By Rachel Hall, reporting for Bluebonnet News
Tucked inside a small cabin is the one-room Tarkington Community Library, located next to the Tarkington Community Center.
“We have a lot of programs for kids but we are also extending our program for adults,” said Librarian Kasey Fuller.
Game night for adults has been added to the calendar once every other month on a Monday at 6:30 p.m. with alternating months intended for educational classes. In August, a course will be offered as a planning session for creating a planter-based community garden and the next game night is scheduled for September.
“They seem to be having a lot of fun with the game nights,” said Fuller.
Yoga will be added to the calendar for teens and adults at 6 p.m. for six weeks starting on July 11.
“It is absolute beginner level yoga,” explained Fuller.
For school-aged children, many summer programs are offered weekly.
“This summer, we are having STEM events every Monday at 1:30 p.m. They are educational, but we also make it fun,” said Fuller.
The kids’ summer reading program includes a planned weekly activity on Fridays at 10 a.m. The next activity will be a blacksmith display on July 12, according to Fuller.
Monday through Friday starting July 1 through Aug. 8, the library will be the site of a Kids’ Café sponsored by the Houston Food Bank, which will be delivering fresh food daily for lunches offered to anyone under the age of 18.
“We will have the Kids’ Café each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All kids ages 1 to 18 can eat here. Just show up – no questions asked,” said Fuller. “Once we have more than 15 people show up for lunches, they will switch to a hot lunch.”
The library will also serve as the pickup location for the backpack buddy program for the Tarkington area provided by the Houston Food Bank this summer.
By the end of the year, playground equipment will be added to the green space for a park on the premises.
“We will be adding playground equipment thanks to a grant made possible by the Tocker Foundation,” said Fuller. “They help bring programs to rural libraries. This is the second grant we have received from them worth approximately $25,000.”
The Tarkington Community Library is open Monday from noon to 7 p.m., closed on Tuesday, and open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.
For more details about currently planned summer and fall activities for adults and children, follow the library on Facebook by searching Tarkington Community Library or visit the website at www.tarkingtonlib.org