Ark Valley News - From the Library

From the Library
By Janice Sharp, librarian
Last Updated: April 18, 2019

Spring Family Egg Hunt will be April 20

The library has completed another successful book sale. We sold over 1,550 items this year with the remaining items going to the Sedgwick County jail, Open Door Ministries, Sedgwick County Extension Service and the Youth Horizons Kinloch Price Boys Ranch. We're glad the books have found good homes.

Easter will be here April 21. The library, The Ark Valley News and Anne's Attic are sponsoring a coloring contest this year. Entries are in the weekly newspaper for the three age groups: preschool through first grade, second and third grades, and fourth and fifth grades. Completed entries can be dropped off at the newspaper or the library and will be judged the morning of April 20. All entries will be posted on the display cases in the foyer of the library/community building. Winning entries will be eligible to win a basket with prizes appropriate to the age group.

From 1 to 3 p.m. April 20, the library will hold the Spring Family Egg Hunt. The Lions Club, in conjunction with the library, will provide free books to children from infants to grade five. Many area businesses are also participating with game and activity booths, such as providing sno-cones, cake walks, balloons, Hot Wheels racing, tattoos, crafts and a sand dig, all prior to the egg hunt which will begin about 2 p.m. Be sure to bring your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to enjoy the fun afternoon. Bring baskets to collect eggs.

Our weekly story times will be having their picnics May 7, 8 and 9 followed by a break of three weeks. The summer story times will begin at 10:30 a.m. June 4. The Brick Clubs will continue until May 9 and then take a three-week break until June 6.

Library staff is in the midst of planning crafts for our 2019 Summer Reading Program. We would appreciate donations of paper towel tubes that we'll use for several different crafts. There is a blue basket near the entrance of the library where tubes can be dropped off.

At this point in the spring, staff gets excited for our summer programs. The theme of the children's 2019 Summer Reading Program is "A Universe of Stories," so it will encompass stories and crafts about space and other countries. All of the performers are contracted, and the brochures are being designed for printing. Information will be included in the May water bills from the city and distributed to the elementary school students in each classroom.

We will be having some extra activities for this summer, such as several adult board gaming nights, youth book discussions utilizing books in the grades three to five range, and Sack & Act on Saturday mornings for two groups — children 5 through 7 and 8 through 12. Children will practice a simple play beginning at 10 a.m., then present it to parents or visitors at 11:30, followed by eating their sack lunches at noon. Nancy Anderson will lead the Sack & Act groups with the help of volunteers.

We will continue to have story times each Tuesday and afternoon movies each Thursday followed by the Brick Clubs. The two adult book discussion groups will continue to meet on their scheduled days.

Upcoming events

April 19 — Good Friday

April 20 — Spring Family Egg Hunt

April 21 — Easter Sunday

Week of April 21 — Preservation Week

April 30 — Children's Book Day

Week of April 29 — Children's Book Week