The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Public libraries celebrate Earth Day virtually

The Soldotna library will do an educational science experiment that can be viewed online.

Both the Soldotna and Kenai libraries are creating virtual programming for Earth Day this week.

Leslie Meyer, the youth services librarian at the Soldotna Public Library, said she will be doing an online educational science experiment about the differences between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock formations.

The experiment, involving melting different types and textures of chocolate, will be posted on the library website and Facebook page. Meyer said science, technology, engineering and math programming is generally popular among kids, and that she was looking for something “easy and accessible” to “keep the kids’ mind going.”

Meyer said the library is still following current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and is not currently hosting in-person events. She hopes to have people back by the end of the summer.

Elizabeth Kleweno is the program coordinator at the Kenai Public Library.

She and the programming committee decided to contact the Cook Inletkeeper about its recent community composting project and will be posting a video about the effort on the Kenai Public Library’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Kleweno said she thought it would be great to highlight a community conservation effort.

The Cook Inletkeeper’s composting project aims to divert food waste from the landfill. According to Kleweno, more than 24,000 pounds of composted food has already been taken to the chickens at Diamond M Ranch in outer Kenai.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

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