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Fall Newsletter 
 
Sept. - Nov. 2014
In This Issue
From the Director's Desk
Read Aloud 15 MINUTES..."...
Reading Champions
Summer Reading Report

 

Gifts to the Library May, June, & July 

 

In Memory of

 

Jimmy Arrington 

Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Mary Wood Winslow Bobbitt

Peggy Walrod

  

Lewis "Wayne" Bridgers 

 Bobby & Gail Thompson

   

Herb Greenberg

 Bobby & Gail Thompson

  

Walter E. "Bo" Gupton

Bobby & Gail Thompson

  

Kate Harrison

Bobby & Gail Thompson

  

Mrs. Elizabeth High 

Ms. Cindy Barrett

   

Jerry Howard

 Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Judge Tom Matthews

The Luncheon Pilot Club of Rocky Mount

Margaret Strickland

 

Russell Donald Melton

Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Robert O. Morris

 Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Chet Mottershead

 Dr. William E. King

 

Jim Nichols

The Luncheon Pilot Club of Rocky Mount

 

Charles Penick

Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Alice Barnes Robertson

Bobby & Gail Thompson

Judith S. Tilley

 

William H. Stanley

Catherine & David Combs

Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Dewey Weaver, Jr.

Bobby & Gail Thompson

 

Charles Derwood Wester & Rebecca "Becky" Wester

Linda Wester Tippette & Sandra Wester Boseman

 

 

In Honor of

The Public

Mr. Irving Eugene Siler

 

Gifts to the Library

Beta Zeta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

 

 

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Teens Programs

Adult Programs 

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From the Director's Desk:

 

August 3rd marked my six month milestone as Director at Braswell Memorial Library. A lot has happened since I arrived in February! I've made the wonderful discovery of how talented and creative the people I get to work with at the library are. Phillip Whitford, technically our Information Technology specialist - but really the resident expert on all things Braswell, has built library partnerships that stretch our public dollars and benefit citizens in Rocky Mount as well as the surrounding communities. In children's services, Jennifer Stearns and her talented staff, take reading on the road to present programming to preschoolers throughout the Twin Counties. Hundreds of children benefit from weekly story times thanks to a long standing collaboration between the library and the Down East Partnership for Children.

 

I have been able to get to know more about Rocky Mount, the Twin Counties and some of the organizations that work behind the scenes to improve our community. As a newcomer, I attend our City Council and County Commissioner's meetings to learn about our local government and the issues facing our communities. I've had the opportunity to work with SCORE to promote assistance for small business start-ups, and the Twin County Literacy Council to provide literacy assistance for community members. I've met many interesting people and seen some great presentations at the Rotary Club.

 

Rocky Mount is a friendly city with lots of amenities. My husband and I enjoy the local restaurants, and we've become real Eastern BBQ enthusiasts! We love being close to the Outer Banks as well as the Raleigh Durham area. There is so much to do, it will take a while to explore it all. Thanks to all of you who have welcomed me here. I am very happy to be part of the community. We just bought a home in Rocky Mount. I look forward to developing strong working relationships and warm friendships.

"Read Aloud 15 MINUTES
  

Parents do you want to give your child a boost toward success in school? One of the best things you can do is read aloud at least 15 minutes a day, every day, with your child from birth. Parents are children's very first teachers. Children are born ready to learn and parents have a unique opportunity to help their babies develop. Reading time provides your child with the nurturing security of your undivided attention. From the start reading aloud to babies teaches fundamental concepts. Babies learn how books are organized, and that the words on the page represent language. It's common for babies to sit and pretend to read by turning the pages and gibbering in baby talk.

 

Reading aloud builds basic speech skills by learning the sounds that form language. Books develop vocabulary by introducing words that are not commonly used in speech. Knowing words and their meanings gives children the ability to understand more complex concepts and to better express themselves. As children develop, reading time helps them to learn to be still and to pay attention longer. They learn how stories progress and that stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. Reading aloud develops the ability to grasp abstract concepts and to recognize cause and effect. Children learn to relate events in books to events in their own lives. They learn that people everywhere share the same feelings and anxieties that they experience.  Reading with your preschooler builds their self-confidence and good judgment skills.

 

Choose books that interest your child, read with enthusiasm, talk about the pictures, and make the sounds the animals make. Ask your child about the story and talk about it together. Remember that parents are the first and best teachers. Share books and stories that make you and your child happy. Make reading aloud a habit when your baby is small. Incorporate it into your daily routine and it might become your favorite part of the day!

 

Read Aloud 15 MINUTES is a national public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of reading to children beginning at birth. You can find information and tips on sharing books with babies and children at www.readaloud.org.

Library Reading Champions

Braswell Memorial Library's Summer Reading Program for 2013 was a huge success. The annual Kick-off Party, held June 21st on the library's pavilion area, was a carnival atmosphere with games, play areas, snacks and prizes. Several hundred children, parents, and caregivers attended the Kick-off while several local restaurants provided food. Attendees enjoyed seeing McGruff the Crime Dog from the Rocky Mount Police Department, Sparky the Firedog from the Rocky Mount Fire Department, the Chick-Fil-A Cow and Chance from Roma's Clydesdale Farm along with a magician, stilt walker and clowns.

 

This year Summer Reading Story Times were provided to the Wesley Privette Memorial Library in Bailey, the Spring Hope Public Library. All of those who completed the program received a book, summer reading t-shirt, a wide variety of local merchant coupons and received a Reading Champion yard sign to display. Please click here to see other Library Reading Champions.

 

 
 
Summer Reading Report
  

The 2014 Summer Reading Program is over. Here are the numbers:

  

Children's Summer Reading, "Fizz Boom Read!": 1240 children registered this year and 2457 attended the 5 programs. 

 

Young Adult Summer Reading, "Spark a Reaction": 132 young adults registered this year and 120 attended the 8 programs.

 

Adult Summer Reading, "Literary Elements": 216 adults registered this year and 110 attended the 9 programs. 

 

Genealogy/Local History, "Gene-ealogy": 146 adults registered this year and 57 attended the 5 programs. 

 

Thanks to all our sponsors and partners in the community!

Upcoming Event

October 21st, 6:00pm - 7pm: Boo Bash


Upcoming Closing
Monday September 1st for Labor Day
Thursday & Friday November 27th & 28th for Thanksgiving Holiday
We hope you enjoyed this email edition of the newsletter. As always, we invite you to visit us at 727 North Grace Street to "check out" all of the services and resources available to you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Catherine Roche
Braswell Memorial Library

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