MADISON, Ohio  — If you look hard enough you can always find something good in any situation. That’s the case with Madison Public Library’s Down on the Farm Story Time series. 

During the COVID pandemic Melanie Lyttle, Head of Public Service for Madison Public Libray was searching for an outdoor location that allowed for adequate social distancing to conduct story times during the summer. 

hat’s where Rainbow Farms stepped in. Owner, Tina Klco — a strong supporter of the library that she and her children frequently visited — volunteered her farm for the event.

“Melanie used to buy my CSA  (Community Supported Agriculture) and we got to know her through that,” Klco said. 

“We have had a long relationship,” Lyttle said about Tina and Larry, her husband. “They’re very active in the community. They have just been fantastic partners of the supporters of the library and that’s one of our most popular off-site story times.”

The library’s bookmobile travels to the farm where preschool-age children and their families engage with stories and participate in other activities. “It roughly lasts about half an hour,” Lyttle said. “We read three stories, sing some songs, they can play rhythm sticks or bells or, and we always do bubbles at the end. Because bubbles are really great, especially outside because they go everywhere.” 

Down on the Farm Story Time occurs once a week, from the Tuesday after Memorial Day through the second week of August. 

Since the series takes place outside, weather impacts attendance. “On the worst day when it’s really, really humid and it looks like it might rain we may only have one family but, averages between 10 and 15 people,” Lyttle said. 

The farm theme reflects the interests of the residents. Madison has a population of roughly 20,000 people and it’s primarily an agricultural community.

“You always love stories about farm animals, a whole day about cows, a whole day about horses, a whole day about tractors,” Lyttle said. “Pet the trucks is a big thing for us where we’ve had farm tractors and police vehicles and all that kind of stuff because our kids love that sort of thing, and we love letting them be able to see that kind of stuff.”

The story time series provides an unintended benefit as well. 

A government program allows Rainbow Farms to hire seasonal workers from Mexico to assist in their operation through November. Many times the same families return each year and they’ve taken advantage of the services provided by the library.

“It’s a very good program,” Klco said. “Some of those families really enjoy the story time. They get involved and the library has also kind of provided them with some opportunities.”

“They have the same seasonal workers coming back year after year and they get temporary library cards with us so they get materials delivered,” Lyttle said. “Some of the folks are looking for books that might help them to learn English, some of the guys are looking for video games because they bring their consoles with them, some of the folks are looking for plant books.”