New Technology...meow.

So we're all kicked-off here at the library and Summer Reading is on it's way! Thanks to everyone with their patience...we're doing things a wee bit different this year. Sorry if I've caused any confusion! One new aspect this year is that we've been technological-if-ied. I wasn't super crazy about the idea at first but I will admit that it makes it easier for people who don't live close to the library. Also, it's a great way for us to keep track of all those statistics about participation that are necessary for us to keep track of. I still have to straighten out a few kinks but I think it's been working alright...or at least I haven't gotten many complaints yet. If anyone has any suggestions or feedback, please let me know!!!

If you're keeping track of your books the old fashioned way, we still have you set up with an online account. You would have to email so that I could give you your username and password if you wanted to access it. Anywhoo, remember, KEEP READING ALL SUMMER LONG!!! Studies show that children who read over the summer months are better prepared for school in the fall! WOOHOO!

Summer Reading Kick-off!!

Alright, I think I've got just about everything set up for Summer Reading! There are three programs this year: Infant/Toddler Read-to-me Program (ages 0-2), Kids Summer Reading Program (ages 3-12), and the Young Adult Summer Reading Program (ages 12-19). These programs are all geared towards keeping track of books read over the summer and being eligible for prizes.
You can register by visiting our website (www.juniatalibrary.org) and clicking on the link, or coming to the library to register and receive your hard copy book log.
We will also be having events all summer long! Our theme this year is BE CREATIVE AT YOUR LIBRARY! I'm pretty sure we know how to do that.

Our Summer Kick-off will be on Friday, June 12th at 6pm--We will be having a puppet show by State College Puppeteer Adam Swartz called "Billy and the Story Machine". Refreshments will be provided. Please come and help us start off the summer with a bang! See you soon!

In loving memory

I would like to say a few words about Jeff Funk, a wonderful volunteer who recently passed away. Even though I have known Jeff since I was young, I knew him mostly through his service to the library. Every Thursday evening, Jeff would come in to help assist patrons and to shelve books. He also brought with him treats for the staff who were working that night. That is how Thursday became lovingly known as "French Fry Thursday". Luckily, I work on Thursdays 12-8pm, so I always had the pleasure of working with Jeff. He added something to Thursdays that I can't quite explain (not just the french fries). He added jokes and smiles...and he just had a way of making something ordinary be something extraordinary. Needless to say, Thursday was my favorite workday of the week, and I attribute that mainly to the fact that I got to spend it with fun and happy people. Jeff has been an example to me of someone who gave so generously without asking for anything in return...and who truly enjoyed life. So in honor of the tradition that Jeff started, French Fry Thursday lives on forever.
Thank you Jeff for your service, and kindness...and wisecracks--we will miss you more than you could know.
Love always,
Tessa

GETTING READY!!!

I"M GETTING READY....FOR SUMMER....MUAH HA HA HA HA HAAA!!!! Things are looking pretty amazing! Our theme is "Be Creative @ Your Library". I'm so excited.

Eggstraordinary

How could I forget? I almost forgot to write about our last week of Spring Story Hour!!
First and foremost, thanks to everyone who came to story hour and for all the help and donations and love and overall goodness all around. I love to see kids (and parents!) show such enthusiasm for reading and acting silly.
We always have a party for our last week of story hour, and party we did! The story we read was called "The Extraordinary Egg" by Leo Lionni. A sneaky library chicken always lays eggs in our yard this time of year and we have to gather them up! So we all made homemade baskets and went on an egg hunt. Luckily all of the eggs had a special treat inside of them....mmmm....
Everyone received a free book and a certificate of participation, and thanks to everyone's donations, we had healthy snacks and refreshments to finish off our story hour.
What a barrel of monkeys! THANK YOU THANK YOU MUCHO GRACIAS!

Write and Illustrate Your Own Book Contest!!!

Don't forget about the Write and Illustrate Your Own Book Contest for grades K-6. The deadline is April 30th! Children can write and illustrate their stories and compete to have them bound and put into the libraries permanent collection. The great thing about this contest is that it has been going on for years and we have books that were written and illustrated by many local people that are all grown up now. They are one of a kind and they are here at the library for your viewing pleasure.

Here are the rules (PAY ATTENTION!)

*Children must be Juniata County residents in grades K through 6.

*Both text and illustrations must be done by the children and all work must be original. Parents and teachers may advise children about punctuation and spelling, but may not rewrite the text.

*If two children submit a joint entry, and the joint entrants are from different grades, the entry must be submitted under the higher grade. Students may not be the author of one book and the illustrator of another.

*All edges of all book pages must have at least a 1.5 inch margin. Page size must not exceed 8.5x11 inches, but it may be smaller. (Margins are needed when binding the winning books)

*The final text should be neatly printed or typed on plain paper, not notebook paper. Parents may assist with typing. Avoid using pens or pencils that fade or smear. Do not write on your book after it is finished. Illustrations must not be pasted or taped to book pages. Do any drawing directly on the book page itself.

*The title page must include the name, grade, and school of the author and illustrator. Please indicate which student is the author and which is the illustrator. Attach a sheet of paper with the address and phone number of the students.

*The book may have a cover, but please don't laminate it. Please do not staple the book. Instead, use paper clips to hold it together. Do not use notebooks, binders or similar covers.

*Only one entry per child will be accepted.

*All entries must reach the library on or before the deadline of April 30^th, 2009.

*One winner from each grade will be selected. The winning stories will be bound and put into the library's permanent collection.

Chugga chugga

What kid doesn't like trains? Trains are big and fast and loud and they whistle and they carry stuff and they're just plain cool and amazing. So for our 7th (or 8th?) week of Story Hour, our theme was trains. And, in honor of trains, we created our very own "library train". Each kid was given a ticket at the beginning of Story Hour and after we did our stretches and read our story, we jumped on the library express and chugga chugga'd around the library. Again, not the quietest library activity but since when was Story Hour quiet? The stories we read were "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo" and "Train Song", and we made noodle trains (glued pastas onto constuction paper).