Patrons bid adieu to Green Valley Library

By Jeremy Twitchell

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 | 12:13 p.m.

Workers at the Green Valley Library bid a fond farewell Thursday to some of their staunchest supporters — the children who have grown up on weekly story time visits to the branch.

The Green Valley Library, which closed today to end its run as a Las Vegas-Clark County Library District branch, now belongs to the Henderson District Public Libraries, which will remodel the facility and re-open it in mid-2009.

The changeover is part of a deal reached between the two districts that will allow the Henderson district's taxing boundaries to coincide with the city's boundaries and the Las Vegas-Clark County District to move its staff and equipment from Green Valley to its new Centennial Hills Branch, which opens Jan. 10.

But before closing, the youth librarians who have crafted the stories, songs, activities and puppet shows for the weekly programs shared their favorite works for children as part of their final story time at the branch.

"These are the kids that have been coming to the story times throughout the years," Youth Librarian Andrew Kaplan said. "They're familiar faces and you get used to seeing them. So it's sad."

Angel Avila, an assistant manager at the branch, said she has been bringing her 9-year-old daughter, Marina, to the story times since the girl was an infant. She said the story times have helped her daughter with language and reading skills over the years.

"It makes them love the library," Avila said. "Now (Marina) loves the library. She loves to come here. She loves to read."

Marina Avila said she still enjoyed the story times, mostly because of the librarians who presented them.

"They do lots of fun things when they're acting, and they like to play with kids," she said.

Some parents who have been bringing their children to the story times regularly entered the last one unaware of the impending changeover. They expressed sadness to see the librarians going and high praise for the work they have done.

"They put a lot of work into it," parent Donna Caterall said. "It's not easy."

Caterall's daughter Alexa, 7, has been attending the story times "forever," she said. Her mother said that's about two years. Alexa said her favorite part is the puppet shows, and Donna Caterall said the extra effort that librarians put into events like that is what made the program such a hit with children.

"(Alexa) loves it," she said. "She loves coming. What's good about it is no matter what age the children are, there's something here for them."

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or [email protected].