Westfield Memorial Library in partnership with DWC to present StoryWalk® through Downtown Westfield

The Westfield Memorial Library, in partnership with the Downtown Westfield Corporation (DWC), will present Westfield's first StoryWalk® between September 12 and 28. A StoryWalk is a family-friendly event that encourages families to stroll through their communities, reading the enlarged pages of children's picture books displayed in the windows of participating businesses and restaurants.

Two different books have been chosen for walks on each side of town: the title for the North side is Thank You, Neighbor! written and illustrated by Ruth Chan, and
the title for the South side is Fall Parade by Camelia Kay. Maps showing the locations of the book pages are available only at the library, located at 550 East Broad Street, and the exhibits can be viewed anytime until September 28.

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Associate Director Liz Kennedy explained the impetus for the event. "We wanted to celebrate National Library Card Sign Up Month, which is September, by extending the magic of reading beyond the walls of the library.

"StoryWalks are innovative collaborations between libraries and the communities they serve," she continued. "I was excited to pitch the idea to the Downtown Westfield Corporation, and it only grew when DWC shared the final tally of all the businesses who were interested in hosting a set of picture book pages."

Businesses on the North side include Rialto Center for Creativity, Jude Connally, Faherty, Reves Smoothie Café, The Chocolate Bar, Masalamex, The Baked Bear, Geamos Café and Bakery, SOLE Shoes, YESTERcades, Fizzy Pop, Broadway Chicken, Bovella's Pastry Shoppe, Apricot Westfield, The Hope Chest and Dr. Falafel.

Businesses on the South side are Lions Roar Brewing Co., Victoria's Cake, Acting Out Theatre Company, Dental365, Westfield Station Café, Sherwin-Williams, Art Café, Cory Mathew's, Hershey's Subs & Deli, G-Force Racing Lounge, Dentologem and Manhattan Bagel.

Daniel Taugher, Executive Director of the DWC, said, "Libraries serve as beacons within their communities, so partnering with the Westfield Memorial Library was a natural fit. One of DWC's goals is to create memorable and engaging experiences that bring people downtown, and StoryWalk does that in a unique way.

"We hope families will experience both StoryWalk routes and enjoy a walk through the entire downtown district. The library selected two wonderful and engaging titles that lend themselves perfectly to this kind of experience. Together, the routes give families a fun reason to read, explore Downtown Westfield and discover businesses on both the north and south sides of town.

"We're grateful to our participating businesses for opening their windows and helping bring StoryWalk to life throughout the downtown," he continued. "We also thank the Westfield Memorial Library for bringing this creative idea to us and for being such a great community partner."

To kick off StoryWalk, the library will host author Ruth Chan on Saturday, September 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for a reading of Thank You, Neighbor!, an interactive slideshow, interactive drawing demonstration and a Q&A session. This event is recommended for ages 3 – 8 years and requires registration on the library's website as attendance is limited.

Selected as a best picture book of the year by Publishers Weekly, Thank You, Neighbor was recommended by Senior librarian Katie Thomas, as well as Fall Parade. "We are lucky to have talented librarians in our Youth Services department," said Ms. Kennedy. "Katie provided several options that represented community, seasonal changes, and the overall warmth we feel in Westfield."

The Westfield Memorial Library is a public library dedicated to providing free and equitable access to information, resources, and cultural experiences for residents of Westfield and the surrounding community. Through innovative programming and responsive services, the library advances literacy, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.

Visit the library's website at https://wmlnj.org/ to register for events, sign up for a library card, or learn more about library programs and resources. The library is located at 550 East Broad Street and hours are Monday - Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m. The library will be closed September 5-7 for Labor Day weekend.