The after-school world at Seward Memorial Library looks a little different this year.
The traditional after-school programs have morphed into Library Leagues, a new version of them. Librarian Joe Starkey said the new version is designed to help young people connect and work together toward common goals. The leagues connect students with others who have similar interests in a safe space.
Starkey researched alternatives to the traditional programs, looking for ways to create success for other programs designed for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, providing community building opportunities for them.
“This is an opportunity for families to let them participate on their own timeline,” Starkey said.
As he looked at other programs, he said, he considered what was important as a foundation and what would work in Seward.
The leagues are set up in three semester timelines – fall, spring and summer. Students are able to join guilds based on their interests. They work on missions and complete quests.
“Small groups can come together,” librarian Emily Parker said.
Three guilds are available. The creator guild is for students interested in the arts. The discovery guild focuses on sciences, experiments and building. The game guild is filled with puzzles, board games and creating games.
Students pick one to begin with but can change to another later if they wish. The guilds have levels, as well, and students can graduate through them.
Some missions are passive and are posted on the community board. That board is on the outside wall of the playroom. Missions will be updated as often as possible, and students can see what’s new.
The first mission, for example, was exploring the library and finding specific authors.
“They had a good time doing that,” Parker said.
One of the upcoming missions is creating a game similar to Clue. Parker said the guild will create its own version, which might become available to library patrons.
“Kids in Seward are very creative and curious and love games,” she said.
The traditional programs rotated through topics. The leagues are a restart, Starkey said.
The leagues launched Sept. 8, but students can join at any time. The Jays Club at the Seward Wellness Center on Tuesdays is an outpost for the leagues. Tuesday and Wednesday meetings at the library last about an hour, but students can do missions on their own, as well.
“We look forward to finding new ways to connect,” Starkey said. “We’re open to fine-tuning and adjusting.”
Parker said they’re excited to see familiar faces and meet those who haven’t been to the after-school programs before.
“The kids are excited about it,” Parker said, adding that they’re excited to share what they want to do.
Starkey said they’re looking to see numbers and interest grow, “especially since we listen to their wants and needs.”
