By Kelly Youngblood
Maura Stutzman believes often the best thing to do as a library is to get out of the library.
Stutzman, the youth services and programming librarian at Mahomet Public Library, loves getting out into the community and meeting people where they are.
This summer, Stutzman will get a chance to do just that with a pop-up library for children and parents residing in Candlewood Estates, a mobile home community in Mahomet.
The pop-up library will be held in conjunction with the Candlewood summer lunch program, which is a weekly event where volunteers from area churches serve lunch to residents.
Stutzman thought the lunch program was the perfect opportunity to provide a mini-library on site.
“When we found out about the summer lunch program at Candlewood, it seemed like the perfect place because we were going where people already were,” Stutzman said.
The pop-up library, which will be held every Wednesday through July 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Candlewood pool house in Mahomet, will include books to check out, free books to take home, crafts, and the opportunity to sign up for a library card.
Stutzman said they are prepared for whatever comes up during the pop-up library. “If there is a group of kids looking for something to do, I am more than happy to do a story time. We are there to be as flexible and helpful as possible.”
This is the first pop-up library Mahomet Public Library has held and Stutzman said she is excited to see how it goes. She hopes to be able to expand this offering throughout the community as well.
Stutzman said, “By putting on a pop-up library, we are able to meet people where they are to provide our services.”
Want more Summer Reading opportunities? Check our Summer Reading Fun list. For more Summer Fun, visit our Champaign-Urbana Area Summer Fun Guide.