Dial happily ever after

What’s a child to do if parents are busy, she can’t yet read, and she’s in serious need of a story? The Kiwanis Club of Richland, Washington, has that scenario covered with Dial-a-Story.

Richland Public Library manager and Kiwanis club secretary Wayne Suggs was instrumental in creating the project in 1991.

“The library did not have adequate financial resources to purchase recording equipment or story tapes,” Wayne says. After presenting the idea to his club, however, the program, like its stories, concludes happily.

Since the city updated its phone system, several callers can use the service at once, and up to 200 children per month do so.

The stories, which are available 24 hours a day, change weekly and are read by Kiwanis club members who either pick one of their childhood favorites or read one chosen by the library staff.