Richmond Free Library

StoryWalk® A StoryWalk is an outdoor reading experience that reveals a story page by page as the reader follows the StoryWalk route.

For the six weeks that the library offered activities in conjunction with the youth summer reading program (June 22 – July 31), we set up a new picture book each week along the StoryWalk route on the library grounds. Many kids and families seemed to enjoy this, so we will continue for the month of August with the story The Picnic from the book Henry and Mudge In the Green Time by Cynthia Rylant. Poor Henry gets stung by a bee, but don’t worry, his big dog Mudge knows how to make him feel better. The StoryWalk starts in front of the library and winds along the side of the building into the backyard. If you didn’t bring a little person to one of the June or July walks, don’t miss out on this one.

As James Baldwin wrote in his letter to his nephew in The Fire Next Time, white people “are, in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it.”

Here is a list of  resources (Listen, Read, Engage) we have available at the Richmond Library concerning the history and experiences of blacks in the United States. An internet search will yield many antiracist reading lists, check out this one from Read It Forward, and if you see something you are interested in but is not available at RFL, we can try to get it for you via Inter-Library Loan (titles must not be newer than 6 months).

We are very pleased to once again be able to offer library patrons access to the physical collection. This includes books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs. We cannot allow visitors beyond the outer foyer but you will find that this space has been adapted to serve as a safe and convenient place to pick up your item requests. Book bins in the foyer have been labeled alphabetically. Requested items will be bagged, labeled and placed in the bins according to patron’s last name. The door will be left open so visitors need not touch anything except their own bag. Please be mindful of others and wait your turn to enter the space if there is already someone there.

There are three ways to request materials:

1. Place a hold on whatever you like through your library account at rfl.kohavt.org.  You will need your library barcode number to log in to your account.  Your password is your own last name (capital first letter). Please note that the maximum number of holds allowed per account is five.
2. Call us at 434-3036. Leave a message if it is after hours.
3. Email us at rfl@gmavt.net.

Pick up times are as follows:
Mon & Fri: 10 – 4 pm
Wed: 10 – 8 pm (new!)
Tues & Thurs: 12 – 4 pm
Sat: 12 – 2 pm

* All items can be returned to the outdoor book return bin anytime.

We sure miss our Storytimes with the kids,  but know that all you fine parents have it covered. Home Storytime!  The good news is that we just made it a little easier for you to enjoy a themed storytime in the convenience and safety of your own home.  We have put together eight Storytime Bags for you and your child to check out and enjoy.  Each Storytime Bag features a different theme and contains, books, songs, rhymes and a craft/activity to do with your child.  Current themes include: Pets; Plants, Flowers & Gardens; Counting; Cars, Trucks & Things that Go; Silly Books; Friends; Seasons & Weather and Outdoors & Camping. We’re pretty sure your child is going to love this idea, so give it a try.  Request one of the bags today.

The library now has a TumbleBook Library subscription. TumbleBooks, a world leader in online children’s book databases, has made its family of online libraries available for free to public libraries until at least August 31. Thanks TumbleBook!

Its flagship product, TumbleBook Library is a collection of animated talking picture books, read-alongs, ebooks, quizzes, lesson plans, and educational games. You will find a link to these animated picture books as well as links to math picture books and books for teens on our YOUTH SERVICES page.