Monday, July 30, 2012
 
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Lincoln Public Library Annex -- it's not your rocking chair grandma's hushed old library

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[July 30, 2012]  What is there for a kid to do over the summer in Lincoln?

Well, kids who headed down to the library this summer not only had a great time but learned a lot too.

As this year's summer program, "Reading Is So Delicious!" comes to a close, it is being deemed a huge success.

Youth services director Louella Moreland has been designing programs to bring children into the Lincoln Public Library for 10 years.

This summer librarians tracked 504 registered participants ages 6 months through teens. They were divided by age groups, with 73 participants who were 4 years and younger, 28 teens, and in between those two groups were more than 400 school-aged children reading and participating in programs.

One of the programs was a reading competition for the students in 10 participating schools. It was up to each school's staff to set goals and make lists of books for the children to come in and read.

Last week was the exciting close to that competition. Students of seven schools met their school's goal, with many exceeding the goals. The winning schools will receive a trophy for their library.

There were a number of other activities throughout the summer, including games, activities, crafts and a couple of different storytelling times each week.


Thursday mornings were special, offering family entertainment by guest performers. Programs included magic, musical, marionette and balloon artist performances. Kids loved a live presentation on cold-blooded creatures of the most interesting and slithering kinds, and the season concluded last week with an engaging visit from Ronald McDonald.

It could get kind of hectic when different programs were going on that were close in proximity and time, Moreland said.

Moreland appreciated the collaboration with Libby Canady from the YMCA and Julie Hinds Jackson from Kid's Club. They brought in a lot of kids and gave the them reading opportunities that would have been difficult with working parents. This was the Kid's Club's 10th year in the program.

There were two smaller day care groups that the librarians were happy to see come in as well, she said.

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The larger groups scheduled their attendance. This allowed better coordination with reading programs and the ability to schedule enough librarian help for kids to find the books they wished to check out, Moreland said.

Beginning July 30 after 9:30 a.m., students can come in and get the really cool T-shirts they earned through the reading program.

There is still a Scholastic Book Fair to look forward to on Aug. 9 and 10. Forms are now available at the youth services desk.

Moreland is already thinking about next year's programs, and she's letting the cat out of the bag with the announcement of the new theme: "Have Book, Will Travel."

Asked if there was anything she would like the community to know about this summer's program, Moreland replied: "We're just happy to be able to provide it for the community. And, we really enjoy it."

[LDN]

Louella Moreland, youth services librarian, has a blog that can be accessed through the library website. She lists the new children's and young adult books at the library and introduces library programs. Tell her your ideas and suggestions. You can also view videos and pictures of library programs.

The Lincoln Public Library is located at 725 Pekin St., with adult nonfiction and reference materials in the historic Carnegie Building. The Annex directly behind houses adult fiction and the Youth Services Department.

Online, visit www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org.

Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Phone 217-732-8878 for adult services and 217-732-5732 for youth services.

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