CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT NEWS
March 2013 |
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| Frederick County Public Libraries |
Greetings!
Spring programs are popping up like daffodils at the library! This time of year is always bustling at the library, and families are always welcome to pop in for a storytime, pick up a book, DVD, or Playaway device. We are also planning ahead for our Summer Reading Program that begins May 1st. Check the article below about the Summer Reading Program Art Contest.
For families and caregivers a visit to the library is an opportunity to learn, grow, and celebrate. And you don't need to open your wallet, except to pull out your ticket to visit the world--your library card. Stop by any of our branches (including our most visited branch, fcpl.org) to learn more.
In the event that this newsletter was forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to continue to receive information about library programs, services, and events, we invite you to sign up here for our email newsletter.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Darrell Batson, Director
Frederick County Public Libraries |
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Special
Event |
Alice in Wonderland
Storytime
(ages 3-11, with adult)
Meet members of the cast of
The New Adventures of Alice
in Wonderland
Saturday, March 16, 10:30 am
C. Burr Artz Public Library
Downtown Frederick
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ROSE HILL MANOR PARK & CHILDREN'S MUSEUM VISITS THE LIBRARY!
Through a partnership with our fellow county agency, children of all ages can enjoy a visit from the Rose Hill Manor Park & Children's Museum at their local library branch. Select from two hands-on programs!
American Girl™, Caroline: A Girl's Life in War (Ages 6-11)
Join us for an afternoon of discovery with Caroline. Learn about the life and times of Anne Johnson Grahame, Rose Hill's own American Girl. Bring your own American Girl™, or other doll, and learn about the War of 1812 as Caroline and Anne experienced it. Registration is required. Click on the branch to register.
March 11, 6:30 pm - Point of Rocks Library
March 27, 2 pm - Thurmont Regional Library
March 27, 4 pm - Emmitsburg Library
April 1, 1 pm - Brunswick Public Library
April 3, 2:30 pm - C. Burr Artz Public Library
April 6, 3 pm - Walkersville Library
April 22, 4 pm - Middletown Library
April 30, 3 pm - Urbana Regional Library
Gardening with Eric Carle (ages 3-5, with an adult)
Explore the world of Eric Carle with your little one through art and activities. Learn about animals like a hungry caterpillar, a grouchy ladybug, and a very busy spider. We will also create a craft to take home. Registration is required. Click on the branch to register.
March 13, 3 pm - Urbana Regional Library
April 9, 11 am - Point of Rocks Library
April 16, 11 am - Middletown Library
April 27, 11 am - Walkersville Library
May 1, 4 pm - Emmitsburg Library
May 10, 10:30 am - C. Burr Artz Public Library
May 15, 10:30 am - Thurmont Regional Library
May 20, 10:30 am - Brunswick Public Library
Janet Vogel, Children's Services Supervisor
C. Burr Artz Public Library |
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IN SEARCH OF YOUNG ARTISTS
Summer Reading Art Contest
The countdown to the Summer Reading Program has officially begun! With only two months to go, Frederick County's librarians have been busy preparing for another summer full of great books, exciting programs, and cool crafts!
This year, the Summer Reading Program encourages children of all ages to discover the world beneath their feet. Focusing on earth and oceans, the creatures that inhabit them, fossils, and ancient discoveries, this year's theme is sure to please! Children in Preschool, Kindergarten, and grades one through five will participate in our "Dig into Reading" theme, while children in grades six through twelve will examine things "Beneath the Surface."
The Summer Reading Program may not officially begin until May 1st, but we want to see your Summer Reading spirit now! The contest, which runs now through April 1st, asks Frederick County's young readers to submit their best original artwork relating to the Summer Reading theme. One winning design will be chosen from each grade level category (Preschool, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) and will be featured on free bookmarks at all the FCPL branches beginning May 1st. We are printing the bookmarks in color, so we encourage your child to use lots of color.
Entries must be received at any FCPL branch by Monday, April 1, 2013. For contest guidelines and the official entry form, visit your local branch or fcpl.org.
Submitted by Carly Reighard Children's Services, C. Burr Artz Public Library |
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WE HAVE A CHAMPION GOING NATIONAL!
Scripps National Spelling Bee
The sixth annual Frederick County Spelling Bee Championship was held on February 23 at Governor Thomas Johnson High School. Open to students through eighth grade, the event pitted thirty elementary and middle school students against each other with words like "pochismo," "hibachi," and "abdicate."
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Geordie Wilson, The Frederick News-Post, Jared Remsberg, Vineet Ravichandran, and Richard Davies, The Frederick County Bank.
Photo by Sam Yu |
The winner of this year's Frederick County Bee was Jared Remsberg, a seventh grader at Brunswick Middle School. Jared's winning word was "umlaut". The win advances Jared to the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 26 - June 1 to be held near Washington, DC. Jared will join other students across the United States in competing in this prestigious national event. The event is not all work; area tours are available and participants are treated to a Memorial Day Barbecue, an awards banquet and a farewell party-all within the comfort of the Gaylord National Hotel and Resort Center, National Harbor, MD.
The Frederick County Spelling Bee is sponsored by The Frederick News-Post, Frederick County Bank, and the Frederick County Public Libraries. Thanks to our generous sponsors, the winner will receive lodging and transportation to attend the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and spending money to defray expenses. Also included in the event prizes is a Webster's Third New International Dictionary awarded to Jared and a Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition for the runner-up, Vineet Ravichandran, a fourth grader at Walkersville Elementary School. Both of these prizes were awarded by Merriam-Webster.
Congratulations to all of our spellers and especially to Jared. We are excited to have you represent Frederick County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and wish you the best of luck and hope that you have an exciting time at the event!
Caroline O'Connell
Spelling Bee Committee Chair
and Children's Services, Brunswick Public Library |
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"SMART STEPS: AN EARLY LEARNING AREA"
OPENS AT THE URBANA REGIONAL LIBRARY
Throughout the past few years, several Urbana Regional Library staff attended trainings to see what other library systems are doing to better serve children and their caregivers. Dominating these training discussions are library Early Literacy Centers. These interactive spaces fill a crucial role in supporting children's school readiness skills and model to parents the importance of being their child's first teacher. These centers vary in size and content, but their impact is seen nationwide. From Baltimore County's Storyville to St. Mary's County's Active Learning Centers, many area libraries created these spaces with successful results.
One out of four kindergarteners had no preschool or day care experience prior to entering school last year, pointing to the fact that parents need these resources to be a child's first teacher. As we all know, children start learning from birth, and many parents do not have resources available at home to provide the same crucial learning and discovery opportunities as parents whose children may attend a day care or preschool. Our goal is to provide all parents with these resources.
Thanks to funding from the Friends of the Urbana Regional Library, our goal is a reality. What will become the Smart Steps Early Learning area currently has a puzzle table, a train table, a puppet theater, and stuffed animals for children to enjoy. On March 12th, the library will transform this area to include hands-on activities to further encourage early learning for our youngest patrons.
Parents and caregivers will find many new resources to use with their children in a one-on-one setting. Every activity in the area will feature "Parent Tips" cards that will give the parents ideas about sharing the activities with their child as well as an educational component based on Frederick County Public School's STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, and math). Also available to parents will be activities they can use at home with their children and ways to make a home-library connection. Children who come to the Smart Steps Early Learning Area will find new puzzles, alphabet find-and-search bags, color tubes, nuts and bolts, and colors, shapes, and counting activities.
We invite the Urbana community to join us when we unveil the Smart Steps Early Learning area after the 6:30 Starlight Storytime on March 12th. After many months of preparation, Robin Goetz, Children's Services Supervisor said, "It is lovely to see the culmination of months of research and planning in the Smart Steps Early Learning Area at the Urbana Library. Staff incorporated early literacy learning, STEM concepts, and school readiness into a fun, interactive area for the whole family. I am sure the Urbana community will enjoy this addition to children's services at the Urbana Library."
Submitted by Sandra Cartagena Children's Services, Urbana Regional Library |
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MEET STEPHANIE LONG
 This month we are highlighting one of our new staff here in Children's Services: Stephanie Long!
How long have you worked for the library?
I began working for the library in October 2008, as a Library Associate-Teen services.
What do you do at the library?
Currently I work as a Librarian in Children's Services at CBA. In that role I do all sorts of things from storytimes, to programming, to working the desk, and managing the collection. I started my current job roughly two months ago so I am just getting my feet wet but I really love it.
What did you do before you worked at the library?
Before I came to the library I worked as a newspaper reporter and graphic designer. I studied journalism during my undergrad years and had big plans to be a political news reporter but things don't always turn out how you expect them to and I ended up at the library, but it was the best career change I could have made.
What do you like best about working at the library?
I love that every day is different; I get to learn something new and help people. I've always enjoyed working with people and getting to know people and the library is the perfect place to do that.
Who are your favorite children's authors? What are your favorite children's books?
Mo Willems is one of my favorites right now, especially those Piggie and Elephant books. When I was younger I was obsessed with the Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parrish. I used to read those books over and over again and begged my mom to take me to the library to get more.
If you could step into any book, what book would you choose?
That's a tough question because each time I read a really good book I wish I could be transported into its pages. When I was a child I really enjoyed The Secret Garden and wished I could visit the garden myself. Recently I've been reading a young adult series, The Agency, about a Victorian era teenager who is thrust into the world of covert affairs, and have wished on several occasions that I could join Mary Quinn on her adventures.
Interviewed by Terri Perper Middletown Public Library |
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