YOUNGSTOWN (May 22nd 2024/For Immediate Release) – The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) and the Austintown Local School District are excited to announce Story Trails at the Austintown Township Park. The two organizations will join Monica Deavers, Township Trustee, and other supporters, at Pogany Pavilion on May 30th at 10:30am to kick off and highlight this wonderful resource for families in Austintown. The Trails allow families to walk, read the book along a path, and enjoy nature. We invite members of the media and families everywhere to join us for this kickoff event.
“Story Trails is something the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County puts together across the county every year so children and families can share the joy of reading. Prioritizing literacy in our community is so important and this is just one of the many ways PLYMC is a literacy leader in the area, “said Erin Phemester, PLYMC Chief Experience Officer. “We plan to roll out Story Trails in five separate locations across the county. We were thrilled when the Austintown Local School District approached us about one in Austintown and are happy to join with them and other community leaders to announce Story Trails in Austintown,” added Phemester. "
The Austintown Local School District is happy to have set the wheels in motion to have a Story Trail in Austintown. The idea was brought forward by Karen Lamm, a Kindergarten teacher at Austintown Elementary School to me," said Kathy Mock, Austintown Local School Board Member. "Karen had seen in another community a Story Trail and thought how wonderful it was to read together and enjoy the outdoors. This proposal was taken to our good friends at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County to be able to host a Story Trail in Austintown and here we are doing just that with the Austintown Township Park,” said Kathy Mock.
“I'm excited for the Storybook Trail to come to our community because it's a fantastic way to promote literacy, encourage outdoor activity, and bring our community together,” said Monica Deavers, Austintown Township Trustee. “I can't wait to see the joy and excitement it brings to children and families, and I'm looking forward to going there with my grandchildren, exploring the trail, and creating wonderful memories together. Thank you, Kathy Mock and Karen Lamm, for getting me involved in this project. It's going to be a real page-turner for our community, offering another great story to experience while enjoying the outdoors.”
The Story Trail will transition to Austintown Elementary School in August with the beginning of the school year.
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The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) has served the Mahoning Valley since 1880 when the Youngstown Library Association was officially created. With 14 branches across Mahoning County, including Main Library in downtown Youngstown, PLYMC is well known for its signature services and programs like Summer Discovery and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. PLYMC serves our communities by preparing children for kindergarten, promoting early literacy, assisting job seekers, connecting Valley residents to technology, and providing resources for small businesses
