Delmont librarian interviewed on American Library Association podcast

The Delmont Public Library was among several subjects discussed on the American Library Association’s “Call Number with American Libraries” podcast on Tuesday.

Librarian Denni Grassel was interviewed by host Phil Morehart about the library’s brand-new Outdoor Learning Center.

Having hosted an open house for the center on June 7, Grassel discussed the pursuit of a PNC Charitable Trust grant to help fund the learning center, as well as a campaign within the community to raise an additional $25,000 for a paver pathway that makes the center universally accessible.

The learning center includes a new version of the butterfly garden previously on the property, a community herb garden open for the public to come clip herbs to use in cooking, solar bird baths, benches and more.

“I’m excited mostly about the opportunity kids will have to get outdoors, and get hands-on learning,” Grassel said. “To me, that’s really awesome. You can come in and read a book, but now you have the ability to go outside, read and learn.”

To hear Grassel’s interview, skip to the 22-minute mark of the podcast.

In addition to other outdoor programming, the library’s “Delmont Diggers” group meets regularly at 6 p.m. on Monday evenings to help weed and maintain the Outdoor Learning Center and the butterfly garden.

For more about the Outdoor Learning Center, or other library programs, see DelmontLibrary.org.

Below, see a video about the creation of the Outdoor Learning Center.