Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: September 10, 2015

Program to read aloud to young children

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. We will have a prize drawing from all newly registered patrons during the month. We have a collection basket for the entries and will draw a winner Oct. 1.

The fall season of story times began Sept. 8 for infant children to age 2, Sept. 9 for children 3 to 5 years of age and Sept. 10 for all ages prior to kindergarten. The story times begin each session at 10:30 a.m. The series of story times will follow the school year calendar; when school is not in session for breaks or inclement weather, story times will not be held. The holiday breaks are listed on the registration form.

The library is beginning the national program of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. This program encourages reading aloud to young children before they begin to learn to read for themselves. We have a registration form to begin the process along with a reading bag, reading log and bookmark. Children can color a circle on the log for each book read then receive a sticker and a coloring sheet to collect stickers upon completing the first 100 books. A new log and sticker will be given for each 100 books read. Once 500 books have been read, parents will receive a browsing book bag. Upon reaching 1,000 books, your child will receive a certificate and a free book. This program is for children ages infant through pre-kindergarten and can be completed at the pace set by the parents. When someone reads three books a day to their child, they will have read 1,095 books in one year.

We have recently purchased two umbrella strollers for parents to use while in the Library. In the past, we have had to request that parents leave strollers outside due to our lack of space. The strollers will make it easier for parents to shop for books for themselves and their children.

We have registration forms for the citywide garage sales Oct. 2 and 3. The registration fee is $10 per address with a deadline of Sept. 19 to be listed on the map. After the deadline, a sign can be purchased for $5 and your address will be advertised via Facebook. Participants can purchase a $5 boxed ad with The Ark Valley News with each registration. The garage sales are sponsored by the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce, the Ark Valley News and Valley Offset Printing.

The library is working with marketing students at Wichita State University, who are developing a survey that will assist in the planning of the new combined facility. The goal is to learn what members of our community feel is important in a new library whether it be the books, technology, quiet reading space or something we may not have considered. The students are now in the process of developing the questions that will be presented online about mid-October. We are planning to distribute the survey to as many as possible in our library service area.

We have been finding more damaged CDs and DVDs in our check-in of library materials. Please handle all discs by the center hole and/or the outer edges. Keep discs free from fingerprints, food, liquids, etc. Library staff will clean them if necessary. Return the discs to the cases or sleeves immediately after use. Protect the label side of CDs from scratches and abuse. Protect the reflective surface of a DVD. Do not touch the surface of a disc, bend a disc, expose to extreme heat or cold, prolonged sunlight or other sources of UV light. Do not place Post-It Notes or labels on discs or write on them. Patrons will be charged for damage to discs or to cases.

The Library Board will be meeting soon with representatives of the Central Kansas Community Foundation to begin a fundraising campaign for the new combined facility. We will also be seeking assistance with grant writing to provide needed funding for the project. Information will be placed in our articles, on our webpage, and on Facebook.

Sept. 18 is Read an E-book Day. This is your opportunity to check out an E-book through the Sunflower eLibrary with the use of your library card. If you have questions about setting up the account, bring your e-reader to the library for staff assistance.

Upcoming Events

September — National Library Card Sign-up Month and National Children's Good Manners Month

Sept. 11 — Patriot Day

Sept. 14 — Library Board meeting

Sept. 15 — City Council

Sept. 18 — Read an E-book Day

Sept. 25-26 — Fall Festival

Sept. 26 — Library closed

Sept. 28 — SCKLS Rotating books exchanged