Grant from City of Elkins Helps Fund Children’s Programs at Elkins-Randolph County Public Library

ELKINS, W.Va. — May 11, 2026 — On a summer weekday morning inside the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library, a pair of small hands reaches for a picture book during Tot Time. Later that week, a young elementary school student beams as she learns how a simple machine works. Both of these moments are possible because of our local library’s programs—in part with support from the City of Elkins.

“The Children’s Program Director does an amazing job in organizing as well as presenting the programs,” said Ruth Mitchell, Director, Cataloging and Collections at the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library.

Public libraries across the U.S. face significant funding challenges, which include repair backlogs, accessibility challenges, and the ability to run community programs. The Elkins-Randolph County Public Library is one such example, largely because damages incurred in 2021 due to flooding made while its roof was undergoing repairs. Thankfully, a recently awarded $2.2 million investment from USDA Rural Development will help renovate and expand our community’s public library.

Within the City of Elkins’ recent implementation of its $7.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, City Council has approved approximately $108,000 of the City’s funds for community grants. Among the grant recipients is the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library, which received $22,500 from the City.

According to Ms. Mitchell, this $22,500 from the City of Elkins directly supports the library’s children’s programs—keeping them free, consistently scheduled, and available to all Elkins families.

The programs Ms. Mitchell highlighted include:

• Tot Time, held weekly.
• Story Time, held every other week.
• Summer reading programs during the summer break.
• A “Screen-Free Event,” which included STEM-related activities.

In addition, children who participate in Tot Time and Story Time receive a free book on their birthdays.

For schedules and more information, visit https://elkinslibrary.com/what-we-do.

The City of Elkins is proud to support these programs as part of its Fiscal Year 2027 community grants.