Problems with our website

Our catalog is having some issues.  You cannot sign into your account, request items, or do keyword searches.  If you stop in or call us with your library card, we can renew and request items for you from the library side of the software.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

This 'n That

By Jan Pease

A very large tree has sprouted near the children’s desk.  It is a book display celebrating the summer reading theme, “Dig Into Reading,” one of the largest and most dramatic displays ever seen at the Litchfield library.  A giant flag on the east wall of the children’s department is titled “Where Do You Read?”   If you give us a picture of yourself reading in your favorite spot, we will put it up on the wall.  Digger the mole is hiding here and there in the children’s department, and children are guessing how many gummy worms are in the jar.  Summer things are already happening here, even if our patrons come in wearing hoodies and jackets.  Come in, get your children signed up for summer reading, and help them avoid summer reading loss.  Math worksheets are also available at the children’s desk, because children lose even more of their math skills over the summer break. 

As a younger mom, I didn’t understand how much students lost over the summer.  We always tried to get out daughter outside and doing.  She seemed to do all right in school, and usually tested right at grade level.  Now that I know that students usually lose about 2.6 months of math advancement over the summer, I know that I should have been very diligent about that during the summer.  Reading wasn’t as much of an issue at our house, because when our daughter discovered our  treasure trove of history books, she read at a college level without knowing it.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss.  

Please give your children the gift of experiences this summer.  Visits to the library, to museums, to parks, to plays or musicals, talking to older people in your family all provide rich memories that will stay in the hearts of your children forever.

Classes visited the library the final weeks of May and first week of June.  I visited Ripley School to make up for a visit cancelled by the weather, and also had the privilege of visiting the Kindergarten classes.  We enjoyed reading Mo Willems’ new book, “That is NOT a Good Idea.”   Students read the book aloud with me, especially as my voice became weary.  The anticipated ending of the book is that the goose becomes a key ingredient in soup, but Mr. Willems gives it a twist.  The goose shoves the fox into the pot and serves her children fox soup.  Perhaps it was a little too twisted for the youngest students, but they laughed and laughed.   

On a personal note, I’m enjoying rehearsals for a reader’s theater presentation of “Steel Magnolias,” which will be presented June 22nd at 7 and June 23rd at 3 at the Litchfield Opera House.  I am honored to be among a circle of friends gathered together by Carole Wendt.  I love to act, but have trouble learning lines and songs these days.  To be honest, moving around onstage is also a problem for me.   So reader’s theater is perfect.   The challenge of finding a character’s voice and becoming that person, without makeup and costumes, can be difficult, but it’s rewarding.  Ya’ll come over to the opera house and see us, y’hear?

Come to our summer reading magic show today!

This is a super-fun reading-themed magic show for kids of all ages.  Dig Into Reading!

Dig Into Reading and Groundbreaking Reads -- Summer reading programs begin today

Dig Into Reading!

Our summer reading program begins today, but you can sign up anytime, all summer.  Sign up at the children's department desk and get a book bag and a reading log to start keeping track of your reading time this summer.  Open to ages 3-17.

Back to normal!

Our computer system is back up and running as normal.

You may see a slight delay in your items being checked in if you returned them in the past two days, as we catch up.  Anything returned Monday night through early this morning will be checked in as though it was returned on Monday.

Continued limited service

Our computer system is still down this morning.  We hope to return to full service soon.  Thank you for your continued patience!

Minimal library service today

Due to a software upgrade, we will have limited library service available today, Tuesday, June 4.

The public computers will be working, including internet access.  Our wifi will be available.  You will be able to take books, CDs, and movies off the shelf and check them out.

We will not be able to access your record, look up information about books and other materials, order items, renew your items, create library cards, or collect fines.  Books returned today will be checked in as though they were returned yesterday.

You will not be able to access the library catalog or your record or our e-book service.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.