Resolve to play an instrument in 2024 with Live Oak Public Libraries' ukulele program
While the Babylonians may have kicked off the tradition more than 4,000 years ago, the New Year’s resolutions we make today have little to do with returning borrowed equipment and repaying farm debt. Instead, unlike those agrarian ancients, we’ve become keen on vowing to exercise more, abstain from drinking and smoking and commit to personal development.
If you’ve resolved that one of your development goals this year is learning an instrument, Live Oak Public Libraries has a fun and affordable opportunity. With just a library card and piqued curiosity, patrons can now check out a ukulele, tuner and instruction book free of charge and begin playing a diminutive, four-stringed music-maker at home.
Launched in late September, the library’s new ukulele check-out program has its musical roots in spring 2021, when local musician and teacher, Mandy Madson, started offering outdoor, group ukulele lessons. People were getting vaccinations against COVID and craving in-person interaction. Kasey Haessler, regional programming librarian and aspiring ukulele learner, was in Madson’s first set of open-air classes.
Soon bitten by the ukulele bug, Haessler began researching what it would take to provide ukulele instruction within the region’s 16-facility library network.
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“We had about 10 ukuleles on-hand already in the collections,” recalled Haessler. “That was enough to begin youth-focused summer workshops in 2022, which Mandy instructed. From those classes, community interest really took off, but those instruments in the collection had to remain at the library. They weren’t for check out.”
Haessler focused on purchasing more instruments. As she worked through finances and logistics, months rolled by, and summer ukulele classes resumed once more at the libraries. By August, Haessler and her team had resources enough for about 24 ukuleles, instrument tuners and instruction books to create a three-part kit available for checkout.
“During the pandemic, we pivoted funds to focus on ukulele, and then we used part of the programing budget along with funding from the state to further expand our initiative with the instruments,” said Haessler. “Once the money was in place, it took time to order, purchase, receive and catalog everything for circulation. Now, three months in, so far, so good. The check outs and returns are happening with very few problems.”
Checking out a ukulele from the Live Oak Public Library system is fairly simple. Every branch has at least one, with some locations having two instruments. Location and instrument availability is online at the library’s ukulele page. Most branches have soprano instruments, smaller and a good match for young children, while a couple branches also have concert-sized ukuleles. These are slightly larger and a good fit for adolescents and adult players. Ukuleles can be checked out for two weeks with no renewals, and late returns are charged $3 every day past due.
Since 2014, youth services supervisor, Melanie Palmeri, has been part of the Southwest Chatham Library team. A lifelong library user with a BA in music and MA in library science, Palmeri regularly plays ukulele during story time.
“The kids are very excited and their eyes light up whenever the ukulele comes out,” emphasized Palmeri. “And that reaction spurred me on in taking this further. Providing ukuleles to the community is one way of removing barriers of access to learning. A kid can be part of a summer library ukulele workshop and now have a way to continue learning by checking out the instrument and taking it home.”
Palmeri also points out how early literacy programs frequently pair music with language because melody often makes learning new concepts and vocabulary easier for young children.
“Early learners absorb music, and this helps kids connect with language, learning and the world around them,” continued Palmeri. “Having access to an instrument like ukulele is one more way for children to connect, engage and grow.”
Madson not only teaches the library’s summer workshops but also determined the kinds of instruments to purchase. Known by her students and many in the community as “Miss Madson’s Magical Music,” she spent several years teaching at Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts before stepping away from the classroom to focus on private instruction and personal music pursuits.
“I recommended Kala brand ukuleles because they are a nice balance of affordability and quality,” offered Madson. “They tend to stay in tune and sound nice, but the coolest part about doing this is the accessibility of music to all kids. It’s a free program, and anybody should have access to music education. This is really about the joy of living, and that fits very well in our community.”
As the ukulele program expands, Madson envisions facilitating more workshops throughout the year. She also anticipates programing tailored to adult ukulele learners.
Currently, Live Oak Libraries offers a series of 90-minute summer ukulele workshops at eight of the sixteen branches mostly focused on students in 3rd through 8th grade.
Haessler similarly sees more programs geared toward adults. Ukulele-centered Jam sessions, open mics and informal performance opportunities at the library are a few ideas she’s interested in exploring. And whether child or adult, Haessler considers the ukulele an important and affordable gateway to learning more about music.
“The ukulele check-out is a way for adults or kids to try something out without huge financial investment,” considered Haessler. “Ukuleles are a great way to introduce people to music and to an instrument, and if they decide they want to commit, they can buy. But we provide the spark, a free introduction for folks, that could be potentially life changing.”
Check out more about Live Oak Public Libraries’ ukulele offerings and more: liveoakpl.org/explore/ukuleles
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Live Oak Public Libraries ukulele checkout program
