WAYNE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

The wayne county public library foundation, inc., along with the leadership of library director and assistant director led two significant projects in this fiscal year. Four years ago, efforts were begun to purchase a mobile library for wayne county. The mobile library was funded by the foundation as the lead funder along with funding from an lsta federal grant and some funds from the county of wayne. After several years of delays from the manufacture of the mobile library the delivery to the library was in the spring of 2024. The mobile library is a state-of-the-art mercedes sprinter van which includes a canopy for programming outside. Since the arrival of the van, there have been children's programming in the summer at regularly scheduled stops along with stops for adults. The mobile library serves to reach populations who cannot ordinarily visit the three county libraries. The foundation provided funds for materials for the mobile library. The foundation also supported the new program, the learning studio, for school aged children from grades 1-8 with dyslexia, adhd, and other learning differences. The program included materials in the libraries along with programming in the school year for children and their families. During the summer there was a free program for students identified forty-eight in the wayne county public schools who were below grade level and would benefit from certified tutors in a summer program. An lsta grant paid for the programming and furniture. First christian church provided space that was upfitted for the tutoring with was held in the church over an eight- week period in the summer of 2024. The foundation provided financial and volunteer support for the summer and during the school year. The program continued during the school year with tutoring in the evenings in the fall and spring semesters with certified teachers in the evenings monday- thursday for two hours each evening. The foundation also funded the steel shade structure in the bill smith learning garden which was dedicated in october 2024. In the garden visitors can learn about the environment, mindfulness, agriculture, and more. Summer programs for students were held in the garden. The foundation sponsored the creative aging program for patrons over age 55 which included a watercolor art class, line dancing, quilling ,and memoir writing. The foundation sponsored scholarships for staff members working on master's in library science degrees along with internships for the local history department at the library.