Hi there! On behalf of the many partners and community members that made the Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk® a reality, please let me welcome you to the online home of the Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk®. This project shows firsthand just how many people in a community it takes to make something wonderful happen, and each partner and community member involved in this StoryWalk® gave so much to make this great resource happen for every member of our community. Please check back from time to time as we will update this page with more resources, links to books used in our StoryWalk®, and so much more.
WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT?
The Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk® is a collaboration between the Gardiner Public Library, MSAD 11, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, Gardiner Rotary Club, The Fire Wing Patrol of Boy Scout Troop 672, Gardiner Library Association, Kiwanis, Gary Ladner Landscaping, Steven Welton Masonry, and Gardiner Area Thrives that was developed in 2022.
WHAT IS A STORYWALK®?
A StoryWalk® is a book that has been presented page by page on a trail, bike path, or in-store windows to promote reading and exercise. StoryWalks® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library. For more information, please visit this FAQ from the Kellogg Hubbard Library: http://www.kellogghubbard.org/StoryWalk
I’D LIKE TO SPONSOR A STORYWALK®. WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT THAT?
THIS SECTION NEEDS A LOT MORE WORK BUT WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS DURING OUR NEXT MEETING.
- Should the library be in charge of actually buying the book and then collecting the $$$ from the person looking to sponsor a storywalk?
- Refer to “Who Selects The Books” section (found below) to clarify what types of books we will accept
As it turns out, comments from parents in the guest book have indicated that often they plan to purchase the book that they have seen at the StoryWalk® Project. The Kellogg-Hubbard Library also buys a copy of the books that we use if they do not already have them in their collection.
WHO SELECTS THE BOOKS & WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS ARE USED IN THE GARDINER, ME STORYWALK®
Selection of books for the Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk® are directed by the staff at the Gardiner Public Library in collaboration with the many partners involved in the Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk® listed above.
In selecting books for the Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk®, the staff at the Gardiner Public Library look for the following:
- Books with minimal text.
- Books with illustrations that don’t cross the center of the book.
- Stories written and/or illustrated by local Maine authors.
- Books with stories that focus on relevant themes, ideas, and lessons that apply to all community members in the Gardiner, ME region.
- Books that are on historical topics related to the State of Maine.
WHAT ABOUT COPYRIGHT?
The Head of the Children’s Library Services for the State of Vermont states the following: “if a book is purchased, we can do what we want with it. The books can not be altered In any way, the pages can not be scanned or reproduced, only mount them on card stock and laminate each individual page.
To help fully support authors and illustrators whose books are in our StoryWalk®, we always purchase two copies of the book. One copy will be used to make the StoryWalk®, and the other will become part of the collection at the Gardiner Public Library. We make a point of purchasing new books only for the Gardiner, ME StoryWalk® and do our best to purchase all supplies (books, stakes, laminate, etc.) from local businesses.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE USED THE GARDINER, ME STORYWALK®?
We place a guest book at the end of the StoryWalk® and ask readers to tell us the date,·number in party, and any comments or suggestions that they have for the project. THIS IS JUST AN IDEA FOR US TO CONSIDER FOR THE FUTURE! WE WILL MOST LIKELY BE ASKED ABOUT STATS….IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THESE IN CONVERSATIONS~
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STORYWALK®
The name StoryWalk® is a registered trademark. Any libraries using a StoryWalk® must include® symbol and include the following statement in all promotion of the project: “The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.”
If you have any questions about the StoryWalk® in general, please contact:
Anne Ferguson StoryWalk® Project Creator and Coordinator (Volunteer) : [email protected]
Nancy Schulz Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition
PO Box 1234
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 225-8904
[email protected]
Rachel Senechal
Kellogg-Hubbard Library
135 Main St.
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 223-3338
[email protected]