After 25 years, library's Miss Velvet tells her last stories

As befits a romper room rock star, Velvet (“Miss Velvet”) Collier concluded her 25-year reign as the “Storytime lady” April 24 at the Kingston Springs Library to a packed house of young enthusiasts and their grateful parents.

Well before the program started, pre-schoolers were roaming inquisitively around the room, many eyeing a table of snacks that stood near the checkout desk. A self-assured fairy princess clopped around in oversized high heels with the confidence of a runway model. Some moved to the front of the room to get a good floor seat or examine the popup tent used as a prop in the day's theme of camping.

Head librarian Jennifer Ensley was here, there and everywhere, greeting new arrivals, consulting with her staff and breaking away several times to bring out more chairs for the growing crowd. Although no survey was taken, it's more than likely that some of the parents who seated themselves around the story circle were Miss Velvet's alumni from the early days.

With a cheery “Hello friends,” Miss Velvet called the proceedings to order and was soon leading the kids in song: “Hey, hey, are you ready for a wonderful day?” Indeed they were. Later they would cluster around an artificial campfire, hemmed in by outdoor stories and safety tips.

Following the storytelling, Miss Velvet's friends and admirers presented her a bouquet of mixed flowers. Plans for a more formal appreciation ceremony are in the works, Ensley told the Gazette.

Library Director Jennifer Ensley (left) presented Miss Velvet (middle) with a bouquet of flowers following her last storytime on April 24. Miss Velvet has been the leader of Thursday morning storytimes at the South Cheatham Public Library since 2000. / South Cheatham County Public Library

A posting on the library's Facebook page praised Miss Velvet for her 25 years of “teaching kids the love of reading. She has left a large legacy of lifelong readers.”

"Storytime will continue," reported the library's Paiton Walker. "But as we usually do every year, there's a break through May. Then we do summer reading through June and July. Then we break when school starts. After that we return to the regular 10:30 on Thursday [mornings]."

Until a replacement for Miss Velvet is found, the library's Assistant Director Rachel Zook will lead the activity, Walker said.