, 2023
