Library Link Trail

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Through a partnership between Durham County Library North Regional, a nearby farm run by Durham Public Schools, and UNC – Chapel Hill students, a small, unused wooded lot became the Library Link Trail: an interactive outdoor space featuring five literacy stations. A school project for 50 Masters of Education students at UNC gave North Regional Library an opportunity to collaborate with the neighboring Hub Farm to help both organizations meet their community-centered missions. The challenge was coming up with a way to “link” the library and the farm. With the help of local summer camp participants, the idea of using the empty lot between the two for a “Library Link Trail” was born. The Trail would help the library and the farm meet the following objectives: • Increase awareness of the environment. • Encourage intellectual, interpersonal, social and physical development in children. • Help children escape the grip of technology (which sometimes causes them to see the outdoors as unappealing). • Provide hands-on learning in an outdoor setting to spark greater excitement and creativity. The Library Link Trail was conceived with five literacy stations: a Sound Garden to boost brain power; a Reading Center to build literacy; a Theatre for reading comprehension; a Math Center to improve problem solving, reasoning and information analysis; and a Fossil Dig to develop fine motor skills. After planning together, the summer camp participants and college students spent one week building the trail using inexpensive, donated or natural materials. Having the help of the summer camp children proved invaluable as they tested the trail to ensure that it would be kid-friendly and fun. Over summer and fall 2014, staff hosted bi-weekly programs and tours at the Library Link Trail, and more than 400 children and their families enjoyed the activities at the literacy stations.