Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: May 28, 2015

Summer reading programs start next week

Do you have library materials that are overdue? We are waiving fines on overdue materials being returned through 2 p.m. May 30. This does not apply to any outstanding fines. The fines collected on overdue materials are used to fund the purchase of new materials throughout the year. We're encouraging parents and kids to go through school book bags to look for library materials.

This is our last week of preparing for our 2015 Summer Reading Program — "Every Hero Has a Story" — before our weekly programs begin. The registration forms and guideline sheets are available on our website (valleycenterlibrary.org) and at the library. The reading logs are only available at the library.

We require registration forms for each participant to enable us to prepare adequate supplies for crafts and treats.

We encourage children with last names beginning with A through O to register for the 9 a.m. sessions; children with last names beginning with P through Z to register for the 11 a.m. sessions. We realize that changes may be needed with children's napping schedules, swimming lessons and daycare scheduling.

Our first sessions will be at 9 and 11 a.m. June 3 with a presentation of search and rescue dogs. Our weekly sessions will again be held at Le Venue, 109 W. Main. All ages are welcome for the free programs.

We are collecting clean adult T-shirts to use for a craft June 10. Color is not a factor, and shirts do not need to be new, as we'll be cutting them to make hero capes.

Children up to second grade in the fall are asked to read a minimum of 25 books; children in third grade and above are asked to read a minimum of 25 hours. The deadline for the reading program is July 25, giving all participants plenty of time to complete their reading requirements. Our guideline sheet outlines the full details for the required reading and activities for the summer. On the reverse side we have provided a complete list of activities for all ages: toddlers for story times, children for the reading programs, teens for their parties and adults for their events. The library will have activities each Tuesday through Friday for kids in our community.

Our adult program — "Escape the Ordinary" — challenges adults to read books from HERO categories such as a lady, an animal and real life, among others. The guidelines and details of the adult program are on our website and at the library.

The next adult program sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council will be the "Underground Railroad in Kansas" at 6:30 p.m. June 9 at the library. Refreshments will be served at this free event.

The theme for the teens — "Unmask!" — continues with their Super Hero challenge from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 12. We have re-structured our age requirement and now will include students going into fifth grade. There will be games and snacks for everyone.

If teens wish to participate in the summer reading challenge, we are requesting they read a minimum of 25 hours during the program. Teens are not required to participate in the reading challenge to attend parties.

The Combined Facility committee will have another report from the architects at 7 p.m. May 28 at City Hall. Changes have been made at each meeting for the design of the facility. The architects will then present the layout of the facility at the City Council meeting June 2.

If you have an interest in learning about the proposed facility and the space designated for the library, the Senior Center and the community room, plan to attend this meeting. This is an extremely important decision for our community, as the City Council works on the 2016 budget.

We continue to receive book donations. We do appreciate the donations, but we want our donors to be aware that we cannot use books that are wet (or have been wet and stained), yellowed with age or dirty. When donations are received, the materials are first looked over for condition and age, and then checked against our database to determine if we have that item already in the collection. If we do have that item, the copies are compared so we can keep the copy in better condition.

Items not chosen are placed on the sale shelves just inside the library or boxed for our next book sale. In 2014, we had 1,972 hardback books donated, including 600 new children's books, 2,904 paperback books and 229 magazines, plus another four boxes of magazines.

Please take advantage of our free services. The library is here to serve the needs of our community. Suggestions are always welcome for programs or additional services.

Upcoming Events

Now thru May 30 — No fines on returned materials

May 28 — High school book discussion

June 2 — City Council meeting

June 3 — Summer Reading program, Search & Rescue dogs

June 8 — Library Board meeting

June 9 — Adult program, Underground Railroad in Bleeding Kansas

June 12 — Teen "Super Hero Challenge" party