Thursday, August 13, 2009

Children's Update: West Columbia

More than 100 people came to our preschool storytimes in July. We made bluebonnet finger prints, earth and moon mobiles, and handprint suns. We even ate ice cream!

Summer reading club continued with special programs, including Ruby Lewis, a Texas beach party, an Ima Hogg birthday celebration, and a campfire and star gazing. Movies were also shown throughout the month.

In August, we will be making pencil critters. We’ll have a teen movie and craft day.

Melissa, branch manager

Children's Update: Sweeny

About 14 children came to preschool storytime every week in July. They crafted and sang, in addition to listening to stories. We had a big camp-out at the end of the month and ate hot dogs around our pretend camp fire.

Seven teens came to the Teen Book Club. We’re reading “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles. They also enjoyed playing Dance Dance Revolution and eating pizza.

Toddler time, which we have every week before preschool storytime, continues to be popular. We have about six children visit every week.

We had six people at our bedtime stories this month, too.

Kids Campus continues their weekly visits until school begins. The children enjoy listening to the being read aloud to them one chapter at a time. About 18 children come for each visit.

We are getting back to our school year schedule in August. Kid’s Club will return on August 19 with a Back To School Splash with water fun.

We set a branch goal to have 200 children and teens sign up for summer reading club. We were thrilled to pass that! We’ll have to set a higher goal next year.

Our juvenile circulation statistics are great. We’ve seen more nonfiction and biographies checking out which we attribute to our increase in displays.

Leslie, branch manager

Children's Update: Pearland

We have had large crowds this summer for our preschool storytimes. More than 400 people attended our July storytimes. We made ABC dough figures, paper treasure chests, paper camp fires and cardboard pinwheels.

Teen Henna was a lot of fun. Two of the teens had such a great time that they even got their older siblings and mother to go with to the Teen Henna event in Alvin.

We have had more than 150 people come to our summer reading programs. We made crafts for July 4 and created fans. One of the children at the fan craft was only interested in mixing the paints; she was not interested in painting.

Ruby Lewis presented a program with the Sea Center Texas Trunk. The children were able to touch live water creatures and make fish prints. Everyone also got a unique shell.

Our teen volunteers are getting tired. They help with summer reading club, assist with programs, shelve picture books and juvenile fiction and help out where needed. Thank you to all the volunteers!

Laura, children's specialist

Children's Update: Manvel

Because of our move to a new location, preschool storytime attendance has suffered. We certainly hope that changes. Those who did find us enjoyed stories about rodeos and horses.

Teen Read has dropped off, too. But we discussed the latest Harry Potter movie and the Twilight series at our last meeting.

Seven teens attended our duct tape craft program. We made ID and cell phone holders. One of the teens was even motivated to enter the prom dress scholarship contest.

Another teen program we hosted was Fast Food True/False. We set the room up like a game show, and the participants had to answer questions about various fast foods and restaurants. We had lots of fun.

More than 90 people crowded in the library to see Captain Jack Sparrow. Everyone loved the program. The petting zoo drew almost as many people as Captain Jack. Baby cows, horses and goats were brought, and the children loved being able to touch them. We had a large crowd at Julian Franklin’s Wild West Show, too. Fun was had by all.

Our new location is 20514B Hwy 6 in Manvel. We're now right on the side of the highway and can't be missed!

Geri, children's librarian

Children's Update: Lake Jackson

During preschool storytime in July, we learned about women in the Wild West, turtles and snakes, coyotes, and cowboys and rodeos. We made paper bonnets, foam bowl turtles, abstract art coyotes, and bull masks.

Only a few people showed up for the paper jewelry craft program for teens. Those that attended however got to experiment with lots of different materials and techniques. We made beads out of magazine ads, newspaper comic strips, wrapping paper and wall paper.

Andrew, a volunteer, had his duct tape creations – including a dragon! – on display at the library this summer. He also taught two duct tape craft classes where people learned to make wallets, bookmarks and flowers out of duct tape. More than 30 people attended the classes. Thank you, Andrew!

Dawn Grimes’ line dance program was lots of fun. Children and adults learned several dance routines they performed with only a few missteps. Thank you to the Friends for sponsoring this program.

The Texas Three Step variety show drew small but lively audiences. Lots of giggling could be heard.

Ruby Lewis and her turtles, snakes and other critters was very popular. Most of the children enjoyed handling the animals. Some preferred to watch the show through the safety of the glass windows in the hall.

Someone dropped off two display spinners on our loading dock during the July 4 holiday. We’re going to fix them up to hold DVDs in the children’s area. Thank you, anonymous donor!

Susan, children's librarian

Children's Update: Danbury

Preschool storytime continues, but attendance is down slightly. The extreme heat has prevented people from walking to the library for storytime. We hope that changes when, and if, the weather ever cools off.

The Nick at Night Wii program is building. One of our older patrons even boxed with her grandchildren in the Wii Olympics. Our clerk Nick hosts the Wii gaming, and I have yet to win a game against him. I think he cheats. But a nine-year-old beat him recently, so all is well.

We’ll be having a back-to-school party with pizza and Wii on August 27. The Friends of the Danbury Library will sponsor the event. Thank you, Friends, for all your help!

Kandy, branch manager

Children's Update: Clute

The children have thoroughly enjoyed our Texas-themed preschool storytimes. August storytimes will feature new books and old favorites. September will begin a look at “Books Through the Alphabet.”

We will be showing movies in August. Bring blankets, pillows and a drink. We’ll provide the popcorn.

Summer reading club has been a big success with lots of great programs, crafts and storytimes. Our big bulletin board is covered in Texas-related die cuts. We are so proud of the children and teens who joined the club and earned a gold medal. Congratulations!

Thank you to the staff and volunteers for working so hard this summer. We’ve circulated lots more books this summer than last summer, and everyone has pitched in to help where needed.

Carolyn, branch manager

Children's Update: Angleton

Preschool storytime continues to be well-attended.

Teen movies shown on Fridays during summer reading club were a great success.

Once school is back in session, we will resume our monthly pajama storytime and children’s craft programs.

Many of the local daycares came to our programs throughout the summer. They also joined the summer reading club, too.

Our volunteers and staff have been busy initialing lots of logs and presenting medals to lots of readers.

We have had such fun this summer with all of our programs – Lyndale the Literary Lion, Texas reptiles, Julian Franklin, Ronald McDonald and Tom’s Fun Band. Many of our presenters entertained standing-room-only crowds.

Emma Lou, children's specialist