Resources take sting
out of school-related angst 
 Kids might be in a state of denial (and parents in one of jubilation), but it's true - school is just around the corner.
And with the start of each new academic year comes new challenges for every age group.
Fortunately, the library can help parents and students alike ease the pain of certain school-year transitions as well as contend with recurring stressors and peer issues.
The newness and excitement of another school year isn't always looked upon as a positive thing, especially by those youngest of students entering this new world for the first time. For them (and their parents), picture books such as Countdown to Kindergarten, Look Out, Kindergarten, Here I Come, Llama Llama Misses Mama, and Wemberly Worried can soothe fears of the unknown.
For older students experiencing the pressure to fit in, both humorous books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and more serious subject matter, like the DVD Bully, can offer a different perspective on the situation, letting them know they're not alone.
And finally, for the college-bound, the online Cengage Learning databases (accessible through the library's website) offered free to library patrons provide AP and SAT practice tests, online study guides, college and scholarship searches, and much more!
Don't leave these valuable resources untapped as you prepare for another school year! Check them out next time you stop in at the library.
Coming up at the Wallkill Public Library
Tuesday: Textile Tuesdays are held in the community room of Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read to Sadie the therapy dog will take place at 4 p.m.
Wednesday: The Lego Movie will be featured during a 2 p.m. library matinee. BINGO will take place from 6:30-8 p.m.
Thursday: Snapology for ages 7-12 will be offered from 1-4 p.m. The Knit and Crochet Club will meet at 6:30 p.m.
 
Register soon for Snapology program
Snapology is back with another event at the Wallkill Public Library.
LEGO Robotics' Amazing Animals will be the theme of Thursday's 1-4 p.m. session. Ages 7-12 will work in teams of two under guided instruction to build and program robotic models with working motors and tilt sensors. Participants will create their own LEGO zoo, complete with a hungry alligator, roaring lion, and drumming monkey.
Registration is required. Cost is $20. Contact the library soon before space fills up - 895-3707, or cthorenz@rcls.org.
 
T-shirts will be to-dye for after program
Tie-dye without the mess during instructor Julie Moussot's Aug. 27 Sharpie Tie-Dye T-Shirts program!
Ages 8 through adult will be able to create one-of-a-kind shirts for the whole family during the 6-7:30 p.m. event. Julie's fun textile dyeing technique yields results similar to traditional tie-dyeing, sans the drippy mess! Participants will first practice the technique using provided swatches, then move on to designing their own t-shirts (or other cotton garments).
Space is limited - register soon for this popular event!
Participants will need a 100 percent cotton white or light-colored t-shirt or other garment, such as an apron, hoodie, bandana, etc. Make sure whatever you bring is pre-washed without bleach or fabric softener, and you'll be good to go!
Wallkill receives honorary mention
The library will receive two Honorable Mention certificates at the Ramapo Catskill Library System's 27th Legislative Breakfast/55th Annual Meeting on Friday, Sept. 12.
Longtime board member and library supporter Stewart Crowell, who passed away in February, was nominated for the 2014 RCLS Anthony J. Knipp Library Trustee Award for his many years of devoted service. A certificate in his honor will be given to the library during the Sept. 12 meeting.
Also honored will be the Books Alive! Children's Theatre Project, Imagine That, which was nominated for the 2014 RCLS Member Library Youth Program of the Year Award.
Winners of the above awards will be announced at The Fountains at Wallkill Golf Club Sept. 12.
Renaissance Faire tickets still available
The New York Renaissance Faire is open now through Sept. 21, and tickets are still available at the circulation desk of the library!
Ages 17 and under can get into the Faire for free with the passes, so families can save a bundle while they enjoy the various annual attractions, including a Marketplace featuring more than 100 artisans, costumed performers, jousting tournaments, and more.
Don't forget to inquire about the passes at the circ desk!
Are you tech-ier than a first-grader?
Six-year-olds understand digital technology better than adults.
This, according to a recent study detailed in The Guardian. In the study, communication regulators Ofcom describe how those born in the new millennium often learn how to use a tablet before they learn to talk, making them more tech-savvy than even their youngest elders, the 16- to 24-year-old "early adopters."
Whether this is a good or bad thing remains to be seen.
How technologically inclined are you? Take this  digital quotient test and find out!
 
Zombies overtake library grounds
A zombie settles for a slice after claiming no human victims.
 Thursday was Zombie Day at the library, for those wondering who the teens were picking up dismembered body parts off the library lawn.
That was just part of the day's scavenger hunt, one of a number of activities organized by children's coordinator Carolyn Thorenz and library technician Lori Mullooly to thank the teens for all their hard volunteer work during the Summer Reading Program. The zombies also had a water fight, patched each other up with splints and other supplies, watched scary movies, and enjoyed the snacks prepared by Carolyn and Lori. Thanks to all who participated!
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