Student-inspired lending library coming to Middlegrounds Metropark

TOLEDO – A hands-on learning project by Maumee Valley’s youngest students is giving area residents a chance to read a book while enjoying views of the Maumee River.

The project is a lending library to be unveiled at Middlegrounds Metropark in downtown Toledo on Wednesday, May 24. It is one of a growing number of lending libraries within the 19 Metroparks. The students are in the prekindergarten/junior kindergarten program (ages 3-5).

The student-decorated lending library, shaped to look like a house, is part of the school’s “Passion Project” program. During May, students explored a research topic through discussions and first-hand experiences. The twist this year for the younger students was to select a project that also helped the community. With help from their teachers, they combined their love of reading with year-long visits to different Metroparks to come up with the idea.

“Our Forest School-inspired program already places a lot of emphasis on outdoor learning and experiences,” said Christine Marker, a prekindergarten/junior kindergarten teacher at Maumee Valley. “So a lending library at a public park was a natural fit.” (The library was built by Maumee Valley’s director of technology Phil Paskvan.)

Located at the base of the Anthony Wayne Bridge, Middlegrounds Metropark is 28 acres with half a mile of river frontage. It includes a 1.5-mile meandering walk/bike path.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the lending library begins at 9:30 a.m. Once it is unveiled, the students will stock the library with their own donated books covering a range of titles and age groups. The students are writing messages inside the books for the enjoyment of future readers.