The Luverne Public Library offers learning resources to people living and working in Crenshaw County, services which include books, videos, and a host of programs focused on keeping patrons involved and coming back again and again.

“We offer programs and resources to the community,” said Director Kathryn Tomlyn. “My main focus is to keep children coming and being involved.”

Tomlyn said anyone living or working in Crenshaw County can obtain a library card. People tend to come in for a card to check out books, but once they do, they discover audios, videos, the online library consortium and programs like craft day, Lego day, Mommy and Me, kids’ yoga, and 4-H meetings.

Library staff take resources out to the community, too. Tomlyn reads to Head Start children every Monday morning during the school year and conducts crafting classes with local K-4 classes on Tuesdays.

“I go out and do a couple of different things,” Tomlyn said. “This year I started going to a K-4 class on Tuesday morning. I read, and then, we do a cookie craft.”

The library is host to a variety of groups, some for kids and others for adults, which meet in library space at no cost to the group.

“There’s a Kids and Kin group which meets here regularly,” Tomlyn said. “The retired teachers and the garden club meet here regularly. There’s also a Pokémon Club which meets here on Tuesday nights. We don’t sponsor these groups, but we allow them to use the facility.”

Most offerings are STEM-based, Tomlyn explained — learning focused on science, technology, engineering, and math — with crafts to emphasize the focus.

“I started the crafts because I have a variety of ages coming,” Tomlyn said. “I try to do some type of STEM program with a cookie craft or other hands-on craft.”

COVID-19 related restrictions paused programs, Tomlyn said, so she compiles craft resources into take home kits for kids to enjoy.

“We had leftover crafts and I started making kits,” Tomlyn said. “I had something new every week. A lot of parents and kids came every week to see what was new and we gave out almost 600 kits.”

Crenshaw County Circuit Clerk Jeannie Gibson, who serves as President for the Friends of the Library, said the library offers something for everyone.

“There’s not a specific age group and programs are free,” Gibson said. “Your income level doesn’t matter. People can bring kids to participate in any program. It is a resource available to everyone.

“Kathryn has developed so many programs over the years. There’s something constantly going on in our little library. I think our local library is probably more active with programs than some in larger towns.”

Offerings resume Thursday, with regular activities weekly and special events sprinkled in, like Valentines Craft Day on Feb. 9, Dinner Theatre on March 14, and a visit with the Easter Bunny on April 1.

Upcoming events include:

• Kids & Kin on Friday at 9:30 a.m.;
• Kids & Kin on Jan. 19 at 9:30 a.m.;
• 4-H Club on Jan. 19 at 4 p.m.;
• Kids Yoga on Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m.;
• Craft Day on Jan. 23 at 4 p.m.;
• LEGO Club on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m.;
• Movie Day on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m.