By: Samantha Lowe, Youth Service Coordinator
We’re excited to announce that The Library will now host Once Upon a Rainbow at the Madeline Olewine Memorial Library. After outgrowing the LGBT Center, the program has found a new home at The Library, where ALL families can come together, connect, and just be themselves.
Families who attend can expect a familiar storytime formula. Once everyone gathers and says hello, we’ll open with a song. Then we’ll read stories, play games, make a craft, and enjoy a snack.
The stories are really what make the program special. Most, if not all, will feature LGBTQ+ families. Each book we read will demonstrate The Library’s continued dedication to sharing diverse stories that reflect the whole community.
Parents are excited about the move, too. Natalie is a Library mom who has brought her family to Once Upon a Rainbow and other programs over the years.
“Once Upon a Rainbow was an awesome opportunity to connect with other families like mine,” she says. “The librarians picked diverse and inclusive books that engaged the kiddos.”
For Natalie, those connections extended beyond storytime.
“At Once Upon a Rainbow, I connected with other families like mine and made friends who I still talk with today. I see some of the families at events in the community, and it’s always fun to say hello and see a friendly face.”
She sees the Madeline Olewine Memorial Library as a great fit for the program.
“The Madeline Olewine Memorial Library is wonderful because it has ample parking and a central location,” Natalie says. “There’s lots of space for the kids to spread out. When the storytime and crafts are over, families can stay and hang out in the Library, playing with toys in the kids’ area and finding books and media to check out and enjoy at home.”
And I can’t stress enough that all families are welcome at Once Upon a Rainbow. The program is geared toward children ages 8 and younger, but the activities are fun for the whole family. It’s a place for folks to connect and learn about all the many ways to make a family.
On September 2nd, we’ll celebrate the back-to-school season with stories about finding friends and being yourself. In October, we’ll explore all the possibilities you can find in a Halloween costume.