Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: August 20, 2015

Adult reading party set for Aug. 21

The fall season of story times will begin on Sept. 8 for infant children to age 2, Sept. 9 for children 3- to 5-years old and Sept. 10 for all ages prior to kindergarten. The story times begin each session at 10:30 a.m. Registration forms are available and necessary for staff to plan for the sessions.

Prizes for the adult "hero" reading challenge will be distributed at the adult party Aug. 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The adults attending will enjoy games and snacks during the final adult event of the summer programming.

We have some remaining prize bags for children who returned reading logs for the 2015 summer reading program. We will keep the bags until about Sept. 1. Some of the coupons included as prizes have September expiration dates.

We are going through our records for materials that are past due. These materials, purchased with your taxpayer money, are a part of our collection available for anyone. We are trying to reach patrons by the telephone numbers on their records to request return of the materials. We suspect that patrons delay returning materials due to the fines that accumulate. We are willing to accept small payments toward the fines; mainly, we just want the materials returned so they can be used by other patrons.

Our juvenile books have a maximum fine of $3 each; our adult books have a maximum fine of $5 each. The fines on magazines are maximized at $1 each. The fines on our audio books $ .50 per day with no maximum. They are checked out for a period of two weeks and can be renewed if there are no reserves on the item.

The fines on our DVDs are $1 per day with no maximum. The DVDs can be checked out for a period of one week with a limit of five per family at one time.

The fines on audio materials and DVDs do accumulate quickly, but we will work with patrons to resolve fines on accounts. If patrons do not return materials within six months, we have the option of turning the information over to the State of Kansas for collection through tax refunds.

Please look through bookshelves, library book bags from the summer or in vehicles for any materials you may have forgotten. Bring the items back to the library; we'll work with you if fines are due.

Children are back in school now and soon will be sharing colds or the flu. When materials are returned to the library, each item is cleaned with Clorox wipes to remove germs before reshelving. Please limit library visits if your children are ill with colds and/or the flu in the coming months. Call the library if you need specific materials during an illness. We'll bring the materials out to the curb for you to pickup.

Upcoming events

August: National Inventor's Month & National Back to School Month

Aug. 19 — Adult reading logs due

Aug. 19 — National Aviation Day

Aug. 21 — Adult party and games

Sept. 1 — City Council

Sept. 1 — Shredding pickup

Sept. 7 — Library closed for Labor Day