Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: March 23, 2017

March continues as busy month at library

Spring is here, and March is more than half over. This month is really flying by. We're showing hero movies this week at 1:30 p.m. and providing popcorn to those attending. The titles of the movies are listed on our website (our movie license will not allow us to list the titles in the newspaper).

If you're planning to have a garage sale in a few weeks, the last day for registration is March 24. Cost of the registration is $10. The Valley Center citywide garage sales are scheduled for April 7 and 8.

There has been a great deal of discussion recently about the possibility of the library becoming a department of the City. Everyone has their own personal opinions about the situation. Please express your opinions to your council representatives so that when the issue is presented for a vote, they can vote for the direction provided by their constituents.

Are you participating in the National Library Week prize drawing? Just by coming to the library or bringing a single donation for the food pantry, you can have one entry. If you write a short recommendation for a book or place a bid on the silent auction, you can have two entries. If you shop the upcoming book sale (March 30 to April 8), you can have three entries. If you suggest an idea for a library program or complete the current adult/teen reading challenge, you can have five entries. If you bring a candy donation (no chocolate, please) for the Spring Family Fun Egg Hunt Day April 15, you can have eight entries. If you bring a friend to the library for them to get a new library card, you can have 10 entries. If you join the "K" Club, you can have 100 entries. Two winners will be drawn at noon April 14, with a limit of one winner per family.

Library staff is in the midst of planning summer programs other than the weekly programs. The performers for the June and July summer reading program are contracted. We usually have teen/tween programs about every two weeks and adult programs at least once each month beginning in May. We had a workshop March 17 to make an egg wreath for Easter. Nine patrons attended the two-hour workshop. We want to have programs that are of interest to our patrons. We realize that personal schedules are heavy with activities but, hopefully, library workshops can be thought of as relaxing.

The Spring Family Fun Egg Hunt Day will be from 1 to 3 p.m. April 15. We will be having a variety of stations inside and outside for crafts and games prior to the egg hunt.

Can you volunteer to help for several hours? Library staff will hide the eggs early and then gather the games and prizes for each station. Volunteers would be needed from 12:30 to about 3 p.m.

The library is participating with other businesses to provide baskets for drawings for several age groups. The drawings are held prior to the egg hunt. The winner's names will be listed on a large poster to eliminate the need for names to be shouted out. Attendance has grown so changes are necessary to provide a more smooth flow of activities.

Remember to watch for our next Amnesty day. We had several patrons take advantage of the free fines for the day on St. Patrick's Day. Amnesty days are scheduled monthly and are posted on the library Facebook page for the designated day. If you have library materials that are overdue, take advantage of Amnesty day.

Upcoming events

March 20-24 — Spring Break.

March 24 — Final day to sign up for chamber garage sales.

April 1 — April Fool's Day.

April 4 — City Council.

April 8 — Book sale ends.

April 9 — Palm Sunday.

April 10 — Library board meeting.

April 10-15 — National Library Week.

April 14 — Good Friday.

April 15 — Spring Family Fun Egg Hunt Day.

April 16 — Easter Sunday.