Happenings at the Library
BY STEPH STEVENS
LM Public Library Director
April is host to our favorite celebration of the year—National Library Week—but we aren’t limiting the festivities to just one week, as we have incredible programs lined-up all month long. Read all about them below and make sure to stop in and check one or all of them out.
Our Adult Winter Reading Program is winding down, but you still have until the end of the month to get your bookmarks turned in. Every five books read earns a small prize and enters you to win one of our grand prizes. Grand prizes will be Chamber Bucks to use around town.
Adults, join us Wednesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. for our free monthly Adult Craft Night. Our craft will be a coffee filter flower with a twine center. Please bring your own hot glue gun, but all other supplies will be provided. Can’t wait to get crafty.
On Wednesday, April 3, at 5:30 p.m. we are excited to have Sarah Uthoff present a program on famous author and pioneer, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Uthoff is a respected authority on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life. She has been a regular speaker at Laura Ingalls Wilder Remembered at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, West Branch, and continues as the keynote speaker at Laura Days at Laura’s birthplace in Pepin Wis.
Uthoff will be presenting “Packing Up: the Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder.” Come be transported back in time to 1894. Life hasn’t been easy for pioneer Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. Since she married her Manly, they’ve tried to farm in South Dakota, Minn., and even Florida, but they’ve met problem after problem. Now having saved up a stake to start again in the land of the big, red apple, Mansfield, Mo., Laura is packing up to leave De Smet for the last time. Each artifact in the old trunk holds a story and Laura will share them with you. After the program, you can ask Uthoff those pressing Laura questions that you’ve always wanted to know.
This program has received funding from Humanities Iowa, a private, non-profit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. A cultural resource for Iowans since 1971, Humanities Iowa offers many cultural and historical programs and grants to Iowa’s communities. This event is free, open to the public, and is for all ages. Please call with any questions.
On April 4, school’s out early and we will be showing the movie “Peter Rabbit” at 12:30 p.m. Join us as we project the movie on the big screen with free popcorn and juice box for everyone in attendance.
The boredom busters keep coming as we celebrate National Library Week April 7-13. All week long we will have our prize drop board set up. Each time you come into the library, you will get a chance to win prizes. Additionally, we have a program set for each day of the week. There is something for all ages.
Monday, April 8, Dwight will have a special pajama story time at 5 p.m. Come dressed in your PJ’s and be ready to listen to stories, play, and have a snack.
Barb Godfrey from Hospice of North Iowa will be here Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. to give a presentation about hospice services available in our area. She will explain the benefits of earlier education and the advantage of inviting them to help earlier in the process. Coffee and refreshments will be served.
We are ecstatic about hosting Abby Brown from IPTV to kick-off our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, Wednesday April 10, at 5:15 p.m. Abby will be chatting about IPTV’s Kids Clubhouse Adventures and reading a couple books. We will also have free kid book giveaways throughout the event.
We will also be kicking off our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program that night, due to a grant received from the United Way of North Central Iowa. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is a free, nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their newborns, infants, or toddlers. This program is open to any child from birth to kindergarten and after each 100 books are read the child receives a prize including free books at the 100, 500, and 1,000 book milestones. Stop into the library to get your child signed up and pick up your first reading log. One thousand books might seem like a lot, but think of it this way, if you read just three books a night, you will finish the program in a year and you can count the same book over and over. If you are unable to attend the event, stop into the library any time and get your little one signed up.
Thursday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m., send the kids over for a wood painting workshop. We will be painting wood boards with the quotes “Be Silly” and “Be Kind” that each child will be able to take home. This event is open for children of all ages.
Friday, April 12, we will play Book Bingo from 3:30-4:30. Winners will receive a free book along with a small treat. Plus, we will be serving popcorn all afternoon. All ages are welcome to join us for this fun family activity.
Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m., we will be hosting our very first Fancy Nancy Tea Party. We will read Fancy Nancy books, have a tea party, photo booth, and fashion crafts. As an option, come dressed up in your favorite fancy clothes and let’s revel that’s fancy for party.
Just because National Library Week is over, doesn’t mean the fun stops. We will be celebrating no school Friday, April 19, with spring crafts and an egg hunt. Activities will be available all day from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., so stop in anytime to join the fun.
Don’t forget about our collaboration with ISU Extension to host STEM programs once a month. We still have three STEM programs to be held Wednesdays, March 27, April 24, and May 22. The programs will feature rainbows, towers, and roller coasters. Can’t wait to see what the kids can create using their STEM skills.
Dwight has kicked-off his Monday night spring toddler storytimes. Each week he will be featuring different community helpers from librarians, to fire fighters, to doctors, and garbage men. Monday night storytime runs weekly through April 15 starting at 5 p.m. and lasts roughly a half hour.
Miss Betty’s Library Lambs is every Wednesday morning at 10:15 a.m. Miss Betty reads stories, provides crafts and activities, songs, and offers a snack for all the little ones who join her every week. She always has something fun planned from a beach party in the middle of winter to wacky Wednesday activities. If you get a chance, make sure to bring your little for this fun-filled morning—we always love to see new faces.
Did you know that you can now view historical issues of the Lake Mills Graphic from our website? Through a generous grant from the Lake Mills Foundation, we were able to make issues available from 1892-1969. This resource is available at the touch of your fingertips, 24/7 in the comfort of your own home. No need for a library card with this one, just head on over to our website: http://www1.youseemore.com/NILC/LakeMills/ and click on the Lake Mills Graphic icon to enter the database and get started. Happy hunting.
