On Wednesday morning, Oct. 22, the Tell City Branch of the Perry County Public Library welcomed families to a pair of symphonic storytelling performances presented in partnership with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. The program, titled "Locomotives!" drew on Brian Floca’s Caldecott Medal–winning picture book to create an immersive experience that combined music, narration and visuals and aimed specifically at young children.

Two sessions, at 10:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., allowed more local families and preschool groups to attend without overlapping school schedules. Organizers described the production as an opportunity to introduce America’s railroad beginnings through sound and story, using orchestral timbres to bring scenes from the book to life. Program and contact details for the event were listed on the library’s event page.

For a county with limited arts programming outside of school curricula, the appearance of a regional professional orchestra has practical and symbolic importance. The concert brought a form of cultural enrichment that research links to improved language skills, attention, and social-emotional development in early childhood. Libraries in Perry County, long positioned as community anchors, are increasingly filling gaps in cultural and developmental services by hosting performances, literacy initiatives, and family-oriented programming.

Beyond educational benefits, this kind of outreach has public health relevance. Arts engagement supports mental well-being and social connection, particularly for families in rural areas facing social isolation, transportation barriers, and limited access to pediatric developmental resources. By providing a welcoming, low-barrier venue for shared cultural experiences, the Tell City Branch contributed to the community’s social infrastructure—one of the nonmedical factors that shape long-term health outcomes.

Access and equity were central to the program’s local significance. Scheduling two morning performances lowered some participation hurdles, but Perry County still faces structural obstacles that can limit who benefits from such events. Transportation availability, work schedules for caregivers, and the cost of outside programming are persistent challenges in rural public health and education. Community organizations and policymakers can look to partnerships like this one as models for extending cultural opportunities equitably: bringing professional-level arts programming into trusted local institutions rather than expecting rural families to travel significant distances.

The collaboration also reinforces the library’s role as more than a repository of books. As a hub for early learning, cultural exposure, and community gathering, the facility can serve as a locus for cross-sector strategies—linking arts organizations, schools, health agencies and local government—to strengthen child development supports and reduce disparities across Perry County.

Residents seeking more information about the program, including future events and contact details, can refer to the Perry County Public Library’s event listings. In the short term, the orchestra visit offered a day of music and story; in the longer view, it highlighted how modest investments in accessible cultural programming can contribute to healthier, more connected communities.