Snow! Snow! and More Snow!

Folks here in northern Indiana are gearing up for yet another round of snowfall -- what do you do to prepare for snow days? I suggest you add a visit to the library to your list of destinations as you travel today to stock up on your supplies. Check out a cookbook and try a new recipe...or a craft book to learn a new skill or brush up on an old one...or a book of games to play together... or all of the above!

The possibilities are endless...

Happy Anniversary 900 Library Plaza!

Today is the fourth anniversary of the Grand Opening of the beautiful new library at 900 Library Plaza! Happy Anniversary to all of us!

It has been a wonderful four years of fun here. Take some time to review the ACPL Kids Blog to see where we have been and what we have been doing. Another fun place visit is the ACPL's Flickr account.

Check out some of these photos from the past four years which highlight some of the awesome spaces here at the library:

Art Cars on the Plaza
2008 Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony in the Theater
Day of the Dead 2007 in Children's Services
Homeschoolers Sneak Preview in the Great Hall
Time 2 Chime Live in the Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery
EcoKids Club (featuring live worms) in the Program Room

Please visit the library soon to see what we are up to now!

No Storytimes at Main Library this Week

Children's Services librarians are continuing the Storytellers on the Move program this week, delivering books and telling stories to area preschools and daycares, so there will be no storytimes held at the Main Library this week. However, you can still attend storytimes at one of our branch libraries -- click here for a calendar of times and locations!

National No Name-Calling Week

In honor of National No Name-Calling Week, which runs from January 24th - 28th this year, I'd like to point out some of the resources available to help teach and prevent bullying.

Many picture books and stories address the topic of bullying. Alley Oops, by Janice Levy, explores the painful effects of name-calling from the bully's perspective -- and shows how some problems can be resolved.




For older children and teens, there are books such as Bullying and Me, Schoolyard Stories. In this book, kids and adults from diverse backgrounds tell about their experiences being taunted and bullied.






There are many, many more resources available, for both kids and adults -- see the Personal Violence Booklist for more books, websites, and other materials.

New Padded Railing in the ELC!

Yesterday, we were excited to have Sammy from Sew On and Sew Forth come to the Library to put a beautiful padded vinyl covering on the railing by the dramatic play area in the Early Learning Center.

It was hard work, but Sammy did a GREAT job!

And now YOU have a great new piece to play on and with.

I wonder if you can balance a dinosaur on the padded railing?

Storytellers on the Move!

From January 17th to January 27th ACPL librarians will be visiting area daycares and preschools to deliver book collections and provide storytime programs. If you know a daycare or preschool that could benefit from this awesome service, please call the Children's Services department to sign up. Our next delivery will be in late April.

There will be no storytimes at the library during the Storytellers on the Move program.

Have you heard any good books lately?

Check out the Playaway collection in Children's Services to find some great listens. We have an extensive collection of Playaways to choose from.

A Playaway is an audio book that comes with its own small player - you just provide the triple A battery and plug in your favorite headphones. It is a fun way to listen to books!