NLJ partners with library

Kinlee Whitney
NLJ Reporter
 
The Wyoming State Geological Survey donated fossil kits to the News Letter Journal, which then partnered with the Weston County Library to distribute the kits to youth in the community. 
After receiving a press release about the distribution of 275 fossil kits around Wyoming, Bob Bonnar, publisher of the News letter Journal, noticed that no kits were headed to the northeastern part of the state. 
“I think learning is good. I think identifying with your community and your state is good,”  Bonnar said, “and one of those things kids really enjoy is those fish fossils.”
Bonnar reached out to Christina George, outreach and publications manager at the Wyoming State Geological Survey, who pulled some strings and retrieved 29 extra kits for the News Letter Journal. “It’s one of the best things about Wyoming, to be a newspaper publisher in little old Newcastle and call the University of Wyoming, and actually get a call back.”
The WSGS had a finite number of kits but was able to borrow some from the set allotments to make a small allotment for Weston County.
The fossil kits are a part of the Fossil Fish Festival, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Knightia as the Wyoming state fish fossil. Due to COVID-19, the festival was postponed this year and the year before. The WSGS and the University of Wyoming Geological Survey teamed up with the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium and Science Kitchen to provide the kits in lieu of the annual event. 
Each kit includes a partially covered fossil fish-bit from the Greater Green River Formation. Children will use the tools provided in the kit to uncover the fish fossils.  The kits also have activities that focus on trona, a unique resource deposited in Wyoming as a result of large ancient lakes, and an activity about lake density. 
“The kits are a fun way for kids to learn about Wyoming’s unique geological history, particularly with regard to fossils,” George said.
Once the News Letter had the kits, it was only a matter of deciding who to partner with to distribute them around the county. After careful deliberation, the paper reached out to the Weston County Library to hand out kits as they’re asked for. 
“If there’s anything that fits into the library’s role and initiative in the community, I always ask (for its help),” Bonnar said.
“It’s kind of a neat activity for the kids,” said Amanda Sanford, children services librarian at  Weston County Library. Sanford said this was a great way for children to learn about the geology and fossils found in Wyoming. The library is the perfect partner for this program because of the amount of children who pass through for the summer reading program.
“We’re here to encourage learning through the summer. It’s not something that has to stop just because school stops.” Sanford said.
The fossil kits are available at the Weston County Library while supplies last.