Community Collaboration - Winona Public Library Children’s Military Corner and Recording/Listening Station

This project had two elements to it. The first part was to set up a recording and listening station at the Winona Public Library for military families to record stories and messages to loved ones deployed for service as well as listen to messages sent from family members that are deployed. Those deployed can often go to the base’s USO, pick out a book, and record reading it. When not in use for military families, the station can be used for the general public as a listening station to learn and practice reading skills. There is not a known free public place in Winona County that offers this service. Some families do not have the ability to record books or messages at home due to financial situations, technical ability, etc. Many families Skype or video message with deployed family members and friends, but often internet access to those deployed is limited, slow and expensive. Having a DVD sent in the mail would give the deployed family member the ability to watch and hear their family back home when they can and as often as they need. The second element to this project was to set up a corner in the children’s area of the Winona Public Library to be a quite place for families to come to that offers books and information about being a military family. The purpose of this area is to help families, especially children, deal with separation from a deployed parent, the fears that go with that and other separation issues that many, even non-military, families often deal with (travel, death, divorce, etc.). This area could also serve teachers, family friends, daycare providers, scout leaders and others who know a child or family dealing with deployment and other family stressors. The reading corner part of this project will not only offer a learning and coping tool for families and friends of deployed loved ones, but will also serve as a learning tool for others who know or work with children dealing with having a deployed family member.