Local libraries celebrate Library Lovers’ Month

By Jazmine Knight

Area libraries are hosting events throughout the month of February to invite book worms to join them for National Library Lovers’ Month.

Rolling Hills Library is hosting a life-sized “Candyland” event Feb. 16-17. There will be an educational program at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 about Jeffrey Deroin, who was a slave of Joseph Roubidoux, but had a big impact in the city.

Game night at the library is at 6 p.m. Feb. 29, and the winter reading program will wrap up that day as well.

As for the St. Joseph Public Library, it is continuing events such as preschool story times, craft programs, STEM programs and teen events like food tasting and crafts. For adults, there are true crime book events and free movies for the family at the East Hills branch.

Will Stuck, library assistant at the St. Joseph Public Library, and Kelly Morris Belt branch manager for Rolling Hills, both emphasize the importance of reading.

“Reading is important for all ages, especially kids,” Morris said. “We see a lot of kids. Early literacy is a big focus here at the library.”

Stuck highlighted some of the benefits of reading.

“It’s going to expand your horizons, open your mind up, it’s going to boost creativity, boost knowledge. And it’s a skill. Even if you haven’t picked up a book in decades, it may take you a little bit of time because it is also like riding a bike. Sometimes you gotta work at it again, but there’s so many books to choose from,” Stuck said.

For more events and information, visit the Rolling Hills Library website at https://events.rhcl.org/events and the St. Joseph Public Library website at https://sjpl.librarymarket.com/.