Family Fun Night Thursday, January 12!

Join us for fun for everyone in the family!

Family Fun Night -- Movie with Snacks
Story Hour Room; 6pm
We will be showing Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom and have popcorn and drinks. Kung Fu Panda 2 is an animated feature with voices by Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan. It is Rated PG; 90 minutes; 2011
Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Animation; Directed by Jennifer Yu

See you there!

KCG

Indiana Department of Education has Updated Website

Have you been to the Indiana DOE website lately? It has been completely changed!
It is now touted as being more user friendly. There are four main menus:

• Outreach



• Achievement and Growth



• Innovation and Improvement



• Support

Also, there is a new "Trending Now" part of the site to clue people in to what others are looking at. There is a video gallery and an online calendar that has events you can search. See the updated site at
http://www2.doe.in.gov/

Since some of us are better at adapting to change than others, there is a way to view the site as it used to look by going to http://www.doe.in.gov/

KCG

Inexpensive Internet Access for Students

The Muncie Star Press recently had a story on how students on the free lunch program could be eligible for inexpensive Internet access through Comcast. See the whole story at this link:

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011112120324

KCG

Holly Jolly Day at Anderson Public Library

It's the time of the year when you may see that man in red! So that means Holly Jolly Day is returning to APL's Children's Department!

• This year we have a real reindeer and other arctic animals coming with Silly Safari!


• Santa will be here!


• Take home a craft!


• 6pm in the Children's Department on Thursday, December 8

Bring the whole family for a night of fun! For ages 0-12 years and their families!

KCG

MyPlate Information (Formerly My Pyramid)

The USDA recently changed the food pyramid to a plate design. Have you taken a look at it?
There is also a video challenge to enter! There are three categories:

• Tips for Kids


• Tips When Eating at Home


• Tips When Eating Away from Home

Go to http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ for more information.
You could vote on the video you like best. There are even cash prizes!

KCG

It's Time to Fall Back!

This Sunday, November 6, remember to turn your clocks back one hour! It's time for Daylight Saving Time!

KCG

Pottermore has a Store!

Have you heard of Pottermore? It is an online space created for Harry Potter fans. You can go on it and wander in Harry's world online! You can also download ebooks. The site is in English, French, German, and even Spanish! Author JK Rowling wanted to give something more to the fans of Harry and the gang. If you want to know everything there is to know about Harry and Hogwarts, go to Pottermore!
See JK Rowling announce Pottermore on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/jkrowlingannounces

KCG

Trick or Treat Hours in Anderson

Monday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm the trick or treating will be going on in Anderson. Be sure to watch for the children if you are driving!
The Children's Department will have treat bags from our recent Fall Fiesta to give out. There are several, but it will be first come, first served until they are gone. We will begin giving these out at 4:30pm, to not miss the children going out in their neighborhoods at 5:30.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!

KCG

Halloween Safety Tips

You can find lots of great things on Halloween on the government website

http://www.use.gov/Topics/Halloween.shtml

Look through pages on Halloween Safety, History and Facts, Recipes, and Fun!
Have a Happy Halloween!

KCG

We're on Facebook!

Did you know we are using social media in the Children's Department now? It's true! We are on Facebook! Look for us under Children's Department at Anderson Public Library. Like us or be our friend!

KCG

Fall Fiesta This Week!

Tuesday, October 18, 5:30-6:30pm at the Lapel Branch Library, Second Floor
Thursday, October 20, 6:00-7:30pm at the Main Library, Children's Department
Join us for fall fun! Enjoy stories, songs, and Science Geeks Library Style.

At Lapel -- from 5:30-6:00pm, listen to stories, sing songs, and watch spook-tacular science experiments! Then from 6:00-6:30pm play games or make a craft!

At the Main Library -- from 6:00-6:30pm, listen to stories, sing songs, and watch spook-tacular science experiments! Then from 6:30-7:30pm, children may choose two activities from games and crafts.

KCG

New Event Celebrates Science!

Do you like science? Then you will want to attend the first ever Celebrate Science Indiana, also known as CSI. Here are some highlights:

• Free admission to the event


• For families, friends, neighbors, and anyone interested in science fun


• Activities and presentations


• At the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 8, 2011, from 8am to 5pm


• Parking is $3.00

For more information, visit www.celebratescienceindiana.org

KCG

Get Ready Day, September 20th

Do you know about Get Ready Day? The American Public Health Association (APHA) has put together information on your family can be prepared in case of an emergency. Get Ready Day is Tuesday, September 20. Find out more information at

http://www.getreadyforflu.org/newsite.htm

There is a Kids section on their website. It has

• Games and Puzzles


• A Kid's Guide to Pandemic Flu


• Fun Links


• Family Checklist

It never hurts to be prepared!

KCG

Let's Go Lego!

The first session of the after school program, "Let's Go Lego", is tomorrow at 4:30pm. It will take place in the Story Hour Room in the Children's Department. It is for school age children 6-12 years old. There will be challenges and you could win a prize for completing the tasks!
Join us!

KCG

Calling All 4th Graders! Enter the Statehood Day Essay Contest

Indiana will be 195 years old this year, and all 4th graders can enter the Statehood Day Essay Contest! The essay is titled "What Indiana Means to Me". The Indiana State House Tour Office and the Indiana Center for the Book are supporting this contest.

Winners are honored at the Statehood Day Celebration on Friday, December 9, 2011. It will take place at the Indiana State House, 12-1PM.

Any Indiana fourth grade student may enter -- whether public, private or home schooled. Write an essay explaining what living in Indiana means to you. Your essay must be 100 to 400 words in length. For the contest guidelines visit www.in.gov/library/statehood/htm

Good luck! Essays must be mailed by October 28, 2011.

KCG

Back-to-School Bash is tomorrow night!

Come join us for the second annual Back-to-School Bash! It will be in the Children's Department from 6-7pm. Here are some highlights:

• A balloon twister here from 5:30-7:30pm


• School supplies will be given away while they last


• Games and prizes


• A sneak peak at the older children's programming for Fall

Bring the whole family to join us for all the fun!

KCG

Teresa's Bone Design

KCG

Victoria D's Bone Design

KCG

Victoria's Bone Design

KCG

Another Bone Design

Conner came in the other evening and put the bones into his own design. Take a look!

KCG

Only Two and a Half Weeks Left!

The Summer Reading Program is starting to wind down a little -- a good time for you to sign up!
We still have three more Family Fun Nights coming up, and two more Family Movies as well! Plus, we're air conditioned!!! We look forward to having you visit soon!

KCG

Family Fun Nights Have Just Begun!

There is a polka dance going on on the library's third floor! How fun! Next week's Family Fun Night will be Snakehead Ed. Be sure to join us at 6pm on Thursday, July 14!

KCG

Katie's Bone Design

KCG

Anna's Bone Design

KCG

"A Bone to Pick in France" Display

Have you come up to see the displays we have up for summer? We actually have one for each continent (that's 7 altogether)! The display for Europe is "A Bone to Pick in France" and there are plastic bones under the table! We recently had the pleasure of a couple of young ladies coming in and making designs with the bones. We are hoping for more young people to come in and try making a little ghastly fun -- so consider this an invitiation!

KCG

We've Moved Some Things Around!

When you return to the Children's Department you may find things in a different arrangement than before!
We recently moved the LeapFrog Tag sets and the new Playaway Views to the front of the department, across from the lab. The Children's music CDs are snuggled up next to them. To the right of the Playaway Views are the (regular) Playaways. Next come the books with CD and then the audiobooks. After the audiobooks are the fiction books. Last, by the windows, is the Easy Readers.
If you are not familiar with some of these materials, we will be happy to show them to you!

KCG

Smooth Takeoff for Summer Reading!

Some facts about this year's Summer Reading Program One World, Many Stories

596 children have signed up for Summer Reading the first week!
You don't have to come into the library to sign up, just logon to any computer!
There was a fabulous kickoff with a balloon twister, snacks, and crafts. Over 100 people came to it!
We had 21 come to the first Boogie Woogie Babies program!
We had 17 come to our first Family Movie!
The whole family can be in on the fun, with our Teen program and our Adult program!

There's a lot of reading going on, but since it's just the end of the first week, don't be shy! Sign up today!

KCG

Gearing Up for Summer Reading!

Things are changing in the Children's Department -- come and see!
We are currently decorating for the Summer Reading Program. This year's theme is "One World, Many Stories". Displays will include the seven continents. Airplanes, flags, and dragons are in the air! It's a must-see for the whole family!
Kickoffs are coming up June 1 and 4!

KCG

Enter the Wimpy Kid Contest

Do you doodle like Greg Heffley? Why not enter The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Comics Contest? The contest ends Friday, June 10. You could win a copy of the new "Do-It-Yourself Book", $500, and $1,000 for the library you choose to get the money! Kids 6 to 16 years old can enter. Create an original comic and send it in! Only one person can create the comic (no pairs of kids, etc.).
For more information visit http://www.wimpykid.com/contest/

KCG

Our Weekly Programs Have Ended, But...

We have officially ended our weekly programs. However, we still are abuzz in the Chlidren's Department as we prepare to go out to schools in May to promote our Summer Reading Program! Come in once a week and see how things progress as we decorate!

KCG

National Library Week Mad Libs

This week is National Library Week! Celebrate by coming up to the Children's Department each day and getting a Mad Lib. Thse crazy stories are famous fairy tales with words missing. Family and friends can fill in the blanks. Read it out loud for a funny story everyone will laugh about! The Mad Libs will be available until Saturday, April 16. KCG

Fun for Spring Break!

The YMCA of Madison County is offering free swimming lessons during Spring Break week (April 4 through April 8). Sounds like fun! You may contact them at 644-7796.

KCG

Thank you for all the great entries!

Thank you for all the Wonderful entries for the bookmark contest! Look for the winning designs at Main library and Lapel branch desks during National Library Week. This year it will be April 10 through 16. Don't forget to visit us for National Library Week's theme "Create a Story @ Your Library".
Speaking of National Library Week, there will be mad lib games to collect each day that week! Also, there will be a fairytale writing center to create your own fairytale.
Let the judging begin, and we hope to see you for National Library Week!

KCG

Wild and Wacky Spring Break

Haven't we had wacky weather this Winter? Why not celebrate the end of all the snow with Spring Break activities! There will be something different to do each day for ages 6 to 12.

• Monday, April 4 - Word Wizardry
• Tuesday, April 5 - Games
• Wednesday, April 6 - Movie
• Thursday, April 7 - Crafts
• Friday, April 8 - Party

Stop by soon to get a flyer outlining more about each day, or give us a call at 641-2448.

KCG

National Library Week Bookmark Contest

National Library Week is coming soon! It is April 10 through 16 and the theme is "Create Your Own Story @ Your Library". As a way to celebrate, Anderson Public Library is having a Bookmark Contest for all ages!

To enter, simply come into the library and pick up an entry form or print one from your computer by visiting www.andersonlibrary.net
There is a template on the form, and the designs must fit within that template. Designs need to focus on the theme, reading, or books.
Winners will be chosen in five age categories. For children the categories are:

• ages 0-4 years
• 5-8 years
• 9-12 years

Winning designs will be based on the following:

• creativity
• appropriateness of message
• ability to be reproduced as a bookmark

Winning designs will be displayed during National Library Week at all library locations. See an entry form for a complete list of rules. Entries are due by 5pm on Friday, March 11.
Have the whole family enter the contest as a fun family activity!

KCG

Black History Month Fun

Are you looking for something fun for Black History Month? We have many resources in the Children's Department for your review. Why not try these websites!

http://fun.familyeducation.com/black-history-month/holidays/32871.html
http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/blackhistory
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/schoolroom/blackhistory.php

KCG

Black History Month Challenge

Enter the Black History Month Challenge!

The Indiana Historical Society and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library invites students and families to investigate the contributions made by African-Americans in Indiana. This year the focus is on rural communities. Take the challenge through February 28 by visiting
www.indianahistory.org/challenge

The first 5,000 entrants to the challenge will be awarded a pair of tickets to the Indiana Experience at the History Center. Answer 10 on the challenge correctly and be entered into a grand prize drawing! The grand prize includes:

• An overnight at the Omni Severin Hotel in downtown Indy
• An Indiana Historical Society household membership
• A $25.00 gift certificate to Weber Grill
• Four tickets to special exhibitions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art

For more information call 317-232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org

This program is brought to you by Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Indianapolis Indians, Printing Partners, and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.

KCG

Family Fun Night This Thursday!

Do you have the Winter blahs? Visit us Thursday evening at 6pm for Family Fun Night! We will celebrate with balloon twisting and giant games. Bring the whole family! We hope to see you there!

KCG

Essay Contest for grades 4 through 12 -- Prizes, too!

The Indiana Family of Farmers and the Indiana Humanities Council are sponsoring an essay contest. The essay may be on paper or video! The essay contest is "Our Food, Our Farmers".
In the essay, students need to explain how Indiana agriculture plays a positive role in their lives and in others lives as well. Entires must be received by February 15, 2011.

A winner from each grade level (in each category) will receive a Flip Video Camcorder. The winners will be invited to a presentation at the Indiana Statehouse on March 7, 2011. The overall winner will receive an Apple iPad.

There are two categories of competition:

• video essay
• written essay

There are three grade levels:

• fourth through sixth
• seventh through ninth
• tenth through twelfth

For complete information on the contest, go to www.indianahumanities.org

KCG

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Youth Summit

Keep Dr. King's dream alive! Indiana middle and high school students are invited to the 20th annual statewide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Youth Summit. The Indiana State Museum will be holding the summit on Thursday, January 13. Schools interested in attending need to register and fax it to the State Museum Call Center at 317-234-2489. For more information about the summit see the Indiana Civil Rights Commission at www.in.gov/icrc/
This summit is hosted by The Indiana Civil Rights Commission and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission.

Registration Form www.in.gov/icrc/files/Youth_Summit_Registration_Form(1).pdf

KCG

Christmas Break in Full Swing!

Welcome to Christmas Break! Be sure to stop by and see us in the Children's Department while you are out of school!

However, the library will be closed on these days:

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas
• New Year's Eve
• New Year's Day

Happy Holidays!

KCG

Letters About Literature Reading/Writing Contest

The Indiana Center for the Book and the Library of Congress is partnering with Target stores to bring together a national reading/writing contest.

Letters About Literature Contest

• Students in grades 4 through 12 may enter.
• Write a personal letter to an author (living or dead). The author can write any genre.
• Explain how the author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves.
• 3 Competition Levels
• Grades 4 through 6 (I)
• Grades 7 & 8 (II)
• Grades 9 through 12 (III)

State winners receive CASH! Winners are announced in March.
National winners receive prizes and earn LAL Reading Promotion Grants for their school or community library. These winners are announced in April.
More information may be found at www.lettersaboutliterature.org

The entry deadline is December 12, 2010.

KCG

This Week in Children's!

We are going to have a week of holiday celebrations in the Children's Department!

The 2nd annual Toddler Tango Holiday Special will take place on Tuesday, December 7 at 10:30am. If you happen to miss it, come to the repeat program on Wednesday, December 8 at 10:30am. Toddler Tango is for 2 and 3 year olds and their caregivers. The man in red will make a short appearance!

Holly Jolly Day is Thursday, December 9 at 6pm. An event for the whole family! There will be crafts, songs, Santa, and magic holiday fun! See you there and Happy Holidays!

KCG

Upcoming Holiday Fun

We have a couple fun programs coming up soon in the Children's Department!

• Winterfest is 12/3 from 10am to 5pm. Come in and get a candy cane, a holiday sticker, and an activity sheet to take home!
• Toddler Tango Holiday Special is on 12/7 & 12/8 at 10:30am for children 2-3 years old and their caregivers.
• Holly Jolly Day will be 12/9 at 6pm. This event is for the whole family! There will be crafts, songs, Santa, and magic holiday fun!

KCG

Programs Over so Holidays Must be Here!

Children's programming is over for now. While there is a lapse, why not come in and read some holiday books? We still have Movie Mondays going on. Our next movie will be in two weeks (12/6) and is Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.

KCG

Tomorrow is Going to be a Busy Day!

Anderson Community Schools is officially on Fall Break now, and we have a lot of fun things going on at the library! Fall Fiesta will be tomorrow evening, 6:00pm to 7:30pm. We will have stories and songs at 6:00pm, and then Snakehead Ed's show will be at 6:30pm. At the same time we will have crafts to make and a bingo game for fun prizes!
But that's not all! We also are kicking off Our Heroes' Tree ornament making. Do you have a family member or friend who is serving in a branch of armed services? How about someone who did serve our country in the past? You can honor this person and help others be aware of how the military helps us to lead our lives of freedom. Come to the Children's Department and pick up some shapes to make an ornament. We look forward to seeing you!

KCG

Fall Fiesta is Thursday Evening!

Fall Fiesta is coming up Thursday, October 28, from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Come in and hear stories and sing songs. Then see Snakehead Ed with his snakes in the Story Hour Room OR play a game of bingo and make a craft or two! You may even dress in costume! We hope to see you there!

KCG

Fire Prevention at Funny Friday

Funny Friday will have a different format this week! As usual, Funny Friday will have stories, songs, and activities. But, this week only fire prevention awareness will be part of the storytime! Preschoolers will have the chance to visit the Fire Safety House on the third floor of the library. We look forward to seeing you there!

KCG

It's Beginning to Look Like Fall!

The Children's Department staff have been decorating for Fall! Now we have Halloween books on display for your reading pleasure. Come in and pick some apple books up, too! Let's celebrate! It's Fall!

KCG

Are You a 39 Clues Fan?

Did you hear the exciting news? The last book in the 39 Clues series is due out on shelves on August 31! Book Ten is Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix. That same day at 4pm a live webcast will be held. All the authors of the 39 Clues series (7 in all) will be part of the webcast. You can take a bigger role by submitting a question at www.the39clue.com/accessgranted
To see even more information, visit http://onourmindsatscholastic.blogspot.com/2010/07/access-granted-39-days-until-final-book.html

KCG

Y-M-C-A!

So much to celebrate! Two of our librarians will be at the YMCA on Saturday, August 21, for their School Supply Giveaway. The giveaway will be from 12 to 4pm. Come visit us for a free book fro each child! See you there!

KCG

Summer Reading is Over, But There is Still Fun to be Had!

Summer Reading is officially over. However, we are going to celebrate going back to school, back to learning, and more reading! Join us on Thursday, August 12, for the Back to School Bash! It takes place 6:00 to 7:30pm in the Children's Department on the second floor of the library. There will be door prizes, a craft, games, a snack, and a paperback book for each child! Dr. Chow of Anderson Community Schools will be there, as well as other school personnel you may know. Bring the whole family!

KCG

Less Than One Week Left to Complete the Summer Reading Program!

Less than one week is left to enter minutes read into the computer for the Summer Reading Program. On Saturday, July 31, "Make a Splash" will have splashed it's last time!
We still have programs this week to attend, including one more Family Fun Night. This Thursday at 6pm will be Professor Steve with his Wild Water and Fantastic Fire Show. Professor Steve is new to the library, so we hope to give him a warm welcome. Bring the whole family! There will be a couple door prizes we will give away, too!
Remember to come in and pick up prizes for Summer Reading! They are first come, first served, and will be available until August 14.

KCG

Less Than Two Weeks Left to Make a Splash!

There are only 13 more days before the Summer Reading Program, "Make a Splash!" comes to an end. The last day is Sunday, July 31.
Come in for fun in our weekly programs this week and next week! We have two more Family Fun Nights. Thursday, July 22 is Minnetrista with their "Habitat-Tat-Tat" Performance. Thursday, July 29 is Professor Steve and his Wild Water & Fantastic Fire Show. These are sure to be a hit for all ages, and we give away a couple of door prizes at each performance! You have until August 14 to pick up your Summer Reading prizes.

KCG

New Water Table in Children's!

Have you seen the new water table in the Children's Department? We love using it during preschool age programs and so do the children! It is amazing to see the children's innovations and experiments as they play. Thanks to the Friends of the Library for purchasing this wonderful and useful tool! It is lots of fun!

KCG

The Fish Have Names!

Congratulations to the children who named our fish!
Thank you to all the children who gave us creative names that were hard to eliminate! Data, Sprocket, Liney, and Seafire are new additions to the Children's Department. Each of the children who named the fish have been called. A prize bag awaits each of them. The winners range from 4 to 9 years old. Our finned friends will be with us another month before they return to their owner. Be sure and come in and wave your fin at them soon!

KCG

How Things are Going

So far we have 1,281 children signed up for the Summer Reading Program "Make a Splash, Read!" The blue tee shirts are beginning to go out and are being worn right back into the library! We are getting close on naming our fish -- there are several finalist names being reviewed now. Programs are going well, but we still have room for more people to join us! Come visit us soon!

KCG

Help Name the Fish!

There are fish in the Children's Department! Just for summer, we have four fish on a temporary basis. The owner would like help in naming the fish. The winner will receive a prize. So please lend us a fin on some great names when you come up for a visit!

KCG

Summer Reading is Off to a Roaring Start

Hear the sound of the waves? It's the tide coming in to remind you to sign up for Summer Reading!
Make a Splash, Read! is off to a great start! There are approximately 800 children signed up so far! Baby programs had 16 in attendance, while today's Lego Island had 50! Today at Splish Splash Stories for preschoolers, there were 45 in attendance! Come and celebrate with us and join us for all the fun and activities! Why not try Wednesday night's Stories @ Sunset for ages 0 to 5 years. It is at 6pm and promises to be a time to unwind from the day and get ready for sleepy time. See you soon in the Children's Department!

KCG

Kau Wela Kickoff is Today!

Today is the first day all can sign up for the Summer Reading Program! This means ages birth through 100+! Catch a wave and join us for our Kau Wela Kickoff Luau from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. All children and their families are welcome to visit the luau activities, which will take place on the second floor landing and in the Children's Department. Sign up for the program, play games, and check out the Treasure Tiki Hut! All this fun is free!
Come on in and Make a Splash!

KCG

Gearing Up for Summer Reading!

We are in the process of decorating and preparing for Summer Reading 2010! Come see the liter bottle fish that are starting to dance in the air conditioning! See the cool blues of the plastic water hanging from the ceiling and on our window to the lobby! We have been going out to schools and telling all the children about the upcoming fun! Next Tuesday, June 1, is our Kau Wela Kickoff! Come up anytime between 3 and 6 pm and get your child's face painted. There will be shaped balloons, games, and lots of fun! Of course, it's all Free! See you there!

KCG

Blog Bulletin Board Display

The Children's Department blog is displayed on one of our bulletin boards. On the second floor landing, just outside the elevator there is a green and yellow display that describes the blog. Come in and check it out!

KCG

Snapshot Day Snapshots

Anderson Christian Educare was visited on Snapshot of Indiana Libraries day. Here is a picture of two of their great teachers in a toddler class. Thanks for letting us take your picture, ladies! We have other Snapshot Day pictures. We will be adding them soon!

KCG

A Free Book for Your Baby!

Have you come in to get your free book for your baby?

Anderson Public Library has partnered with Born Learning Connection to get books into the hands of babies. Simply come in and fill out a card! Take the card to the Children's Department and get your board book and a onesie. The board book has hard cardboard-like pages that take a pounding and hold up well. The onsie is for 6 to 9 month old size babies. Born Learning Connection is a service of United Way.

KCG

Come to the Library and Let Us "Snap" You!

Anderson Public Library, along with other Indiana libraries, is taking part in Snapshot of Indiana Libraries!

This promotion is during National Library Week, and takes place on Monday, April 12. This year's theme is "Communities Thrive @ Your Library." Snapshot of Indiana Libraries day is one of photos and feedback from you! It assembles the day-to-day library experience. The Indiana Library Federation and the Indiana Public Library Association back this Indiana State Library initiative.

How can you contribute? Visit us! Inform us as to how the library is an important part of your daily life. A survey will be available for some feedback. We may just take a “snap” of you, too! Come celebrate with us!

KCG

Spring Break Fun!

Today we continue our Spring Break fun by having a movie at 2pm! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is showing in our Story Hour Room. What's better than watching a movie with friends in the afternoon?

KCG

Thanks for Making Love Your Library a Success!

Love Your Library was a great success! The online sign up and monitoring went well. Look for more on a computer near you, since the Summer Reading Program will also make use of the online system.
215 children signed up for the program. 121 were eligible for prizes. There were over 29,000 minutes of reading recorded in the system! That means a lot of children received donut holes and free books!

KCG

Prizes and Pop-Ups

We have been having fun giving away prizes for "Love Your Library!" If you haven't signed up, be sure to come in soon, or sign up online!

Our pop-up books are so much fun, and now you can check them out! We recently changed pop-up books from Reference to circulating books. Why not come in and take some home today? They can count towards your "Love Your Library" reading time, too!

KCG

February is B-I-G in the Children's Department!

Come and visit us February for all our great programs and "Love Your Library." Read and win!

New this year -- register online! You get a bookmark when you come to get your reading log. After you read two hours, you can come in and get a voucher for Dunkin' Donuts. Once you have completed four hours, bring in your reading log and recieve a book -- Free! In addition to printed books, you can use Tumblebooks, which is an online program (Check on the Children's Department webpage). You can also count Playaways or Audiobooks as part of your reading time.

This year there is a bonus! Each time you attend a Children's program or visit the Friends of the Library Book Sale (February 12 and 13), you will have a chance to enter a drawing for a prize to be given away at the end of the month.

Come in and sign up today! Check our Events Calendar to be sure to enter our drawing as many times as you can!

KCG

Love Your Library Begins February 1st!

Beat the Winter cold by reading! Love Your Library reading incentive program starts February 1 and goes through February 28. You must read 4 hours to complete the program. You get a couple prizes when you do! Sign up online today by visiting our website!

KCG

Castle Project

Eastside Elementary School had a project to build a model castle. It needed to be small and needed to include 30 items. Unfortunately most of our books on castles were checked out. Books with requirements for the assignment such as pictures of "the Keep", "Portcullis" and "Battlements" were unavailable. One book is at the Children's desk, available for in-house use. If a pattern of a castle is wanted, try "how to build a model castle" on Google. Several good websites will appear. Also typing "model castle" in Google Images will produce good results. Here are a few of the sites:

http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle.htm
http://www.stormthecastle.com/paper-castle/make-a-cardboard-castle.htm
http://www.buildmodelcastles.com/html/castles.html
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/buildingstownscitiesartscraftstideasprojectskids.html

Family Movie Nights

Did you know you can come to the library with the whole family and see a movie for FREE?
These are not just some old movies, but new releases like Columbia Pictures Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (rated PG). We have a sound system, a big screen, and there are lots of chairs. Kids can even snuggle up on the floor in the Story Hour Room and watch! These movies are on Mondays and start at 6 pm. Give us a call at 641-2448 and we will be happy to give you upcoming dates and titles!

KCG

Funtastic Friday program

Have you come in for Funtastic Friday yet? This program is geared toward 4 and 5 year olds. It is Fridays at 10:30 am. For January we are concentrating this program on winter and snow. Come on in for our indoor snowball fun!

This program will take place on January 22, and 29, and February 2, 9, and 16.

KCG

Great Scavenger Hunt Contest for ages 9 to 18

You may not have heard about the new contest the library is participating in -- The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest! Here is how the contest works:

• Choose a book from the list of books online or at the front desk of the Children’s Department. (See the link on each of the Children’s lab computers.)
• Read the whole book. Be sure to remember the title of it!
• Ask a librarian to print out the trivia challenge for the book you read. Answer the questions.
• Turn the finished quiz in to a librarian. If you get at least 8 out of 10 answers correct, you are entered into an online contest. If you don’t pass the quiz you can retake it.
• Each month one online entry is chosen as the winner of a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card (good in stores or online).
• If you are the winner, the library will receive prize books to add to our collection!
• Winners are announced online and in a monthly update flyer. Only the winner’s first name and last initial will be used.

Any questions? Don't hesitate to call the Children's Department at 641-2448.

KCG

Can You Crack the Code at Awesome Activities?

Tuesday, January 19, at 4:30 pm will be the first 2010 installment of the after school program Awesome Activities for ages 8 to 12 years. It is called “Cracking the Code.”

Learn to write in code! We will introduce several kinds of code. We will practice using invisible ink using items that can be found in your own kitchen. After school snacks will be served.

KCG

First Toddler Tango a Success!

The first installment of our Toddler Tango programs was themed "Antarctica or Bust!"

36 people braved the cold and sang songs, played, and ate a snowball snack. There was also frozen snow playdough, and the children got to paint with ice paint!
If you missed today's installment, never fear! Thursday at 10:30 this program will be repeated!

KCG

Net Cetera Connecting Kids to Tips for Online Safety

Do your children spend time on the computer during this cold weather? To promote online safety, the Federal Trade Commission has released "Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids about Being Online." It is full of tips for caregivers on how to talk children about predators on the web, cyberbullying, keeping your personal information and passwords safe, and so on. There is a free download, but it can also be ordered from the FTC. It can be viewed in English or Spanish.
The FTC also has other free publications. Check out their website at http://www.ftc.gov/ to find out more information on many subjects.

KCG

2010 Brings New Series of Programs!

Hope you're having a great 2010 so far! Make those gray skies blow away by joining us in our weekly Children's programs! We're off to a great start!

Mondays (through February 15)
Babies to 12 months at 10:30 am
Babies 12 to 24 months at 1 pm

Tuesdays (through February 16)
Toddler Tango for ages 2 through 3 years at 10:30 am
Words! Words! Words! for ages 4 through 5 years at 2 pm

Wednesdays (through February 17)
Goodnight Library for children through age 5 at 6 pm

Thursdays (through February 18)
Toddler Tango for ages 2 through 3 at 10:30 am (a repeat of Tuesday)
Super Science Sleuths for ages 6 to 10 years at 4:30 pm

Fridays (through February 19)
Funtastic Friday for ages 4 through 5 years at 10:30 am

KCG

Our Heroes' Tree

Our Heroes' Tree is beginning to get some ornaments on it!

Have you stopped by to see the tree and consider making an ornament?

People in our community have the ability to create ornaments for their loved ones who have served our country, past or present, in the military. The tree is part of a program called "Our Heroes Tree". During October and November we will display the tree and you may add homemade ornaments to it to honor those who have served for our freedom. The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University is sponsoring this project. There is also an online virtual tree and the ornaments can be uploaded to it! Please feel free to come in and make ornaments using our craft supplies. Then you can hang the ornament on the tree.

KCG

Our Heroes Tree

No, it's not quite the holiday season yet, but we have a tree in the Children's Department!
We are asking the public to help us with decorations. The tree is part of a program called "Our Heroes Tree". During the month of October and most of November we will have this tree on display and you may add homemade ornaments to it to honor those who have served for our freedom. The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University is sponsoring this project. Please feel free to make ornaments and bring them in to hang on the tree!

KCG

Toddler Topics

If you have a toddler, you know some advice might be in order, just for sanity's sake! We have several toddler-based topics coming up in future programs. These are for families with children ages 18 to 42 months.
"Potty Gala" will be Saturday, September 20, at 10AM in the Delaware Room.
"Car Seat Mambo" will be Saturday, October 18, at 10AM in the Miami Room.
"Turn that 'No' into a 'Yes!'" will be Saturday, November 15, at 10AM in the Miami Room.
Join us for one or all of them. To register call (765)641-2448 or online at www.andersonlibrary.net

Family Literacy Nights

If you were unable to attend our Family Literacy Night on the 11th, you missed a night of fun for the family!
We had around 100 people attend the event. A book was given to each family, thanks to the grants we have received. Everyone was fed a delicious meal of pasta with chicken, a bean salsa with tortilla chips, and a fruit salad. After the meal the families had time for activities, like playdough, reading together, flannelboard activities, and even shaving cream fingerpainting!
The next Literacy Night will be held on Thursday, October 9th, 6 to 7:30PM. Sign up soon, because people from the first night liked it so much they may sign up again!

KCG

Wigwam

This week Children's staff are at the Wigwam handing out free books, toys, and pencils to children of Anderson Community Schools. This is all happening for the textbook and lunch assistance days. Maybe we will see you there!

KCG

Last day to collect prizes for Summer Reading!

Today is the last day to collect your prizes for Summer Reading. So whether you have one prize to collect or five, come on in and visit with us!
Tomorrow evening from 5 to 7PM we will be having a carnival-type party for the end of Summer Reading. We hope you will join us for refreshments, games, and prizes! Wear your green tee shirt if you already have one. We will release our butterfly friends, too.

KCG

Butterflies galore!

We now have 10 painted lady butterflies! We plan to realease them at our Super Fantastic "Catch the Reading Bug" Party to celebrate everyone's success in the Summer Reading Program. Be sure to come and see them before they're gone!

KCG

We have a new friend!

One of the painted lady butterflies we are raising has come out of its chrysalis! It happened this morning just before the library opened for the day. Be sure to come by soon -- there will be more to come in the next few hours or days!

KCG

How time flies!

July is on its way out, but there is still time to read and catch that reading bug! There is one more week to read and collect your prizes. If you don't have your green tee shirt yet, stop in and read just five books to move yourself along to the next level!

KCG

At Home with Books calendars

Have you seen our new "At Home with Books" calendars?
They are bright and available now! The reason for the calendars is to get children ready to learn, ready to go to school and succeed, ready for kindergarten! If you have a child who is four years old, and will be attending kindergarten the fall of 2009, come in and pick one up today! We will be more than happy to tell you how to use it.

KCG

Summer reading numbers are WAY up!

So far this year 1,777 children have signed up for the summer reading program at the Main library. Of those children, 724 have finished the program and are donning their green tee shirts all over town!

KCG

Our caterpillars' progress

If you come into the library, be sure to look at the caterpillars. They have stopped eating and are hanging upside down, motionless. They are slowly hardening into chrysalis form now. What a neat thing to watch! Soon they will emerge as butterflies and fly away!

KCG

Butterflies in the library!

Have you seen our new butterflies?

The Children's Department just got a new set of caterpillars in a netted caterpillar house. They are busily chomp chomping away at their food and growing every day! Soon they will turn into painted lady butterflies, like the one you see here. These are some reading bugs you can visit every day to see how they grow.

KCG

Summer Reading is a Record Breaker!

This year's Summer Reading Program has been a real blast and a record breaker!
We have 1,691 children who have signed up so far. Of those, 521 have already received their green tee shirt by completing the program! That's a lot of green in Anderson!

KCG

Huge caterpillar

Have you seen the humongous caterpillar in the Children's Department? It has body parts with the names of all the children signed up for our Summer Reading Program. It is growing week by week throughout the summer! Wow, that's one BIG worm!

KCG

The Children's Van

Have you seen our van around town? We get around to 17 daycares and preschools. Wave at us if you see us!

KCG