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Monday, November 29, 2010

Science Explorers Experiment With Photography


Science Explorers Experiment With Photography - slideshows

ACPL Science Explorers used Children's Services at Main Library as a Learning Laboratory last week when they took pictures of the department, staff, and each other. The topic was Light, Sight and Cameras. Science Explorers will meet next on February 22 at 2 p.m.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Thanks Keyara, for leaving this lovely drawing in the Early Learning Center mailbox for us to find.

We love to see the drawings that kids and their grown ups create in the Early Learning Center. Stop by today and draw us a picture!

The Early Learning Center is open:
Monday - Thursday 9am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Friday, November 26, 2010

Do you have visitors?

Bring them to the Library!

Since the new building at 900 Library Plaza opened in 2007 we have noticed a new local tradition...Fort Wayne families LOVE to show off their new library to out of town visitors over the Thanksgiving weekend.

So, if you are looking for something fun and warm to do this weekend, bring your friends and family in to meet us.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

All locations of the Allen County Public Library will be closed today for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We will have storytime at the downtown library on Friday morning:
Babies & Books at 10AM
Toddler Time at 10:30AM & 11AM

Bring in your out of town guests and show off your GREAT library!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Library Refrigerator

Visit the new Art Room in Children's Services to create a piece of art to display on the library refrigerator. Watch the refrigerator change over the next few weeks as we add more and more art to the door.

The Art Room is open anytime the library is open. Right now you can explore the Flowers in Art theme. Stay tuned, the theme will be changing soon.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Science Explorers

Homeschoolers, don't forget to come to Science Explorers at the Main Library, Tuesday, November 23, at 2:00 p.m. Explore LIGHT, SIGHT, and CAMERAS with experiments, books and activities. Science Explorers is designed for students at K-5 grade levels. Be curious! Think - Do - Learn!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Games, Games and More Games

Just one week ago over 100 people enjoyed playing all sorts of games in Children's Services at the downtown library. We took part in National Game Day @ Your Library. Results of the "What's Your Favorite Game" Poll prove that Monopoly is the number one Fort Wayne favorite. Close behind were Cranium, Chess, Scrabble and Battleship. All of the following received at least one vote each: Candy Land, Sorry, Connect Four, Clue, Boggle, Trouble, The Game of Life, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Trivial Pursuit, Settlers of Catan, Bowling, and Hannah Montana Monopoly. The favorite video game played that day appeared to be Mario Kart.

Friday, November 19, 2010

What Did YOU Do Today?

In Baby Day! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, a baby goes about the normal activities of her day, eating, getting dressed, playing and napping.

Try making up a story with your young children about their day -- what color shirt did they choose to wear? What did they eat for lunch? Did they go for a ride in the car?

Activities like these help develop narrative skills, which include the ability to tell and understand stories.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Gun Safety With Eddie Eagle

Did you know that Federal officials estimate that there are over 200 million firearms in the United States? Studies suggest that guns are kept in approximately half of all U.S. households.

What should a child do if they see a gun? STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.


The Children's Services department at the downtown library will offer the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program tomorrow and Saturday, November 19 and 20, at 2:00 pm. This program is designed for children in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 and their parents.


The Eddie Eagle Program has no agenda other than accident prevention -- ensuring that children stay safe should they encounter a gun. We hope you'll join us for this important safety program.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Lincoln Visits the Library

Wow! Is that the REAL Abe Lincoln? It sure seemed that way to area students who visited the Main Library Theater downtown on Wednesday afternoon. Come and find out for yourself -- he will return tonight at 7 p.m. And we all thank the ACPL Friends of the Library for sponsoring this special visit from Abraham Lincoln/Fritz Klein!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Mock Newbery Election -- for Kids!

Hey, kids -- have you ever wished the grown-ups would ask YOU which books should win the big book awards each year? Well, here's your chance to be heard! Join us for the
Mock Newbery Election for Kids,
coming up on Sunday, December 12, 2010
from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Main Library.

Children in 3rd - 6th grade are invited to attend. Simply read the books from the list below, add your comments to the Mock Newbery Blog, and attend the program on December 12 to discuss which book was the best children's book of the year! Advance registration is required.

Here is this year's reading list:
A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
Dark Emperor and other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman
Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer
Countdown by Deborah Wiles

We'll have refreshments, door prizes, and a great discussion!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

National Game Day

Come downtown and play at the Main Library today. Wii will be available in Children's Services from 10-Noon and 2-4 p.m. Board games will be available too. Vote for your favorite board game and check the blog next week for the results.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Tomorrow is National Game Day!

Join us downtown in Children's Services at the Main Library, as thousands of libraries throughout the country host special game events to celebrate National Game Day@your library. We'll have Wii games from 10-Noon and 2-4 p.m. Board games for all ages will also be available.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Movin' to the Music: An Early Literacy Workshop for Adults

Parents and caregivers of young children -- make plans to attend our next early literacy workshop, Movin' to the Music.

We'll talk about what researchers have to say about song, music, and rhyme, and how these activities help young children develop language skills. We'll also introduce you to some of the wonderful resources available at the library, and you'll take home a music CD chock-full of rhymes and songs.

Movin' to the Music: An Early Literacy Workshop for Adults

Monday, November 15, 2010
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

TumbleBooks!

Exciting news!

Check out TumbleBooks -- a collection of animated e-books for children. A wide selection of children's books -- stories, non-fiction, chapter books -- and games and puzzles are now available through the library's website.

Simply click on the TumbleBooks icon, shown here and in the upper right hand corner of the Children's Services website, and explore. Children may follow along as a story is read, or turn off the sound to read on their own.

Happy Reading!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Welcome to the Art Room

This lovely family is enjoying the new Art Room in Children's Services. You are welcome to stop by any time the library is open to create art, too!

Right now you can check out the Flowers in Art theme and practice drawing and using colored pencils. View the famous art work on display and be inspired to create a great work of your own!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

First Visit to the Reading Tower!

Alex just turned seven! That meant he was (finally!!) old enough to go up to the Reading Tower while his mom and little brother & sister played and learned together in the Early Learning Center.


Alex brought a copy of Monkey and Dog Days by Kate Banks to read.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Day of the Dead

Visit Children's Services this Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 4pm for the

Day of the Dead Open House


Learn about this joyful Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the departed. Decorate your own sugar skull to take home, add your memories to the community memory board, make marigolds & masks, taste bread of the dead and more!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Today is King Tut Day!


On this day -- November 4th -- in 1922, the entrance to King Tut's tomb was discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter and his workmen.

Check out some books about Tutankhamen and/or Ancient Egypt, and learn more about the pharaoh known as the "boy king".

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Ballet Dreams

Today we were excited to welcome a special guest to storytime!

Miss Lucia Rogers of the Fort Wayne Ballet joined us for a story, she taught us some dance steps, answered our questions about dance, and then some of us had our picture taken with her!


Thanks, Miss Lucia! We loved having you visit storytime and tell us about Ballet!

Percy Jackson Fans -- Take Note!

Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, has recently published

The Lost Hero,

the first title in his newest series,
Heroes of Olympus.

Place your copy on hold today!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Launching Young Readers

All developing readers go through typical stages of learning. If you are a parent, teacher or caregiver helping a child learn to read, this PBS series will be of interest to you. Click here to watch an episode online or view the contents of the series of ten episodes. If you don't want to watch the online version, or you would like to show an episode to a group, check out the DVDs from our Parent Teacher Collection at Main Library.