2008 Winter Reading Program Dates Set

The 2008 Winter Reading Program, BLAST OFF for Reading Adventures! begins on Monday, January 12. Children ages 3-12 register to keep track of the reading they do at home. Those that meet set reading goals receive a reading award and certificate. The program ends on Saturday, February 21. All logs must be returned by the 21st to be guaranteed an award. Pick up your logs for children not reading on their own, beginning readers and older readers. Be sure to check out the activities and displays in the youth department that bring outer space to you!

Out and About

I'll be out and about in the community again on Saturday, December 13 at the CASI Family Festival. The event is from 9 a.m -4 p.m. and admission is FREE! You can have your picture or your pet's picture taken with Santa for $5, there will be gifts and baked goods for sale and many other FREE activities for all ages. I'll be there with some Make and Take Crafts at noon.
Don't miss the Choral Concert and Annual Candlelight Memory Tree Lighting at 3:30. For more information contact CASI at 563-386-7477.

Did We Read a Ton?

CONGRATULATIONS! Yes, we did read a ton! We actually weighed 1,319 pounds of books in the Youth Department during the last two weeks. We know that there was at least that much returned through the drive-up bookdrop, so when added together, WE DID IT!! We can proudly say that our children are reading tons!!

Don't forget to join us on Saturday, December 6 at 10 a.m. for a celebration with local children's entertainer, Steve Couch. Steve will be sharing his I LOVE TO READ! show free to all ages!

No registration is required.

Book Group Guides

Have you been thinking of starting a book group for kids? Maybe a mother-daughter or father-son or any combination? Here is the place to start! The Multnomah County Library System (OR) has helped us all out by creating discussion guides for many books. There is a complete listing at this link: http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides.html. Take a look! Our library also has several guides to starting a kids' book group that will give you more guidance and book recommendations.

Reading raps : a book club guide for librarians, kids, and families by Rita Soltan (PARENTS SHELF 027.625 SO)

The kids' book club book : reading ideas, recipes, activities, and smart tips for organizing terrific kids' book clubs by Judy Gelman (J028.55 GE)

The kid's book club : lively reading and activities for grades 1-3 by Desiree Webber (PARENTS SHELF 028.55 WE)

Festival of Trees

Join me on Sunday afternoon, November 23 at the Festival of Trees! I will be a guest reader near the new Book Tree at 1:30 p.m. I am so excited about this new addition to the Festival. Imagine, a tree filled with books! I have been helping with the ordering so I know how many books it is taking to fill up the tree. All books will be donated to the local WIC program.

Also, the City of Bettendorf will be participating again in the Festival Parade on Saturday by sponsoring one of the balloons. This year we will be walking with the Dick Tracy balloon. Give us a shout as we walk by and we may make a fancy turn for you!! The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. in downtwon Davenport.

A Weighty Issue!

We are just over 600 lbs. in our We're Reading a Ton! weigh-in. Don't forget to have your children's books weighed before you put them in the bookdrop!! Last day for weighing is Saturday, November 22. Join us for Steve Couch's I LOVE TO READ! Show on Saturday, December 6 at 10 a.m. All ages are invited for this free, fun-filled event! No registration is required.

We're Reading Tons!

It's time! Let the weighing begin! Remember our goal is 2,000 lbs. Look for the sign to remind you to bring your books to the Youth Services Desk BEFORE you return them in the bookdrop. Each night we will tally the lbs. and they will be recorded on the scale on the wall the next morning.

Our special event to announce the results will be held on Saturday, December 6, 10-11 a.m. Local children's entertainer, Steve Couch will bring his I Love to Read Show to the library. No registration is required. And, anyone can come - you don't have to have had books weighed to participate.

Special thanks to Hy-Vee in Bettendorf for loaning us their scale!

Young Poets Contest

I often get questions about how to get young people's writing published. Occassionally something comes across my desk and I will share it with you. The library has nothing to do with the contests, I am just providing the information. Contact individual groups with your questions or submissions.

Christian Science Monitor's 13th annual Young Poets Contest is underway. Original poems should be submitted by December 5. Anyone in preschool through high school is eligible. Winning entries will be published in January. Send your poems (no more than three) to: youngpoets@csmonitor.com or The Home Forum, Young Poets Contest, the Christian Science Monitor, 210 Massachusetts Ave, P02-30, Boston, MA 02115. Please include your name: mailing address, grade in school, e-mail address and home telephone number.

National Book Award Finalists

Finalists have been named for this year's young people's selection of the National Book Award. Two to check out for middle readers: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Underneath by Kathi Appelt.

Additional titles selected:
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

In Memoriam

I would like to take a moment to mention the passing of longtime Friends member, Bob Ofner. Bob passed away on Tuesday, October 14 at the age of 89. Many of you may not know him by name, but he volunteered at the library almost every day and I bet you have seen him. Bob was a strong advocate for children's services and often teased me about the amount of money I requested for programs and services. But he believed in what we did and often checked in on our progress.
One particular memory I have is the year he was so fascinated by the names of the kids we put on the wall for the summer reading program. He asked us to save all of the items (I can't remember what they were that year) and he sorted and counted all of the names. He was a statistics kind of guy and this fascinated him. He hoped to do something with his findings, but we never found the right project.

We will miss Bob - he was a true friend of the library!

Gary Metivier Will Visit the Library

Local author, Gary Metivier will be our guest at preschool storytime on Thursday, October 23 from 10-10:30 a.m. No registration is required. Gary will be sharing Willie's second adventure, A Hog Ate My Homework. Make plans to join us in the Junior League Program Room for a wonderful story!

Gary will have books available for sale and signing.

Upcoming FUN! We're Reading a Ton!

We often talk about how much kids read by the number of books, but we thought it would be fun to see if we can really read a TON--that's 2,000 lbs! During the weeks of November 10-22 we are asking kids to bring their books to the Youth Department for a "weigh-in" before they put them in the return area. We'll add up the weight each day and see if we can read a ton! We'll have a special program on Saturday, December 6 to announce the results! Join us from 10:30-11:30 for a very special treat! No registration is required!

Read for the Record Day a Success!

We had a great time on Thursday at our Corduroy Storytime as part of the Read for the Record Day. Not only did we share the story of Corduroy but some other bears as well. A new favorite for me is The Big Smelly Bear - a good message of hygiene and friendship - not to mention the fun of holding your nose and saying PU!

Thanks to the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library for giving each child in attendance a copy of the Corduroy book and a small stuffed Corduroy. What fun!

Baby/Toddler/Preschooler Reading Program

Fall Into Reading is the theme of our Baby/Toddler/Preschooler Reading Program which begins on Wednesday, October 1 and continues through November 1. Adults are encouraged to spend time reading with their children and sharing some special time. Each participant receives a reading chart where they apply a sticker for each book read to them. After completing 20 books return to the library with your chart to receive a free book! The Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library are the generous sponsors of this program. Children ages 5 and under may participate.

Our Visit with Ying Chang Compestine

Global Gathering China is continuing throughout the rest of September and October. We had the opportunity to share storytime with Ying Chang Compestine today. Be sure to take a look at her books - The Runaway Rice Cake, The Real Story of Stone Soup, The Story of Noodles, The Story of Kites, The Story of Chopsticks, The Story of Paper and D is for Dragon Dance. Each includes a simple recipe that can be shared with children.

There are still plenty of events to attend so look for one of the Global Gathering brochures throughout the library. Have you also looked at all of the displays - dolls, teapots, and more!

Straight from Salt Lake City

I've spent the past three days at the Association for Library Service to Children's National Institute in Salt Lake City. This Institute provided training on a variety of subjects including BLOGGING THE BEST BOOKS which taught participants how to make their own BLOG. This BLOG is a result of the class. I also attended sessions on new books for tween readers and great programming ideas for all ages. I heard Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Sharon Creech, William Joyce, Christopher Paul Curtis and Michelle Gorman speak. It was a fabulous Institute (Thanks ALSC, the presenters and the local arrangements committee!) and I can't wait to order books, read books, plan programs and BLOG!