Storytime Songs at Home

Hello, storytime families!  We miss you!  Even though we can't meet in person, you can listen to some of the songs Mrs. Pease uses in storytimes.  Enjoy!





And remember to practice sneezing into your elbow!



For a wide selection of stories read by celebrities, vetted by the American Library Association, visit this website: https://www.storylineonline.net/

Safe at Home

By Jan Pease

So I’m writing this from home.    I’m fine, but I fit in all of the major health conditions that officials are warning us about: diabetes, heart trouble, blood thinners, over 65, and as the French say, “en surpoids.”        It sounds much better in French.  I’m not afraid, but my family insists that I stay home.

The last time I was sequestered was due to measles when I was a child.  I remember staying in the living room with the shades pulled, listening to classical music records my dad brought home from the library.  My favorite was HMS Pinafore.  I wasn’t allowed to read!  It was horrible.   Not the fever, rash , and itching, but the not reading.

I thought about listing some of the resources available to help keep children busy, but there are so many things out there.  Facebook is packed with ideas and videos.  The library has children’s books about Fiona, a hippo born at the Cincinnati Zoo: the zoo posted a video about her which was adorable.  I watched and listened the great Yo-Yo Ma play some of his favorite pieces for cello.  Pinterest has more ideas than I could make in a lifetime. Besides all this, the staff at the high school posted a music video that is hilarious.  Maybe I’ve had a bit too much screen time!

At our last story hour we talked about germs.  We practiced sneezing and washing our hands.  We watched glitter pass from person to person on toys.   The book that day was Do Not Lick this Book, by  Idan Ben Barak and Julian Frost, a great book about microbes.   I think the main thing is to not frighten children during all this craziness.  Mr. Rogers said “Look for the helpers.”  They are already helping. 

One of my dad’s favorite saying was “This too will pass.”   He lived through the Depression and WWII, and said a final goodbye to his parents, brother, grandson, and good friends.   But it’s true,  no matter what our problem is, it will pass.  Most of us aren’t asked to lay our lives on the line like members of the armed forces, health care workers, or first responders.   We are just asked to stay home.  

Please remember that the library is closed through the end of March.  Also, please wait to return items, as they aren’t due until April 8^th.  If you need internet access, library wi-fi is available in the parking lot for your phone, tablet, or laptop.

There’s a saying that I hear frequently: “May you live in interesting times.”  Instead of being a statement, it is actually attributed to an old curse.  Well, it certainly is an interesting time!  See you when the library re-opens!

Story Time with Chione - A First Concert for Babies & Toddlers

Need to get out of the house?

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

What’s happening at the library this winter?  The adult winter reading program, a craft workshop for adults, teen programs, storytimes, and book clubs are available to get you out of the house this season.

Our adult winter reading program has started and runs through March 31st.  Book Your Winter Getaway is a program for adults to read and review books and earn prizes for it.  When you sign up at the front desk, you’ll get a tote bag, a punch card, and some book review forms.  Read books of your choice and fill out a short review form for each.  Audiobooks and e-books count, too!  When you bring in a review, we’ll mark your punch card.  When you’ve completed three, you can choose a prize.  When you’ve completed three more, we’ll put your name in a drawing for gift certificates to local businesses, sponsored by the Friends of the Litchfield Public Library.  The book reviews will be available at our front desk for anyone to read.

On Saturday, January 23nd, we’re offering a historical craft workshop for adults at 1 p.m.  The Minnesota Historical Society is teaching a class on making historical and modern valentines.  The class is free to attend since it is funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.  You will need to sign up in advance; stop in or call us at 693-2483 to put your name on the list.  Space is limited.

For teens, we offer an activity on the second Saturday of every month from 1:30-3:15.  When there’s a fifth Saturday in a month, like there is in January, we have a teen program that afternoon, as well.  Ages eleven to eighteen are welcome to join us on January 30th for a Minecraft building challenge: replicating the library building, something in the library, or a picture in a library book. 

Weekly storytimes have started up again after the holidays, running through May 14th.  On Wednesdays at 10:15, we have Toddler Time for babies through age two.  On Fridays, we have Preschool Storyhour at 10:00 for children age six and younger.  On the second Saturday of each month, we also have a storyhour at 10:00 - useful for families who can’t come on a weekday.  Older siblings are always welcome at all of the storytimes.

Book clubs happen at the library year-round, and you are welcome to hop in at any time.  The adult book club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at noon.  The book for the February meeting is Frog Music by Emma Donoghue.  Copies are on hand at our library to check out; just ask at the desk.

Mystery Book Club meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.  The book for February is The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny.  These books we order individually for people who regularly attend book club, so talk to Mary or Elisabeth if you’d like to get involved with that.

Book-to-Movie Club is for grades four through eight, although younger kids are welcome to attend if accompanied by an adult or older sibling.  On the second Monday of the month, they meet from 3:15 to 5:00 to talk about a book and watch a movie based on that book.  For February, they are reading A Wrinkle in Time.  Copies are available to check out at the front desk.

Beginners’ Book Club is for kids in grades one through three.  They meet on the third Thursday of the month from 3-4 p.m.  The book for the January 21^st meeting is Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year by Bill Harley.

We also have Brickhead Lego building nights on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a book sale every month on the third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Beat your cabin fever and come out for something that interests you at the library!

Thanksgiving

The library will be open until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25.  We will be closed for Thanksgiving.  We will be open normal hours on Friday, November 27, with storyhour at 10:00 a.m. as usual.

Santa Claus came to town!

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

Santa visited the library on Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 in the evening.  He was very popular!  Mrs. Pease stopped counting people at 207 and she thinks she must have missed a few who came in the door.  That may be our record for the largest number of people to come to an event at the library. 

The whole children’s department was full of excited young faces.  Mrs. Pease led them in chanting “Santa! Santa!” before the man himself emerged from the back room of the library, ringing his jingle bells. 

Santa sang his own version of “Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer”.  He read the book Is It Christmas Yet? by Jane Chapman.  Then the crowd divided up to make Christmas crafts and eat cookies in the meeting room or to take turns telling Santa what they want for Christmas.  Even with the huge crowd, everyone was very patient and polite in waiting their turn.  We have such nice families here. 

We did see new faces in the crowd, as well as library regulars.  We even set up a number of new library cards that night.   If you were visiting the library for the first time but had your hands full with little ones, stop back another day to apply for library cards and take another look around.

We're down to our last few storyhours of the month.  On Wednesday, December 10, we'll have our baby and toddler storytime at 10:15.  On Friday, December 12, we’ll have our preschool storyhour at 10:00.  And on Saturday, December 13, we’ll have our 2^nd Saturday storyhour at 10:00, as well.  Mrs. Pease is planning on holiday themes for those.  Then we’ll take a break from storyhours until January, since the holiday season is such a busy time.

We will be holding our monthly family movie night on Monday, December 22, at 6 p.m. in the children’s department.  We’ll be showing a kids’ Christmas movie about an army of elves.  It’s rated G and it’s just a little more than an hour and a half long.  Call the library if you’d like to know the name of the movie.

The monthly Friends of the Library book sale will be held on Saturday, December 20, from 10 to 4, with potential gifts for all ages.  Most of what we have for sale is donated by members of the community, and there really are some nice books and movies available.

The library will be closed on December 24 and 25 for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We will be open our regular hours the rest of that week.  We will close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and be closed on New Year’s Day.

Thank you to all of you who came to our Santa event and made it such a success.  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

No story hour on Watercade Saturday

We are cancelling our 2nd Saturday story hour for July because it would fall during the Watercade kiddie parade.  Enjoy Watercade and stop by our book sale between 10 and 4!

What was I thinking?

If you ask my husband why he wanted to marry me 32 years ago, he always answers,  “Because it seemed like a good idea at the time!”  So today I asked myself, “What was I thinking, to schedule so much for the second week of June?”  And the answer is, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Our heads are spinning.  Readers are already bringing in their reading records and receiving their first small prize. It may be a friendship bracelet or soft serve cone, a Dilly Bar or a small toy.  These amazing readers have already clocked four hours of reading this week alone.

The Kick-off for summer reading, Paws to Read, started Monday morning.  As of noon on Friday, 166 young people ages 3-17 had signed up to participate.    Children can join at any time.  They participate at their own pace, and keep track of their reading 15 minutes at a time, counting up to one hour per day.  Yes, I know that super readers read more than that, but we’re just counting one hour per day.  It’s not a race!

Toddler time got off to a great start.  I absolutely love trying to interpret “two-year-old” and I love these small children.  They love books!  They love to sing!  They love the library!  They love everything!

On Thursday Beginner’s Book Club discussed The Trouble with Chickens, by Doreen Cronin.  We all enjoyed the book.  It’s very funny, and children and adults enjoy Doreen Cronin’s dry wit. .  I predict that her books featuring the chicken squad will be in demand this summer. 

Brickheads Junior, a LEGO building club for children ages 4-7, began on Thursday evening;  21 kids and adults came.  The thing I enjoyed most was watching the parents interact with their children.  Brickheads Junior has taken over the display cabinet.  The children very carefully titled their creations with fantastic, creative names and were excited that they will be on display.

At this writing, the Second Saturday Story Hour is still to come.  The plan is that we will featureSpike, the Ugliest Dog in the Universe and do some doggie activities designed by award-winning author and illustrator Debra Frasier. 

On Friday, June 20^th, Professor Marvel will come to the library with his show “Amazing Aussie Adventures.”  He is a wonderful magician and always puts on a splendid program.

 This month’s Fun with 4-H is on the 25^th.  Darcy Cole will bring interesting and fun activities to the library to help children avoid boredom and summer slump.  It really is a great idea to plan all of these activities.  See you at the library!

Holiday schedule

We will be closed on the following holidays:
Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 25, Christmas
Wednesday, January 1, New Year's Day

We will be closing at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31.

We will be open regular hours all other days.

• No storytimes beginning this week until Saturday, January 14.

• No gaming night on Monday, December 23rd. It will be held on Monday, December 30.

• G.O.A.T. (high school teen advisory group) Christmas party will be held Monday, December 23rd, from 5-8 p.m.  Open to students in grades 9-12.  Please bring $5 for pizza; only hot chocolate will be provided.  Bring Christmas goodies if you wish.  Bring a white elephant gift to exchange. Wear your favorite holiday socks and hat.  We will be watching the movie Elf.

Santa! Nancy Carlson!

By Jan Pease

         

On December 12, the library welcomed a very special guest.  Children were enthralled as Santa read them a story and told them that he wanted them to spend as much time reading as they spend watching tv or playing video games.  He read the story Santa and the Three Bears and told and sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  Parents have posted many adorable pictures of their children after the event, and I put a few cute ones on the library Facebook page.  I lost count at about 80 people – kids of all ages and their parents. 

Many parents said that our Santa is the best one they’ve seen.  I thought about this after our event.  I think it’s because he is so real.  His warmth comes through to the children and parents, and if you pulled on his beard, you would hear a very real “ouch!”  I can put you in touch with his local manager if you like. 

Beginner Book Club celebrated the local production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by reading Barbara Robinson’s very funny book and watching the TV movie from 1986.  Several of the children in book club have roles in the play, and it was fun to watch them pick out their characters and say the lines.  The message of the book, movie, and play is there right in front of you without being preachy.  And I think our Litchfield Herdmans are the equal or better of the children in the movie. 

We enjoyed the last Toddler Time, Friday Story Time, and Saturday Story Time.  It’s time now for a break over the holidays and during what are usually the coldest days of winter.  Back in the day, these weeks were also when chickenpox would spread like wildfire through story hour children.   We still try to keep from spreading influenza and colds.  Wonderful volunteers actually wash our rhythm instruments to keep germs to a minimum.

                                                                             

We’ll start the New Year with our Saturday Story time on the 11th of January with a visit from author/illustrator Nancy Carlson.   She is the well-known and loved author of many picture books.  She will be our guest at the Once Upon a Time Story Time thanks to Minnesota Legacy funding.  Our regular programming will continue from January 14^th through May 10.  

Thanks again to the parents who made our Santa event such a success.  See you at the library!

Mark Your Calendars!

By Jan Pease

It’s time for the last children’s programs of 2013.  When I look at the calendar, I know it’s true, but I’m having difficulty believing it. There will be story time on November  29^th  for anyone who isn’t out shopping for bargains.  Sometimes we have a large group on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and sometimes it’s a tiny group. But we will still have fun.

December is crazy busy for most of us, and the library is no exception. 

December 4, 5, & 6 are regular Toddler Time, Bedtime Story, and Preschool Story Time.  We’ll share one of the new Christmas books that just arrived.  On December 9, I’ll visit the ECFE Santa time with a stack of Christmas books. I’m available to read to children, but it’s even more fun when moms or dads read to their little ones.  On December 10^th Darcy Cole will be at the library for Fun with 4-H, from 3-4:30.

December  12 at 3:00 p.m. is our Beginner Book Club.  We will talk about the book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever   and watch part of the movie that was based on Barbara Robinson’s book.   Several of the children in book club are in the play of the same title that will be presented at the Opera House on Dec. 14 and 15.

In the evening on December 12, Santa will come here to the library.  He will come at 6:00 and stay until  7:30.  Santa promised that he would read a story, sing a song or two, and be available for pictures.  An easy craft and cookies will be available in the meeting room.

December 13 at Preschool Story Time, we will read The House that Santa Built, by Dianne de Las Casas.  This rollicking book will be the perfect last book for Preschool Story Time.

 Once Upon a Time Story Time, our new preschool story  hour,  happens on   the 2^nd Saturday of each month.   On Saturday, December 14, at 10:00, The Gingerbread Boy will be featured.     

On December 19^th, the Intermediate Book Club, “Get Caught Reading,” will meet and discuss books that they like.  Since some avid readers attend this book club,  it could get interesting.   

January programs will start with a shazam!   Nancy Carlson, a well-known and well-loved children’s author and illustrator, will visit the library on January 11^th at 10:00.   All ages are invited to meet Ms. Carlson, who has visited Litchfield before.

Mark your calendars! Start your engines!  Synchronize  your watches and 

e-readers!  Celebrate the holidays at the library!

It's summer all over!

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

Summer programming in all of the Meeker County libraries is underway.  I manage the Grove City and Dassel public libraries as well as Litchfield, and our staff is running a Cosmos summer library program again this year.  You’ve heard about Litchfield’s summer programs from Jan in previous weeks.  I know that people who live in all parts of the county keep an eye on Litchfield media and visit our website, so let me tell you about what is happening in the other communities.

All three of the other towns are offering the “Dig Into Reading” summer reading program for kids ages three to eleven or twelve.  At Dassel, the teen program is “Groundbreaking Reads” like it is at Litchfield, and at Grove City it’s called “Beneath the Surface”.  It works basically the same at all of our locations: 1) sign up and get a book bag and a reading log; 2) fill out the reading log to track your reading time; 3) turn in completed reading logs to earn prizes, all summer long. 

If you get a chance, stop in to the Grove City library this month to see their cute garden exhibit in the corner of the children's area.  They plan to change the decorating theme each month to other fun digging-related things.

Grove City is offering special “Dig Into Reading” programs on four Mondays this summer: June 24, July 8, July 22, and August 12, from 1:30 to 2:15.  They also will be holding three “Dig Into 4-H Fun @ the Library” programs on Mondays.  Two have already happened in June, but one more will be held on July 15. 

Grove City has some great teen programs that happen all year round, with a group of regulars who like to get together.  They’d love to welcome more people!  Margaret leads it and she is so much fun.  There are two more “teen nites” happening this summer: Monday, July 15, and Monday, August 19, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.  They’ve also just started a manga/anime club.  That group will meet again on Monday, July 1, and Monday, August 5, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. 

The Dassel library has a storyhour every Friday morning at 10:00, year-round.  This summer the June storyhours have a gardening theme.  In July and early August, the themes will be archaeology, dinosaurs, and mummies, and machines that dig.  A bit later in August, the theme will be burrowing animals.  Elisabeth reads stories, sings songs, and leads the kids in playing rhythm instruments, and some weeks the kids make a craft.  If you live in the Dassel area, have young kids, and haven’t gone to that storyhour in the past year, you should come and see what a fun program Elisabeth does.

If you missed Professor Marvel’s Amazing Archaeological Adventure at Litchfield, you can catch it at the Dassel library on Monday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m.  It really was amazing!  Professor Marvel had the crowd of 150 people laughing: kids, adults, and even teens.  It’s very entertaining and I highly recommend it.  It’s free to attend and you don’t need to sign up.

The Minnesota Zoomobile will be presenting programs at both the Litchfield and Dassel libraries on Wednesday, August 21.  There will be live animals to learn about!  It will be fun for the whole family and free to attend. 

We are offering a summer program at the former Cosmos Elementary building again this year.  It began last week and runs through July.  Every Tuesday from 4-6 p.m., Jennifer from Grove City Library and Elle from Litchfield Library will be there with bins of children’s books to borrow, prizes to pick up for turning in reading logs, stories to listen to, and crafts to do.  Kids of all ages are welcome, as well as their parents and caregivers with them.  We are setting up a couple of special programs in July that we’ll be announcing soon.

Whichever of these towns you can get to this summer, keep the kids reading and busy by visiting the library!

I'm the Number One Fan of the Man from ... Illinois!

By Jan Pease

Oh my goodness!  Mr. Jim Gill will be HERE in Litchfield Friday evening May 3 at 7:00 for a free concert at the Litchfield Middle School gym.  Thanks to Litchfield Early Childhood Initiative, the Kindergarten teachers, and Litchfield ECFE, who have joined with Litchfield Library to provide this incredible event. Mr. Gill is in town to speak at the Minnesota Kindergarten Teachers’ Conference, and has agreed to provide a concert for families the evening of May 3.

Jim Gill, an award-winning musician and author, offers more than a show to watch.  Each concert is an opportunity for family play!  In concert, Jim strums energetic rhythms on his banjo while everyone claps, sings, dances and even sneezes along to the silly and inspiring musical games that he creates.

This year's Family Room Tour celebrates Jim’s five awards, over 20 years, from the American Library Association….the same organization that famously grants the Caldecott and Newberry awards for books.  This unprecedented string of awards includes a 2012 honor for his most recent release, Music Play for Folks of All Stripes. 

Jim Gill’s distinctive music play creates a family room in the concert hall.  Come and join in the fun! 

Jim Gill is a musician and author with unique credentials among children's artists.  Jim is a child development specialist, completing his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play.  For this reason, each of Jim's recordings and books is created as an opportunity for playful interactions between a child and a caring adult.  Anyone who has experienced one of Jim's family concerts knows that rather than performing for the children and parents, Jim leads them to sing and play together.

Jim has released six award-winning CDs of music play for young children that are favorites in family rooms, classrooms and playrooms.  Jim is also the author of two children's books.  His latest, A Soup Opera, is a sing-along opera inspired by concerts that Jim performs with symphony orchestras.  The book received an American Library Association award in 2010.

I hope that parents and kids will participate in the playground build, and then come on Friday night at 7 for an evening of fun.  Thanks, Mr. Gill, for this press release, and for coming to our town on your Family Room Tour.

Snakes Invade Library!!!

 By Jan Pease

At story hour on February 15, in honor of the Chinese New Year, we read “The Great Race” and we made snake finger puppets to celebrate the Year of the Snake.  My group of little boys carefully colored and decorated their snakes, and then we all talked together in little snake voices.  It reminded me again of the wonder of working with young children.  Remember that on Fridays, through May 10^th, Preschool Story hour features singing, movement, at least one book and a simple project.  Even the younger siblings proudly made their snakes today. 

Occasionally I sing a cowboy song at story hour.  I don’t know why those have stayed with me; most of them were songs I learned to sing while learning simple guitar chords when I was about 15.    “Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy,” written and illustrated by Jan Thomas, is one of our new books.  This very funny book includes the link to hear the cowboy sing his lullaby.  Children will also find several fun activities just for them at www.janthomasbooks.com.

   

I love to read book reviews posted online, and I find it interesting to see that a book that gets only “one star” may be given “five stars” by someone else.  “See Me Run,” written and illustrated by Paul Meisel, is one of those books.    This story of dogs romping and running around who dig up the skeleton of a huge dinosaur is very funny .   The “I Like to Read” series includes short texts, familiar vocabulary, repetition to reinforce learning, and illustrations that are designed to be a part of the learning experience.  This information is found on the publisher’s website, holidayhouse.com.  “See Me Run” received the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor award in 2012. 

Eve Bunting also has a new book for beginning readers, “Frog’s Flying Adventures.”  This is her fourth book in the “Frog and Friends” series, part of the I Am a Reader imprint from Sleeping Bear Press.   Check out the website at www.I-Am-A-Reader.com for activities and strategies to help  your beginning reader.  “Frog’s Flying Adventures” is a level 2 book, for grades 1-2. 

Rosemary Wells was inspired by her two daughters for the “Max and Ruby” books, and now her five granddaughters are giving her new stories to tell.  “Time-out for Sophie” introduces a new character, Sophie, an adorable little mouse who has to take time out again and again because of her behavior.  When Grandma takes a time out from Sophie, the lesson finally sinks in and Sophie’ behavior changes for the better.  (Until the final page. ) 

These picture books are waiting for you at Litchfield Public Library!  I hope to see you there!

News from the Land of Story Time

By Jan Pease

Friday Story Hour had a special guest on October 19th. My dog, Harley came for a visit. We sang songs with rhythm instruments, read the book, “Duffy Time” and talked a little about dogs. Our daughter took a class at State Cloud State that explained how to use different methods to train animals. Harley is very stubborn, but is extremely food-motivated. Harley knows several cute behaviors, and is very willing to do them: for a treat. This was his third or fourth visit to the library. Harley loves coming, but now thinks he should always come to work with me. For our project, I used this picture of Harley himself, which I turned into a coloring sheet. It’s amazing what you can do with a computer.

On Thursday night the 25th, we used the book, “Tell Me About Your Day Today,” by Mem Fox. We used our words to talk about what we saw, heard, smelled, and tasted that day. On Thursday nights, Story Hour is a family event, starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 7:30 with a good night song. We try to keep it gentle, don’t dance or get crazy, and hope that it’s a nice winding down of a busy day.

On Friday the 26th we used the book, “Mice,” by Rose Fyleman, with illustrations by the great Lois Ehlert. We used shapes to create our own mice. Some of the children used precut shapes; yes, that is what I was doing at the desk with scissors and brightly colored foam. Other children used scissors to cut their own shapes. The Friday Story Hours are planned for children 3-5, but younger children can usually do our art projects with a little help from mom or dad.

“Mice” did double duty because it was also the book for Toddler Time. Toddler time is a fun story hour on Wednesday mornings from 10:15 to 10:45. Babies are very welcome at toddler time and they enjoy being with the 2 and 3 year olds. Older siblings are always welcome. We don’t do projects, but always sing and dance and read a book. “Mice” was a wonderful book to use for children of different ages. The story line was very simple, but could be expanded based on the illustrations that show the tools Ms. Ehlert used to make the collages in this enchanting book.

Fun with 4-H will be in full swing in November, when Darcy Cole will be here on November 29th. Bring your friends and join us for this great afterschool event, which starts at about 3:15. Elementary Book Club (2nd Tuesday), Middle School Book Club (3rd Tuesday) and High School Book Club (4th Tuesday, December date to be announced) provide a book club experience for students in grades 3 through high school. There is always room at the book club table for more people who love books.

Our story hours are fun, but they are also an important foundation for literacy. This fall, fifty to sixty children visit the library each week for story times. Of course, there is always room on the story hour rug for another child who loves books.

Thank You,Thank You, Thank You!

By Jan Pease
August 2, 2012

Miss Manners wrote, in her column that runs in the Star Tribune, that it really isn’t difficult to write thank you notes. Well, this is a gigantic thank you note to some of the people who have helped make this one of the most amazing summers in my years at Litchfield Library.


Many dedicated parents have brought children weekly to library programs. Reading calendars are coming in so fast I’ve lost count. We have to put them in a box because my cute little basket filled so quickly. 299 young people, preschool through teens, have signed up to participate in reading throughout the summer. Thanks to all of the families who have encouraged their children to keep reading through the summer. I haven’t added up our total attendance at library programs, but attendance has remained steady throughout the summer.

Our Monday trips to Cosmos for our “Little Bit of Library” will end with a party in the Cosmos Park, at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday, August 6th. I plan to be there at about 6, and hope for a slightly cooler evening than the past few Mondays. Peace Lutheran Church graciously extended their hospitality to us, and the cool building was a life saver. They have really cold water, too. Thank you so much, Pastor Marlaine and congregation.

The WonderWeavers, Tina Rhode and Colleen Shaskin, ventured all the way to Cosmos and were, well, wonderful. I asked the children what professional storytellers do. Tina and Colleen kept the children and parents involved and entertained, and afterward the children said, “They tell stories!” Tina and Colleen tell some of the best.

Thanks to the Litchfield office of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for providing wildlife experts who brought excellent programs to Cosmos and Litchfield. I just couldn’t get the Litchfield kids excited about the word “crepuscular,” but will keep trying.( By the way, mosquitoes are crepuscular insects.) Thanks again to the Wildlife Wizard and to Bridget for telling us about the work that you do.

The Willmar Stingers came to visit, charming our story time kids and thrilling the baseball fans who attended that day. The PAK parents presented their program “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” inspiring us all to be more aware of our carbon footprint. The “Tomato Story Time,” presented by Joan Olson of the “One Vegetable One Community” project was really entertaining. I’ve probably left out someone, so if I have, please consider yourself thanked.
Story times are not offered in August. Book clubs will meet on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays, as usual. On August 23 at 3 p.m., the library will host Professor Marvel’s Dream Machines. Magician Robert Halbrook designs a new show every year for the Cooperative Summer Reading Program. He always amazes, and always encourages kids to enjoy reading.

Reading Records can be turned in through the end of August, and certificates will be available at the children’s desk for everyone who participated. Thanks for a great summer!

Get Ready, Get Set, Synchronize Your Calendars!

By Jan Pease

Mark your calendars! This will be another exciting summer of activities at the Litchfield Library. The theme this summer is “Dream Big, Read.” Brian Lies did the artwork, and bats are featured prominently. We’re happy to have our own bat, Belvedere, who will be hanging around through the summer months.

The kickoff for summer reading is Monday, June 4, from 3-7 p.m. This is a change from our usual schedule, but we’re anxious to have our readers get started. Readers can sign up to participate and be rewarded for reading, make something to bring home, and have a picture taken with Belvedere.

Summer Book Clubs are moving to Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Elementary Book Club will be on the 2nd Tuesdays, Middle School Book Club book club will be on the 3rd Tuesdays, and our new Teen Book Club will be on the 4th Tuesdays.

Thursdays will be very busy in June and July this year. Thursdays @ the Library start at 3 p.m., and we’ll be done by 4:30. Something different is planned each week for students in grades K-5, including Fun with 4-H, special guests, storytelling, and more.

Wednesdays and Fridays will continue to be our story hour days, with toddlers coming on Wednesdays and Preschoolers coming on Friday. If families come on Thursday nights, we will read bedtime stories, the same stories used on Friday mornings.

Here is what’s planned for June:

June 4 3-7 p.m. Kickoff for Summer Reading!

June 6 10:15 a.m. Toddler Time “A Wishing Story Time”

June 7 3:00 p.m. Thursday@ the Library: “What Kind of Genie are YOU?”

June 7& 8 7 p.m. & 10:00 a.m. “Bats Story Time”

June 12 3 p.m. Elementary Summer Book Club

June 13 10:15 a.m. Toddler Time: “Goodnight Moon”

June 14 3:00-4:00 Thursday @ the Library: Fun with 4-H

June 14 & 15 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. “Night Night Animal Sleepover” (bring a toy that will sleep over)

June 19 3 p.m. Middle School Book Club

June 20 10:15 a.m. Toddler Time “Owls: Who Hoots?”

June 21 3 p.m. Thursday @ the Library: Guests! PAK- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

June 21 7:00 p.m. “Bats @ the Ballgame” Story Time

June 22 10:00 a.m. Story Time Guests! Willmar Stingers Baseball Team!

June 26 3 p.m. Teen Book Club “Defect” by Will Weaver

June 27 10:15 a.m. Toddler Time “What’s New? Story Time”

June 28 3 p.m. Thursday @ the Library: Fun with 4-H

June 28 & 29 10:00 a.m. “Counting Sheep” Story Time

And more is planned for the month of July! See you at the library!

Find an event you'd enjoy at the library

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

As spring continues on, our library events do, too. If you’re a reader, a gamer, or a knitter, mark your calendar for our ongoing groups and one-time special events.

We’re hosting a reception to congratulate Nancy Paddock on her Minnesota Book Award win. Join us in the meeting room on Saturday, April 28, from 2-3 p.m. Nancy will speak for part of the time and will otherwise be available to talk with people. We’ll serve refreshments. This is a big deal in the world of books in Minnesota, so we need to celebrate.

4-H at the Library meets after school on Thursday, April 26. It’s open to kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. Darcy from the Meeker County Extension Service always has a variety of fun and educational activities for the kids to do, and it’s free to attend. Through the school year, we host this on the fourth Thursday of every month. We’ll have it a couple of times this summer, too; watch for our summer schedule to find out when.

I’m going to reduce game night to one Monday a month plus some Saturday events. Look for our choose-a-game night, with a selection of chess sets, board games, and card games, on the first Monday of the month from 6:30 – 8 p.m. This means no game night on April 30th; come on May 7th.

We’ve had an enthusiastic response to our Dungeons & Dragons nights with requests for more time to play, so we had a Saturday afternoon event on April 21. We’ll do it again on Saturday, May 19, from noon to 4 p.m. If you enjoy making up stories along the lines of Lord of the Rings and the Drizzt Do’Urden books, or if you like to play World of Warcraft, you might find it fun. It’s very social but much more slow-moving than a video game, and you have to use your imagination.

Knitting club is still meeting on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 4:30-5:30. Their next meeting is May 3rd.

The next meeting of the after-school book club is Thursday, May 10th. They’re reading Mary Poppins this month. This group is for 3rd through 5th graders.

Story times will continue through May 11th. At that time we’ll have a break of a few weeks while Jan hosts elementary school class visits and we get ready for the summer reading program. We are getting all set for summer already.

One last note about something that isn’t an event: I have a survey running through April 30th on how ebooks are affecting the use of print books. If you’re an ebook reader, whether you check them out or buy them, I’d love it if you took the survey. You can follow the hyperlink at the beginning of this paragraph to the online survey or you can pick up a paper copy at our front desk. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to take the survey.