GRANT spotlight: Scituate Town Library
“Scituate Education Foundation is an incredibly unique organization because they go beyond supporting the public schools; they support life-long learning. From TinkerTots to Coffee Talk, thanks to SEF, the library is able to fund high-quality educational programs,” says Library Director Jessi Finnie.
Life-long learning is key to both the mission and vision of SEF and the Scituate Town Library. As a result, since 2016, SEF has funded many grants for the library including the ones listed below: Tinker Tots, Coffee Talks for the Non-Traditional Worker, and a custom chess table which brings much joy (and some consternation) to all who play it at the library entrance.
TINKER TOTS
The “Tinker Tots” program at Scituate Town Library, has preschoolers and their parents and caretakers tinkering and learning with a variety of easily accessible household materials that include egg crates, cotton balls, paperclips, kids’ tools, clothespins, tape, and more.
Ann Lattinville, grant author and head of children’s services at the library, says: “The Tinker Tots program is based on ideas from the Boston Children’s Museum Tinker Kit Educator’s Guide and National Grid’s Tinker Tent. The purpose of the program is to provide 3- to 5-year-olds with the opportunity to explore various tools, objects, and materials to build life-long skills, and to show parents and caregivers what can be done with common low-cost or free items.” She went on to explain that while STEM-based activities have long been a part of library programs, there has been increased emphasis on “tinkering” in her professional literature. When children tinker, they explore what specific materials can do and how simple tools work, while also developing their fine motor skills. The open-ended nature of the activities works for all learning styles.
COFFEE TALKS FOR THE NON-TRADITIONAL WORKER
The library already works with a large number of patrons who utilize the building for work and meeting space, and providing programming geared towards these workers, entrepreneurs, small business owners is a natural step. Thus, "Coffee Talks for the Non-Traditional Worker” was born. In addition to providing information on topics of interest to these patrons, the library also seeks to highlight and educate the ways in which its collections support the non-traditional worker and small business owner.
Grant author and Library Director Jessi Finnie says, the lectures cover the following topics, and each session would include an opportunity for networking: Turning Your Passion Into Profit: How to go from Hobby to Business; Staying Productive while Working From Home: Tips and Tricks to Stay on Task and Create a Healthy Work Routine; Crafting Your Elevator Speech: How to Market Your Business in Five Minutes or Less; Participating in the Gig Economy: Legal Issues and Personal Experiences; Working with Fair Trade Industries: Experiences and Tips; Using Free Resources for Your Business: Introduction to Free Resources & Library Services. Sessions will include subject experts as well as panelists with subject experience.
CHESS BOARD
Everyone who visits the Scituate Town Library is able to play a game on a beautiful custom-crafted chess table. Funded by a Scituate Education Foundation (SEF) grant to the Library Foundation, the table was produced by Rustic Martin, a Pembroke company, started and owned by Scituate residents Brian and Melanie O’Neil.
Library director Jessi Finnie talks about the impact that the chess table has had on the library.
“The custom chess table has created another opportunity within the library grounds for patron interaction and stimulation,” she says. “Patrons have been thankful for the chance to engage in a ‘low-tech’ hobby with other players. The table has been a great addition to a space that seeks to be a community meeting place as well as a library.
In the grant proposal for this project, Les Ball, former president of the Library Foundation, expressed the hope that having the chess table in the library would “encourage people of all generations to enjoy spending time together.”
Mission accomplished! This is lifelong learning at its best.