Thanks to a $7,500 grant from the Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Kimberly Public Library expanded its Love Notes Music Program. The grant helped bring live music, lessons, and accessible instruments to the community.

Since last year, the Kimberly Public Library has hosted nearly 30 hours of live piano music for visitors. According to library staff, the live music has created a welcoming atmosphere for library patrons. They have also noticed fewer behavior issues among tweens when the piano is playing.

“We see parents bringing their babies near the piano, and our older adult patrons are often found lingering to listen to the music and share their compliments of the playing as they check out their books,” said Tracy Haack, Adult Services Librarian with Kimberly Public Library.

With the addition of the piano, the library has also introduced programs such as children’s music exploration, a music-based Memory Cafe for older adults with dementia, holiday recitals, and informal student performances.

These live music sessions have expanded beyond the piano to include other instruments, such as guitar, violin, and French horn, with local musicians donating their time, including area students and retired teachers. The Kimberly Public Library’s Love Notes Music Program also offers group ukulele lessons to the public, which fill up quickly. There are also “string jams,” which include all string instruments and musicians of every skill level.

The Kimberly Public Library purchased sheet music and ukulele kits for visitors to borrow from Heid Music of Appleton, who discounted the cost of the instruments and donated the music books. The sheet music is part of the library’s circulation. Due to its popularity, it is frequently checked out, along with the donated guitar that’s also part of their circulating collection, further demonstrating the benefits of the Love Notes Music Program to the community.

“The support and flexibility from the Community Vision Fund gave us room to be creative,” said Tracy. “We are very grateful for this opportunity.”

For more information about the classes and jam sessions, visit the Kimberly Public Library website.