2019 is zooming along.
As of this writing, there are only 334 days until Christmas 2019!
The children’s department programs are off to a good
start. We already enjoyed a visit from
Therapy Dog Chapter 252 McLeod/Meeker County on January 12. I love to watch these gentle dogs as they “listen” to children reading to them. They
come about 4 times each year, and provide safe doggie socialization for the
children.
On Wednesdays at 10:00, young children up to age three
can come to Toddler Time. Of course,
older siblings are welcome too. Some of
our little ones aren’t talking yet, which makes it interesting. They do really
well with the singing and movement parts of Toddler Time, but sometimes the
book is a little sketchy.
We get the Legos out every Thursday night at 6:30. Children ages 4 and up are invited to come
and build. Younger children are welcome,
but must have a caregiver along. I’d
hate to see any of those pesky little pieces end up in someone’s mouth.
Third Thursdays are reserved for Beginner Book Club. We start after school, at about 3:15, when
the members arrive, and are usually done by 4:15. It might get interesting in February. I chose a book that I thought I enjoyed, only to find out I really don’t like it. What will the book club members think? I’ll hand out the next book on February 21st
at book club..
On Friday mornings at 10:00 we welcome preschool children
to Story Time. I just started my 28th
year of doing story times and I enjoy it more each year. Right now we’re looking at colors, so our
projects for January have been simple and colorful. So far, we’ve made white sculptures out of
Styrofoam and white pipe cleaners, ground coffee beans to sprinkle on pictures
of brown bears, and glued different green things to make 3-D pictures of a
green frog.
Besides all of this, the library offers programs for
tweens and teens. Real art projects happen at Makerspace, offered on the second
Monday each month at 3:30 for ages 10-18.
In February they will make cozy heart-shaped pillows out of cozy fleece. Teens ages 12-18 are invited to come to the
library on second and fifth Saturdays for Teen Programs. They seem to have a lot of projects involving coding and Minecraft. We also invite
teens to come to Teen Gaming Night, on fourth Monday nights at 6:30.
In an average month, young people can choose from sixteen
different offerings. A former
Pioneerland Library System director once spoke to me about Litchfield’s
“ambitious” children’s programming. Yes,
yes it is. Thanks to library staff who
make all this possible. I couldn’t do it alone.
