PORT TOWNSEND — A group of parents whose children attend the Port Townsend Library’s storytime program staged Thursday what was described as a “sing-along sit-in” to protest cutbacks.
About 40 people, evenly divided between parents and young children, gathered on the lawn outside the Charles Pink House, the library’s learning center near the library at 1256 Lawrence St.
For 20 minutes, they sang songs and rhymes that were used in library storytime programs conducted by Youth Services Assistant Mirandy Cook, who resigned April 24.
The parents were demonstrating opposition to a change in programming and were also concerned about losing Cook, according to organizer Darcy Fawcett Reeder.
On April 17, the library announced plans to discontinue the storytime program for a month beginning May 15 and then shorten the storytime durations when the program resumes in June.
The changes include cutting the current times in the separate baby, toddler and preschool programs from 60 minutes to 30 minutes and adding a Saturday preschool program.
“It’s really a shame that we weren’t allowed to provide any input about this,” said Kay Darlington of Port Townsend, whose 2-year-old granddaughter is a regular storytime participant.
“You can’t shortchange the kids,” she said. “Fifteen minutes means a lot to the children, even if it doesn’t mean all that much to the people in the administration.”
Children’s Librarian Kit Ward-Crixell said, “The programs are being cut by half, but adding the Saturday program makes it the same.
“We wanted to add the Saturday program to accommodate schedules for working parents and day care.”
Library Director Melody Sky Eisler said she has been talking to parents about the reasons for the changes.
“We understand these concerns,” she said.
“We want to expand our programs, but we need to do the best we can with the resources we have.”
Eisler said the storytime program will be suspended for one month so library staff can begin proactive contact with community members.
“We are taking this break so we can make better use of our staff to do some really important outreach,” she said.
“I want people in the community to be aware of everything the library has to offer, which involves getting out of the building and meeting people where they are, in schools and at community events.”
Eisler said the outreach was to encourage support for a summer program with a goal that all children spend 10 hours during the summer involved in reading activities.
“If kids read or are read to during the summer, when they come back to school, they are ahead of their peers who didn’t read,” she said.
Eisler said Cook resigned without notice and “we wish her the best in all her future endeavors.”
Parents decried the loss of Cook, who declined to comment.
Although Cook was not at the sing-along, she was mentioned.
Darlington praised Cook for teaching sign language to her 2-year-old granddaughter, while parent Lea Lawlor lauded Cook’s effect on children.
“She has her heart in it,” Lawlor said. “It’s not just a job.”
At the end of the event, it was announced that Cook will conduct a story session in Chetzemoka Park in the summer.
Dates and times would be announced, parents said.
It will be operated on a contribution basis, with participants paying what they can.
Parent Charles Reeder said information about the session would be available through word of mouth and on Facebook.
For more information about the sessions, email ptstorytime@gmail.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
