Homeschool Experience Benefits Children's Librarian

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Leandra Kapity of Lincoln is children's librarian for Lincoln Public Library.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Leandra Kapity of Lincoln is children's librarian for Lincoln Public Library.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

By Lynn Kutter

ENTERPRISE-LEADER

Lincoln Public Library

107 W. Bean St.

479-824-3294

LINCOLN -- Lincoln Public Library will add a Toddler Time for its youngest readers this summer so they can enjoy a time dedicated just for them.

Leandra Kapity, 36, of Lincoln, has served as children's librarian since January and says she is having a lot of fun with children in the community.

Kapity said she is starting a Toddler Time because toddlers will come to Storytime with their siblings and she wanted to provide a program geared to younger ages. It will be held 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays for 30 minutes and include appropriate stories, activities, snacks and crafts.

Lincoln's summer reading program will be held June 4 to July 16. Storytime for ages 3-9 will be 10 a.m. Wednesdays, with Toddler Time to start first at 9:15 a.m.

The theme for the summer reading program is Libraries Rock.

Kapity has been working at Lincoln Public Library for about a year and took over the children's program in January following the retirement of Sherry Rodgers, children's librarian for Washington County Library System. Rodgers would come to Lincoln each week with a storytime program for children.

Kapity homeschooled her children when they were younger and feels her experiences and knowledge from that carries over into planning a program for children.

"A lot of this I did when I was homeschooling my children," Kapity said.

She's made a few changes since January. Movement has been incorporated into the program and she provides a snack at the end of the time.

"We have a Shake Break so they can move around. It makes it easier for them to settle down afterward," Kapity said.

Kapity remembers going to the storytime as a child and said she believes the program is an important one to continue for families.

"Storytime encourages a love of reading and good family time," she said. "There's nothing better than to curl up with a book and read with Mom and Dad."

Personally, Kapity likes historical books, real life stories.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin and has worked on a master's degree in Spanish at the University of Arkansas, along with teaching Spanish classes at the University.

This fall Lincoln will add a program for older children, fourth-sixth grades. Kapity also hopes to add a Homeschool Day once a month with a science related theme or a home study.

General News on 05/16/2018