For two decades, a steady voice at Peck Memorial’s story hour

On a recent morning at Peck Memorial Library, a half-circle of small chairs filled up the way they have for years: toddlers with sneakers swinging, preschoolers clutching stuffed animals, parents and grandparents easing in along the edges. When everyone settled, a familiar volunteer began another children’s reading hour—much as she has for about two decades.

She isn’t looking for attention. Regulars know her by her calm presence and the way she shapes each session around stories that fit the season and life here in Marathon. Winter tales lean into snow and cozy nights; springtime brings books about growing things and the return of birds along the Tioughnioga. Between stories, she folds in motion and simple rhymes, giving small bodies a chance to wiggle and minds a moment to make connections.

The rhythm matters. Families say the weekly routine—listen, move, choose a book—helps little ones grow comfortable in the library and confident around books. Many who first came in a stroller now come back to help, holding picture books for younger siblings or pointing out old favorites on low shelves. Teachers and staff at Marathon Central School District often note how early and regular exposure to stories can ease the transition to pre-K and kindergarten, and library programs like this one support that foundation.

Over the years, the volunteer has adapted as needs changed. Some weeks draw a crowd; others feel like a quiet chat around a single table. She adjusts the length, swaps in a nonfiction book about a local animal, or pulls out a wordless picture book to invite children to narrate what they see. On winter mornings when roads are slick, she keeps things simple and warm. In summer, when days spill outside, she points families toward the library’s reading challenges and encourages them to mix story hour with a stop at the park.

What has not changed is the welcome. The children’s room is a first stop for new families in the village and a regular gathering spot for neighbors who have lived here all their lives. Story hour sits gently within Marathon’s calendar—mindful of school breaks, village events, and the ebb and flow of farm and festival seasons—offering a dependable place to slow down together.

If you have not been in a while, check the library’s posted schedule or social media for upcoming children’s programs. The volunteer who has held this hour steady for so long would likely just say: come when you can, take home a book, and we’ll see you next time.

Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).