Orange City Area Health System and the Orange City Public Library are partnering to make healthcare settings more comfortable for children while expanding access to books and early literacy resources.
The organizations will host two activities at the health system Thursday, September 17, including a special story time and the unveiling of a new children’s bookshelf.
Story Time Introduces Children to Healthcare
The library’s Out & About Story Time: Doctor’s Office will run from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Children and their caregivers will hear a story, tour the facility, and participate in activities designed to teach them about hospitals and doctors.
Children will also meet and interview Dr. Megan Fretham. Organizers say the welcoming experience is intended to make hospitals and medical appointments feel more familiar and less intimidating.
“This partnership is a great example of what can happen when employees recognize an opportunity and community organizations work together to bring it to life,” Orange City Area Health System CEO Chris Sietstra said. “Out & About Story Time gives children a positive and welcoming introduction to healthcare, while the Books as Medicine collection will continue providing comfort and connection for families long after the event.”
The story time is free, although registration is encouraged because space is limited. Families can register through the Orange City Public Library’s online event calendar.
Books as Medicine Coming to Waiting Area
The organizations will also unveil a new Books as Medicine bookshelf during the morning. The project was funded through a $3,000 Siouxland Community Foundation grant awarded to the Orange City Public Library.
The bookshelf will place children’s books in an Orange City Area Health System waiting area, allowing children and caregivers to read together while waiting for appointments. The initiative also allows the library to bring its literacy resources into another place frequently visited by local families.
“The Orange City Public Library is always looking for ways to make books and early literacy experiences more accessible throughout our community,” Library Director Lisa Johnson said. “Books as Medicine allows us to meet families where they are, while Out & About Story Time gives children an opportunity to learn about an important community resource in a fun and reassuring way.”
The project developed from a shared effort by the health system and library to combine their resources and expertise while creating a more welcoming environment for patients and their families.
