NEWFANE — The Moore Free Library recently received grants from the United Way of Windham County, the Crosby-Gannett Fund, the Vermont Community Foundation, RISE VT, and the Children's Literacy Foundation, allowing the library to expand its hours, increase family programming, and boost youth engagement.
Starting Feb. 1, the library will host Family Fun Fridays every Friday evening. Coloring and board games will be available from 5 to 6 p.m., with a family movie shown in the Crowell Gallery at 6 p.m. Popcorn and snacks will be provided.
On Saturdays, there will be a weekly activity geared toward kids and families from 1 to 2 p.m.
This grant funding is also supporting a week of Story Time Yoga during school vacation week (Feb. 17 to 22). From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. each day that week, families and caregivers of children of all ages are invited to hear a story and learn some gentle yoga moves related to the story, led by Newfane Village Yoga and Kidding Around Yoga certified teacher Courtney Perkins.
After Story Time Yoga, families are invited to gather at the Newfane Congregational Church for a community luncheon.
The Moore Free Library also offers a weekly story time on Thursdays, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., which is an opportunity for young children and their caregivers to get to know each other and listen to stories read aloud. All of these events are free and open to all families and caregivers of children.
Effective Feb. 1, the Moore Free Library's hours will be as follows: Tuesday 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday 2 to 6 p.m., Thursday 1 to 5 p.m. (with story time 10:30 to 11 a.m.), Friday 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library will continue to be closed on Sundays and Mondays.
This grant funding will allow the library to offer expanded hours and activities for seven months as a pilot program. If family engagement and youth attendance increases during this pilot period, the library says it hopes to secure ongoing funding to make these changes permanent.