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Local library throws end-of-summer carnival
The Friends of Nesbitt Memorial Library threw a free end-of-summer carnival to wrap up their yearly summer program Aug. 2 at the Nesbitt Memorial Library.
From 12 p.m. through 3 p.m., the library was transformed into a mini carnival ground, with the event featuring party games such as bucket toss, egg kerplunk, silly faces, mini golf a balloon animal artist and more.
Popcorn was also available for the kids to munch on while enjoying the festivities, and prizes were also up for grabs for the kids after completing a certain number of activities.
The Columbus Lions Club were also present, giving away free eye screenings to kids or anyone in attendance. Former President Billy Kahn says it is one of the Lions’ main functions, and the club can sponsor people and pay the bill if need be.
“If someone needs glasses,” said Kahn. “We can make the referral as the Lions Club, pay the bill as a sponsor and send them over to the Wesley Nurse at First United Methodist Church, Deborah Shimek.”
Patsy Hodge, Vice President of the Columbus Education Foundation and a member of the Friends of the Nesbitt Memorial Library, says this is the second year running that the library has thrown a special end-of-summer event, building on the success from the first event in 2023.
“We did a carnival this year and last year they got to play golf here,” said Hodge. “In between everything they could play golf so this year we wanted to have something different. Every year we want to change things up.”
Hodge says one of the main reasons the library started throwing these end-of-summer events was to encourage the community, especially children, to get excited about the library and want to come back. She says the library’s end goal is to bring kids back through the door and improve certain skills.
“What we are trying to do is get them excited about the library, especially when they are so young, so they want to come back,” said Hodge. “You got to make an impression. That is our goal, to improve literacy. Of course, we have got so many wonderful books here that a lot of people do not even know about.”
Currie Luedecke, President of Friends of Nesbitt Memorial Library, says last year’s event in 2023 was very successful and the turnout for the carnival this year was even better. Luedecke credits director Susan Chandler and the effort they put into creating and promoting this program as one of the reasons why they had such success.
“Having our director Susan interact with them is something else,” said Luedecke. “We have got fliers everywhere to see what events are happening, in the summer we have a successful summer reading program where kids could challenge themselves to read up to 1000 books.”
Luedecke remarks that the library began to venture out to different daycare facilities and bring activities or read to those less fortunate who were unable to attend the events due to an inability to be there. She wants more community outreach and for people to know the library exists as a resource not just for the kids, but for the community as well.
“We also have other Friends of the Nesbitt Memorial Library go out and read to the daycares for those who were not able to come to all these events because of working parents,” said Luedecke. “We try and expose them to as much as possible so they remember a cool place where we try to do everything for free, and you can get a book for free too.”
Rachel Kelly, one of the parents in attendance with her kids, sees this annual summer close out event as a brand-new opportunity and “good way to host something for the kids that is not sports related.” She says she is happy the library exists and encourages these types of events to push the kids to not just be attached to a television screen or tablet.
“It is something that is educational that helps them learn and do something fun during the summer to keep them busy. We went to the end of year event last year, and my kids were involved in the summer reading program. My daughter just read her 1000th book. It makes me feel good knowing that I am not just handing them a gaming device or something to distract them and that they are getting something out of it.”
With kids being kids, it is no surprise despite the huge milestone, what the best part of the day was for Rachel’s two kids.
“Silly faces, that game was really fun, and we really liked it,” said the Kelly kids.
