'Community center'

Last Thursday morning, toddlers and their parents and guardians enjoyed music, movement and art during Toddler Storytime at the Shelton Timberland Library. An hour later, they were invited to head downstairs to twirl in colorful lights during the Cosmic Library event.

Forty-five minutes later, Storytime for Grownups was underway, and 15 minutes after that, the Teen Art Club gathered. Then came the canines for Dog Tales, read to them by children.

"We have 92 events for the month," said Erin Stumpf, the library's manager. She added, "compared to a year and a half ago, it's a huge influx of programs."

"We're as much about programs as books," said Steve Buettler, who becomes interim manager Feb. 1.

"Some people say, 'If I'm not into books, there's no reason to go to the library' ... It's really more of a community center," Buettler said. It's also a supplement for schools, he said.

Stumpf adds, "Literally everything that goes on here is free."

Shelton is part of the Timberland Regional Library system. Founded in 1968, it has 27 community libraries in Mason, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific and Thurston counties. Belfair and Hoodsport have branches. The City of Shelton owns the building.

Stumpf came on board three years ago in the midst of a huge transformation for the library. Activities for kids up to age 18 were moved downstairs. Last year, a 23-foot pirate ship debuted.

"After COVID, there was a big lull in attendance ... We've really done a lot of focus on programming and outreach," Stumpf said.

Many of the new programs focused on children from birth to age 18. The library also adopted a lot of programs for adults.

"We are really trying to do a better job of getting out what we're doing" at schools and community events, Stumpf said.

Shelton Timberland Library has established "Anywhere Libraries" in schools, churches and community centers. "The goal is to take library services to areas that don't have access to a library," Stumpf said.

The library is also focused on multigenerational programs where people of all ages aren't simply watching something together.

Buettler said he's watched kids around age 8 competing at chess with people in their 80s. "They are actively playing together," Stumpf said.

Stumpf said library employees are reaching out to the residents of Shelton Veterans Village and inmates at the Washington Correctional Facilities in Shelton to share their experiences for the "Shelton Stories" program.

"Everyone telling their stories and understanding we're all part of this community," she said.

An added bonus this year is the ongoing repair of the library's balcony, courtesy of a grant secured by the City of Shelton. No one seems to recall the last time the balcony, rotted by rain, was open.

"We're super excited about that ... it's one of the most asked-about things," Stumpf said.

The library has a staff of 12, soon to be 11 when Stumpf departs at the end of the month.

Among the offerings at the library:

■ Weekly early learning storytimes are Book Babies from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Toddler Storytimes from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays and Preschool Storytime from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays.

■ Monthly events for kids include Touch-a-Truck Storytime from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Kids hear stories and then meet employees of the City of Shelton's Public Works Department who maintain the streets, sewers and other infrastructure, and then they can check out the department's vehicles.

■ The entire family can join to clap, sing and dance at the Music and Movement events from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. the last Saturday of each month.

■ People with dementia and their care partners or care givers meet, socialize, relax and enjoy "no-pressure" activities at the Memory Cafe from 1 to 2 p.m. Fridays.

■ Teen after-school programs this month include Nostalgia Cafe from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Music Club from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

■ Kids ages 6 and older can sample flavors from selected stories each month while learning about cultural traditions at Tasty Tales. Rice is the subject from 3-4 p.m. Jan. 15, chocolate from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 12 and bread from 3-4 p.m. March 12.