As someone who appreciates the power of words, and how important it is to nurture that appreciation in our younger generation, I just love the Webster Public Library’s annual get-to-know-the-library program for our district’s third graders.
The program, a collaboration between the Webster community and the Webster Public Library (WPL), gives all of our school district’s third graders a jump-start on their love for reading by getting a close-up look at the library and all the services it offers.
The program began several years ago when WPL Outreach Coordinator Jason Poole was talking with Schlegel Elementary School librarian Jamie Palmer. At the time, WPL staff members were visiting the schools for a new books showcase. But Jamie wanted more for students — the actual experience of checking out a book. She and Jason figured out how to make that happen. The resulting program soon turned into a full-fledged field trip with storytime, a craft and a tour, in addition to checking out a book.
Jason continues to schedule the field trips, assisted by Children and Family Experiences Librarian Hannah Baumgartner, who coordinates the activities, lines up staff and serves as school liaison. Last week, the library hosted its first group of the school year, from Plank North Elementary School.
Hannah explained that the students are split into three groups, which file through three different stations, spending 20 minutes at each station before rotating to the next one:
- Children’s Room: Students get a brief tour of the room and then have time to find and choose a book to check out at the end of the field trip. It’s a chance for the students to see the collections, the space itself, and the children’s reference desk for when they need help.
- Library Tour: This includes doing a craft in the teen room, visiting the back staff office, and seeing some behind-the-scenes excitement like a book being deposited in the bookdrop (this is always the favorite part of the tour).
- Storytime: The amusing, interactive storytime helps students associate the Webster Library with something fun and positive.
Once all the groups have rotated through all the stations, they take their chosen books up to the checkout desk to check out. Even that part of the process is well thought out.
Hannah said,
The checkout portion of the trip runs very smoothly thanks in no small part to our Circulation Supervisor, Linda and her staff. They spend the weeks leading up to the field trip getting permission slips from parents, checking on statuses of students with existing cards as well as creating new cards for students who have gotten permission from their guardians. By the time the day of the field trip arrives, the students are set up for a seamless checkout experience.
Since the program began, the Webster Public Library has created or reactivated almost 1,500 library cards for third graders. That goes a long way to help our younger generation fall in love with reading.
Hannah said,
Overall, our goal with this program is to introduce 3rd graders from all seven Webster elementary schools to their local library, the staff, the activities, and the collections that we offer. We want them to have a great time while they’re here so they then go home and tell their families about how much they loved it and ask to come back. We do see a number of kids return on their own time after their classes visit! I love when a kid sees me and says “I saw you at my field trip last week!” followed by a list of their favorite things from their time here.
(Thank you to Jen Calus for the photos!)
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(posted 10/27/2026)
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