by Julie Andersen, Outreach Librarian, City of Casa Grande
I hope when you think of the library, you can think of all the health and wellness benefits associated with us.
Of course, we have books on exercise, mental health, cookbooks for healthier recipes and books to exercise our minds.
But did you know that the Casa Grande Public Library has a Storywalk®? This is an activity that engages families in literacy and getting active. Pages from a children’s book are printed and placed in displays along a walkable path at a park, school or neighborhood.
Our Storywalk starts at the Main Library, 449 N. Drylake St., and takes you on a nice stroll around Peart Park, reading as you go. Youth Librarian Julie Lash Martinez saw this idea at other libraries and thought it would be great in our community.
In 2016, she applied for a Library Services and Technology Act grant and was awarded the funds to have the Storywalk installed in Peart Park in spring 2017. She changes the Storywalk story five or six times a year, usually coinciding with seasons and holidays.
Another way the library encourages health and wellness is through our Culture Passes. These are provided from Act One, whose goal is to create and provide access to quality arts experiences enhancing the lives of Arizona’s children and families.
Some of the destinations that encourage physical activity are the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Besh Ba Gowah: Archaeological Park and Museum, The Boyce Thompson Arboretum, The Reid Park Zoo, The ARB at Flagstaff, and the Desert Botanical Garden. Each of these destinations will get you walking as well as enlightening your mind with new information.
The Culture Passes are available the Main Library and the Vista Grande Library on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons are allowed to “check-out” two destinations in a 30-day period, with only one during a seven-day period. The Culture Pass is for two free admissions to your chosen destination.
For a complete list and links to the destinations, visit casagrandeaz.gov/215/Culture-Pass. To see if the pass is available, you can visit www.cglibrary.org and search “Culture Pass.”
So, whether you are going on a Storywalk, using a Culture Pass, checking out a book, audiobook or movie to help with your health, please know the library supports your health and wellness.
