KERROBERT - On April 27, the Kerrobert Library had the pleasure of hosting popular Canaidan and Saskatchewan storyteller, Danica Lorer.
From the Storytellers of Canada website, of which Lorer is a member, it describes her, “
Danica Lorer has been a professional storyteller for more than 20 years. She collects and imagines stories and pictures throughout Saskatchewan and beyond. She follows the highway as a ribbon tying her to the amazing sky, clear water, words on the wind, and beautiful people. She reaches out with her telling to audiences of all ages at festivals, libraries, schools, extended care homes, and more. Danica facilitates storytelling workshops inviting participants from 0-103 years to reach into their memories, imaginations, and surroundings.”
With the help of the Saskatchewan’s Writers Guild along with grant money from Macro Properties, the library in Kerrobert was able to bring in Lorer. An audience that included 19 parents and children enjoyed a 50-minute performance featuring songs and stories.
The library is excited to be hosting Ukrainian author, Marion Mutala, May 26, to share some of her books with the public.
A Kerrobert Library spokesperson says, “I was looking up children’s authors and stumbled across Danica’s photo and writeup. Something about her caught my eye and as I read deeper into her bio, I discovered she has been to libraries in lots of neighboring communities. I knew she would be an excellent addition to our program. It was much the same when booking author, Marion Mutala.”
Those in attendance gave positive reviews. The smaller children who were not able to sing and interact with some of the things Lorer presented were obviously still understanding and feeling the presentation, as they dance around to the songs she sang.
“It was great to have a live in-person event as some of the young children there have likely never seen anything other than zoom, so this provided an in-person experience. It was a breath of fresh air to have her here and so many in attendance.”
The Kerrobert Library was first established in 1926 by the local I.O.D.E. In 1954, the I.O.D.E gave the original library building to the Town of Kerrobert and in 1967 the library joined the Wheatland Regional Library System. It is now located in the historic Kerrobert Courthouse along with a number of other community offices.
Kerrobert Library offers a variety of programming which includes two book clubs. They also offer a parent and tot group. This community venue feels fortunate to have a $2500 grant from Macro Properties that is geared specific to programs like this. Library employees will also be setting up storybook trails through the town for the months of May to September, with a different book being featured each month.
“We will have Awasis and the World Famous Bannock set up in the courtyard for the month of May. AS well we will brining in Doodler Pens for the kids to try.“
The library offers take-and-make kits every Wednesday that are a combination of those received from Wheatland Library as well as those the Kerrobert staff make on their own, offering between 10-15 a week on a first come, first serve basis.
The Kerrobert Library says in April they brought in Code & Go Mouse kits and had Grades -3 visit the library and program their mice to get the cheese. In the summer, the library typically has the community summer park program come to the library every week or so, dependant if there are enough life guards at the pool to help manage this offering.
Library staff have also offered busy bags to take home, which are themed and filled with different learning activities to do at home, and comes with a craft and a coloring page for participants to keep.
You can follow all the programming and information on the Kerrobert Library on their Facebook page.