Say Yes to No Program Change

The date for the "Say Yes to No" program has been changed to next Wednesday, October 21st @ 6pm. Please join us then for this informative presentation.

Do you have trouble telling your kids 'no'? Adults and caregivers, join us as we begin to explore a new way of empowering ourselves and our children by introducing the "Say Yes to No" concept. This educational presentation from Great Kids Make Great Communities will provide a brief overview of psychologist David Walsh's book No. Why Kids of all Ages Need to Hear it and Ways Parents Can Say It.

* Participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of three copies of Dr. David Walsh's book: No. Why Kids of all Ages Need to Hear it and Ways Parents Can Say It.

How to Protect Your Child Online

This book provides actual methods for real online safety for any child, any age. Not only does it provide tips, it also offers the "How To" and the "Why's" behind the information. The information is presented in an easy and simple, straight forward way that any busy parent can read or refer to. Don't Get PWNed! is full of common sense solutions that are effective.

The Power of Parenting

Become a Family Day STAR!

I commit to:

S- Spend time with my kids by having dinner together

T- Talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol

A- Answer their questions and listen to what they say

R- Recognize that I have the power to help keep my kids substance free!

To find out more about this national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free, visit the website click here

Valerie Tutson - Storyteller Extraordinaire!

We are thrilled to present internationally renowned storyteller, Valerie Tutson!
Valerie will be performing Tales from Around the World Thursday, October 22.
The first performance will be at 10:30 am.
The second performance will be at 1:00 pm.
Do not miss this one of a kind opportunity!
Registration is required for this FREE event - contact Children's Services 421-1220.
Seating is limited - Call today!

Back to School -- for Teachers!

Teachers and Homeschooling Parents:

Plan now to attend our annual "Back to School for Teachers" program, and find out about the many resources available to you and your students here at the Main Library. We'll provide a brief presentation, an introduction to INSPIRE's Kids' Search, Indiana's online database for kids, a tour of the Main Library and Children's Department, and we'll answer any questions you may have.

All attendees will have the opportunity to enter door-prize drawings for gift cards to United Art and Education and other classroom resources.

It's all happening on Monday, August 3, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Globe Room, at the entrance to Children's Services at the Main Library.

Positive Discipline

Adults! Join is on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 6:00pm at the Main library in Meeting Room A for some positive parenting tips from S.C.A.N ( Stop Child Abuse and Neglect).

This presentation will include ways of managing stress in a busy household during tough economic times by incorporating positive discipline techniques and healthy forms of communication.

-Parents and other adults who work with children

Birth to Baby Fair

Visit the Main Library this Saturday, May 2nd between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00p.m. for the third annual "Birth to Baby Fair"!

Birth to Baby is a FREE event featuring seminars, workshops and exhibitors that support the needs of growing families in our community.




Check out our Birth and Babies Booklist to find great titles in Children's Services about breastfeeding, siblings, new babies, and other baby related books for kids.

Children's Services Newsletter!

Check it out!
Keep up to date with the handy Children's Services Newsletter!

Sign up to receive this bi-monthy e-info guide on our web-page or e-mail cchristian@acpl.info to be added to the e-mail list.


Click here to see the latest issue

Mock Caldecott Blog

Adults, do you enjoy reading children's picture books? Do you LOVE great illustrations?

Consider participating in the ACPL Mock Caldecott program this year. Just look at the books listed on the ACPL Mock Caldecott blog and plan to attend the program in January to vote for your favorite. If you can't make it to the program in January 2010, you can still participate throughout the year by commenting on titles on the ACPL Mock Caldecott blog. There are already several titles on the blog for you to comment on, check it out today!

Learn about the Star Spangled Banner!

The Smithsonian Museum of American History has published a COOL website about the Star Spangled Banner. You can:

• Explore the original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem using an interactive tool...
• Take a quiz to test your knowledge...
• Enter a Star Spangled Banner singing contest...
• and more!

Teachers and Homeschoolers -- clicking on the Resources button at the top of the site will give you access to a great many lesson plans, book lists and other resources for your classroom!

Click here to check it out!

Blog Event!


Click the above picture to attend a blogging event this week and tour several Children's Literature Blogs. Topics covered each day are Raising Readers, Selecting Reading Material, Reading Aloud--It's Fun, It's Easy, A Visit to the Library, and Technology and Reading--What the Future Holds.


Remnant Trust at IPFW

Don't miss the Remnant Trust at IPFW, now through April 2009! The Remnant Trust is a collection of manuscripts and early editions of works. Included are Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, the Magna Charta, the Emancipation Proclamation, Frederick Douglass' Life of Frederick Douglass, and Plato's Plato, His Apology of Socrates to name only a few of the 50 items available to see, to read and, quite unbelievably, to touch.

The exhibit is in the Helmke Library on the IPFW campus. It is open to the public:
Tuesday 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Wednesday 1pm to 3pm
Friday 9am to 1pm
Saturday 9am to 12pm

To arrange a class visit or to borrow a document for classroom use, contact the Helmke Library Services Desk at 481-6512. There are many interesting programs for adults too.

Fitness for Kids

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which for the first time includes guidelines for kids. Did you know that children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity DAILY? So be sure to run, jump, skip and play today!

ACPL is Closed Today

The ACPL is closed today and tomorrow. We will re-open at 9am on Friday, December 26th. You can still enjoy a wide variety of ACPL services on our website. Check these out:

• Downloadable Audiobooks - download entire audiobooks to your computer or MP3 Player for free.
• E-Resources - enjoy access to full text magazine & newspaper databases, genealogy databases, business information, art resources and more.
• Children's Services Booklists - search for titles on hot topics for kids or just find some fun books here.
• Mock Election Blogs - read what people are saying about some of the best children's books of 2008.
• Booktalk - search for books by your favorite authors, read reviews, find books that were mentioned on television or public radio and more.
• Great Sites for Kids - find a list of websites for kids on a variety of topics.

Entertainment Software Rating Board

Are you planning to purchase a computer game or video game soon? You might like to check it out at the library first. Or click here to visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board website. When you do a search for the game, you will find a rating and the reasons for the rating, as well as a list of the platforms for which the game is available. There is a lot of additional good information there for gamers and their families.

Magic Tree House Fun!

Curriculum Connections for Tree House Travelers K to 4 written by Jane Berner, Sabrina Minser, and Helen Burkart Presser from Canterbury School, introduces four unit studies based on the Magic Tree House series.

This book is full of fun activities, booklists, craft projects and printable sheets. Explore dinosaurs, medieval times, ancient egypt and pirates with these well-developed unit studies.

Parenting Read: Last Child in the Woods

I just finished reading Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv and I would recommend that every parent and educator take the time for this enlightening read.

Louv's compelling title showcases nature and the numerous positive benefits that children (and adults) can gain from spending time outdoors - including increased attention span, physical fitness and stress relief.

The 2008 edition includes "100 actions we can take" which range from simple activities for kids and families to suggestions for transforming communities.

ACPL Mock Geisel

Parents, teachers and interested adults - do you enjoy reading children's literature? Sign up now for the ACPL Mock Geisel program or visit the blog to read and comment on this year's best early readers. The second reading list is now available. The actual discussion and election will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 2 to 6pm.

OnTrack Mini-Magazines

Looking for grade-appropriate ways to help your child with his or her schoolwork, based on the Indiana Academic Standards? The Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education have teamed up to publish OnTrack Mini-Magazines for students and their parents/guardians, available online.

Click on the links below to access the booklets in English or Spanish.
Kindergarten: English | Spanish
First Grade: English | Spanish
Second Grade: English | Spanish
Third Grade: English | Spanish
Fourth Grade: English | Spanish
Fifth Grade: English | Spanish
(Booklets are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free).

You can also find these links, and many more helpful resources, on our website! Check out our Parenting Resources
and
Curriculum Resources
for more great information on child development, services for families, reading with children, and more!

Did you know?

Did you know that with one week's notice librarians in Children's Services at the Main Library can pull together a collection of books on the topic(s) of your choice? It is true! You can even submit a list of specific titles and we will pull all that we have available on our shelves for YOU! Just imagine the time that you can save.

You can fill out a custom collection form online here, or you can call us at 421-1220.