Program policies are determined by the Jake Epp Library board.
Story Hour
Purpose Statement :
- To encourage children at a young age to consider the library a good place to visit and to think of reading as a fun activity.
- To provide parents with young children an opportunity to browse in the library without distraction.
- To encourage parents in their involvement with their child’s literacy development.
Policies
- Story Hour is limited to children between the ages of 3 and 5.
- If school is canceled, Story Hour is also automatically canceled.
- After two missed classes without a phone call, your spot will be given to a child on the waiting list.
- Parents of rowdy or disruptive children will be asked to remain for Story Hour or may be asked to discontinue attending until the child is ready to participate without disruptions. Depending on current health orders parents may be required to stay with children at all times.
- Parents must bring their children to Story Hour and wait until the Story Hour teacher is ready.
- Parents are required to remain in the building during Story Hour.
- Children ill with communicable diseases are asked to remain at home in order to protect the other children.
- Parents must notify Story Hour teacher if you decide to stop attending Story Hour.
- Parents are asked to return to class to help their child during the craft and snack portion of the Story Hour.
c) Toddler & Me
Purpose Statement
- To promote the use of the library as a lifelong learning center for both toddlers and their parents
- To promote literacy skills by having parents interacting with their toddlers while learning rhymes, songs, finger plays and stories
Policies
- Toddler & Me is a parent and child program for toddlers aged 18M-3Y
- Current public health restrictions will be followed, including mask-wearing, social distancing and capacity limits
- If school is canceled, Toddler & Me is also automatically canceled
- Children/parents with communicable diseases are asked to remain at home in order to protect other program participants
e) Senior Book Mobile Services
The purpose of the Book Mobile program is to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens of the community.
- Jake Epp Library will send staff members, with a wide variety of materials, to the following seniors’ residences: Rest Haven/Woodhaven, Fernwood, Cedarwood, Parkview, Bridgepark and Bethesda PCH in Steinbach
- Items may be borrowed for a period of one month
- New materials will be provided once a month
- Patrons may request items and may also have access to Inter Library Loan services
- There will be no overdue fines on any material
- Fees for lost items may be charged
f) Author Readings
Jake Epp Library aims to support local authors, but is not limited to local authors. The library must be mindful of community support and interest level when planning events.
- Jake Epp Library will hold a limited number of author reading events annually
- There will be usually be multiple authors presenting at each event to:
- encourage a larger attendance to each event,
- promote more authors
- provide cross audience exposure of each author
- Jake Epp Library will, as much as possible, promote each event, through posters, social media and local media
- Each author is also responsible for self-publicity and promotion
- To provide equal opportunity to each author, Jake Epp Library generally will not host the same authors more than every other year
- Special consideration may be given to authors who have a high community interest