Extreme Makeover for Our Library Loving Fish!

Spring is here and with spring comes thoughts of spring cleaning and decorating. Our fish are no exception! You'll be noticing some changes to our fish tank starting this week. Perhaps they got some ideas from Pinterest (maybe they took the class at the library?) or talked to some of their fish friends, but their digs are getting an upgrade!

Please excuse our "hard hat area" and rest assured that the fish are in good hands and will be happily overlooking the remodel. We are expecting to unveil their new habitat, including the plan to "go natural" by having living coral put into the aquarium on Friday, May 24th.

If you haven't been here lately, now's a great time to stop by with the kids and show them the new design. The picture to the left shows the fish you can see in our tank.

New Museum Pass Program

We have exciting news coming out of the library this week.  Not only will our Museum Pass program be continuing, but we have a new sponsor and pass participant... LegoLand!!!!

We are so happy to be able to continue to offer this program, and we couldn't have done it without them.  As before, your family will be able to check out one pass to a museum per 7 day period and each pass is good for 7 days.  We hope that you find time to stop in and get your pass, and check out all of the other museums we offer passes to.  You and your family could have a great day out of the house.  For information on the Museum Pass program and to see the new website and updated participants, look here. 

Love of Books!

We LOVE books! In honor of Valentine's Day, the Youth Services staff was thinking of some of the books we just love and love to recommend to readers of all ages.

Cheryl's all time favorite book is The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. A huge fan of mysteries, this puzzle kept her in the dark the whole time. Of course, any new book by Rick Riordan is a must read!

Courtney is in love with Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach. She'll recommend that book to anyone looking for a great mystery. She credits that book for sparking her interest in Anne Boleyn and wanting to explore more of the world the author wrote about.

Stephanie loves Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. It's a not a kids book but a wonderful book for adults looking for a great read. She also loves Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems. It's a hilarious picture book made even more funny by the name of the other main character: Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie.

Liz has passed her love of reading to her children. Liz's daughter Olivia loves Tinker Bell and Disney princesses so their family is checking out tons of Disney books. Liz is making sure to check out Early Readers for her to read as well as Polish books too. Right now, Olivia is enjoying listening to Dzwonwczek by Natalia Rybicka, which is Tinker Bell in Polish. You can find this picture book with an audio CD in the Polish language section.

Liz's other daughter Emilia loves Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin. Liz and her make sure to read that book every day. If you want to read this book to your children, you can find it in the Picture Book section. 

We all might have different tastes in books but one thing is certain--we all love books! What books do you and your children currently love?

Summer Volunteer Wrap Up

Now that Summer Reading Club is over we can take a huge deep breath--aaahh! Summer Reading Club is the most exciting time for our department, but it can also be the most tiring. However we have a huge help to us--our amazing teen volunteers!

We had 59 absolutely amazing, dedicated volunteers this summer. They range from 7th grade to high school seniors. They went through training to learn how to sign up kids using our new computer system. They had 2 hour shifts that they came to each week, ready to get kids excited about reading. They helped out at programs, refilled the book cart, and brought tons of enthusiasm and energy to our floor.

We celebrated our volunteers at our end of the summer party on Wednesday. Domino's donated delicious pizza and Potbelly's gave us fantastic sandwiches to feed our hungry volunteers. The teens got a chance to celebrate themselves as we congratulated them on a job well done. All our teens did an incredible job but we did pass out some awards to a few teens who went above and beyond, were extra enthusiastic, or were our super smiley volunteers. We honestly can't thank them enough!!

If you think your teen might be interested in helping out next year for Summer Reading, applications will go out in April and you can always check on the Kidding Around blog for a post announcing our call for volunteers.

If your teen is looking for service credit hours for school this year, they can still be a volunteer in the Youth Services department! Applications will go out on September 1st. Teens have to be in grades 6th-12th and have to be able to commit to doing 8 hours total (not in one day of course!). There's different jobs to be done depending on the needs of the department, but they can range from: folding brochures, making craft samples, assisting at programs, and general cleaning.

Want to know more about the volunteer program? You can (or better yet, have your teen) call us at the library. Our number is 847.376.2839 and we'd love to answer your questions.

Thanks again to our terrific teens! We hope that you guys decide to share your talents with us again next summer!

That's a WRAP!

2011 was a year of great gifts for the Des Plaines Public Library Youth Services Department. We were able to do some moving, some rearranging, some purchasing of new furniture; all to help make your visits to the Youth Services Department more accessible and enjoyable. Many of our collections have been consolidated, expanded, or moved to new locations to better serve you and we have some exciting new things we hope you will enjoy.

Some of these new developments you can see for yourself. The first thing you may notice when you next visit the 2nd floor is the new wall of magazines on display. Where this wall used to hold only the most current issue of your favorite kids magazines, now all the issues are right there, ready to go home with you. Each magazine has its own container so they are easy to locate. Magazines are great for trips to the grocery store, rides in the car, or any time.

Make sure you check out the new and improved Holiday collection. What does it mean if there is no shadow on Groundhog Day? Want to make a great Hanukkah potato latke? Need a good story to share with your child's class at the Chinese New Year? It's so easy to find the answers with newly arranged shelves that are clearly labeled and books identified with holiday stickers.

We got some new chairs! They are bright, sturdy, attractive, and mobile. Both adults and children who have had an opportunity to sit in them comment on how nice and comfortable they are.

When asked if they liked the new chairs, this group of boys answered, "Yeah."

Another addition is our beautiful new LEGO table

outfitted with duplo blocks, perfect for little hands and big imaginations. Imaginative play is an essential part of building early literacy skills. Come play at the table with your young children and create buildings or animals or anything you wish. This memorial table was made possible in part by a generous gift from the family of former library staff and Youth Services team member Judy Reiss, who passed away in 2010.

There is a new section just for Graphic Novels, new shelving for movies and music in the Foreign Language collection, the audio books on CD have moved and expanded, and there's so much more!

We give many thanks to the pages of the Circulation Department who planned and plotted and dusted and measured and moved so many items. We also give many thanks to the Technical Services Department staff who re-moved, re-cataloged, and re-stickered so much of our collection. And I want to thank the staff of the Youth Services Department who worked hard, organized projects, communicated with other departments, waited (mostly) patiently, and celebrated the gifts we were given this year.

Please come and visit us at the library soon to see the many additions and changes that have come to the department in 2011. Have a happy New Year, and we will look forward to seeing you and dreaming up more new projects for the library in 2012.

3rd Annual FAMILY SCIENCE EXPO

Blinded by science? No way!
The Des Plaines Public Library's 3rd annual Family Science Expo is this Saturday, September 24. The event is open house, so come any time between noon and 4 p.m. to see exhibits, demonstrations, robotics, science experiments in action, and to try your own hand at construction challenges and generating electricity. This event is geared toward children in grades 2-8, but will be fun for the entire family.

A dozen different science organizations and engineering associations will be on hand to talk to you and your kids about what they do and how they do it. Our guest exhibitors include structural, civil, and chemical engineers; young, budding scientists from Des Plaines; the Civil Air Patrol, and others.

New this year, bring your old, unwanted bicycles to the library during this event for donation to Working Bikes Cooperative, a non-profit organization that recycles old bikes and delivers them to developing countries to be used as tools of empowerment.

Also new this year, ChiBots, the Chicago Area Robotics Group, will be demonstrating some of their latest robot creations.

Last year over 400 kids and parents visited the Expo. Don't miss out on this fabulously fun, free, and educational activity.

tweet tweet - I am not a bird.

Have you noticed something new?  On the right side of the page, you might notice our 'News from YS' column.  This is directly fed from our newest twitter account.  Anything from a great book we read, to an event in the community, to happenings or general announcements from the library... you will find it all there.  You can look at the last 10 tweets every time you read the blog OR for more up-to-the-minute updates, you can follow us with your own twitter account by clicking on the 'follow me' blue bird.  

Whatever you do, make sure you stay informed!

Are your children getting excited?!?

With the release of the newest and final Harry Potter movie, and its British premiere yesterday, your children are probably getting excited.  You may have sat with your children as your family read the first Harry Potter books aloud, or listened to them on a long car trip to a family vacation, or you may just know them through the movies.  Whatever the way you became familiar with Mr. Potter, there is no denying it... there is something about that kid.

If your family is getting as excited about movie 7.2, bring them in to the library on Tuesday, July 12th.  From 5:30 to 8:30 in the evening, we are having our Harry Potter Party where they can decorate their own wand, finger knit a house scarf, play in our Quidditch cup relay races, and enter the raffle to win one of our awesome wand making books.  During the party, the program Hidden Harry Potter will be going on in Friends rooms B and C on the first floor for adults and families with children 10 and up.  Movie expert Steven Frenzel will take you through the movies of Harry Potter to show you the hidden meaning behind the sets, lines, and what you can't see 'behind the scenes'.

While you are in, check out one of the books or Tony Award winning Audiobooks and share them with your family.  Start your own Harry Potter family tradition if it hasn't already been started.

Miss the Preschool Fair?

If you missed the Annual Preschool Fair here at the Des Plaines Public Library in January and can't wait until next year's fair, don't fret... we compile our Preschool Resource Guide straight from the information gathered at the fair.  Stop in at the desk and ask to see it - you can copy anything you need.  

If you want a better look at the area preschools, feel free to contact their director.  Many schools and day cares have Open Houses during the summer to show parents what their child's day will be like.  Any school or day care that doesn't have an Open House in the summer will be happy to show you around any time and let you observe a class.

If you would like a list of preschools in the Des Plaines area, you can stop in to the library or take a look at our website here.

Getting Closer!

Yesterday started the first day that kids could start coming in for Summer Reading Club prizes! It's been wonderful watching them get so excited about reading.  In case you haven't signed up yet, stop in to register your child or children.  

As your child reads, they can get a medieval scroll filled with all kinds of coupons for: Mexico Restaurant, Auntie Annie's Pretzels, Game Works, Kane County Cougars, and many more (for kids over 3), or a rubber ducky dressed as a knight, princess, dragon, or king (for kids under 3).

Stop in and join in on the fun - and grab our program guide so you can plan out your summer filled with Medieval Fun!

A Midsummer Knight's Read: Summer Reading Club 2011

Lords! Ladies!

Welcome the dawn of a new Summer Reading Club!

Registration begins June 4, 2011.

What a great opportunity to exercise your brain. During a time of year when we take for granted the physical activity we give our bodies...biking, swimming, all kinds of outdoor play...sometimes we neglect to exercise the most important part of our body - our BRAIN! Bring your children to sign up beginning June 4th to participate.  They can read by themselves or be read to and earn great prizes along the way.

The Summer Reading Club comes in two parts. Reading is it's own reward, but there are also tons of fun programs happening at the library this summer. This year's theme, A Midsummer Knight's Read, will explore both the facts and the fantasy of the medieval world. We will learn about kings, queens, princes, and princesses. We will make catapults and fairy wings. We will talk and dress like they did in the days of Shakespeare. It's going to be a summer of Medieval Madness!

We will be kicking off the Summer Reading Club on June 4th with a Marvelous Medieval Faire. Join us for this open house between 1-4 p.m. where there will be crafts, entertainment, treats, music, and more. After the fun is done here at the library, head over to Potbelly in Metropolitan Square for dinner to take part in our fundraiser! The library will receive a portion of the proceeds from all purchases made between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m.

Wedding Excitement!

One of our own is getting married! Today our Preschool Liaison librarian, Courtney, is tying the knot. While she's been excited about getting married for a while now, one of the things she might be happiest about is having her two nieces play flower girl.

Are your children going to be standing up in a wedding or attending a wedding this summer? Consider checking out some of the following titles to help them get used to what they can expect during the big day!

The Reluctant Flower Girl by Lynne Barasch
Flower Girl by Kathy Furgang
Flower Girl Butterflies by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
The Ring Bear: A Rascally Wedding Adventure by David Michael Slater
Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto
Lettice: The Flower Girl by Mandy Stanley
Milly's Wedding by Kate Summers

The Importance of Keeping an Eye on Your Child

Although they rarely make national headlines, as people who work in the library system, we often hear the horror stories of what can happen when children are left in the library unattended.  But the truth is, it doesn't take leaving your child alone in the library for something awful to happen.  Recently, at Gail Borden Library in Elgin, a child walked away from a mom who was helping her other child.  It took an hour for police to find him, during which the library was in lock-down, but when they eventually picked him up, he had walked a mile away.

You can read more about it here, but the truth of the matter is... here at the library we keep policies about keeping children under 8 near you for a reason.  It isn't that we think this is an unsafe area in which to live, but accidents can happen anywhere.  There are sliding glass doors that move when there is motion, and although we do our best to keep an eye on the library, there are always moments where we are helping others and can't see every person or child that leaves the library.

We hope that you are understanding of our policies, but most of all, we hope that all children stay safe while they are in our library.

April Fools Anyone?

How many of you woke up this morning with toothpaste all over your face?  How many came downstairs at what you thought was the right time only to find out the clocks had been moved forward an hour or two?  Anyone told by their children they saw the school bus go by before it actually did?

Today is April Fools Day, A day that dates back to 1582 in France.  King Charles IX introduced the Georgian Calendar, moving the New Year from March 25-April1 (new year's week) to January 1.  Because the mail and telephone system were non-existent in those times, news traveled slowly and some people didn't find out about the change for several years, and some refused to make the change, continuing to celebrate on April 1st.  Those who continued to celebrate were labeled "fools" and jokes were played on them; invitations to fake parties were sent, they were sent on "fool's errands", all kinds of practical jokes were played.

In that tradition, we still celebrate April Fool's Day in the united states, mostly with kids playing tricks on their parents.  More information can be found here about April Fool's Day and how it is celebrated in other countries, but we also have lots of joke books and April Fool's Day books in the collection.  Stop in and check one out, but be careful.... you don't want to give your kids ammunition for next year!

Friends of the Library Book Sale

It may not feel like spring, but the change of season is definitely on its way. Get a head start on some of your spring cleaning ambitions by donating your used books and other media to the Friends of the Library Book Sale, coming this April 1-3. Half the battle of cleaning house is knowing there is a place to deposit the items you discard. Most organizing experts say that it's best to start with three piles: 1) items that may be recycled, 2)items that may be for the trash, and 3) items that may be of use to others and so donated to a place that can redistribute your belongings. The Friends are happy to redistribute your items that were once loved, but are now just taking up space that could work harder for you than acting as receptacle for your read-once books and now uploaded CD's.

The Friends are a generous provider of funds that allow our Youth Services department to bring great entertainers to the library, to offer support for our programs such as Winter Reading Club and Summer Reading Club, and to assist us in providing ease of use to services like our Book Bags for Teachers.

April 1 is a members only chance to get first crack at the great deals the sale has to offer on used books and other materials. You can become a member at the door: $5 for individuals, $10 for families. The sale is open to the general public on Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3.

See you there! I'm still enjoying the several cookbooks and exercise dvd's I picked up at last fall's event. You never know what kind of gems you might find...

Love Your Library: just in time for Valentine's Day

We love our patrons. You are the reason we present programs. You are the reason we purchase materials. You are the reason we greet you at the reference desk and answer your questions.

How can you love us back this Valentine's Day (or any day for that matter)?

Let me count the ways:

Come to our programs. Bring your family. Invite a neighbor. The more people that attend our programs, the more likely we are to be able to bring you more programs in the future.

Check our materials out of the library. Take them home and share them with your family. The more materials you check out of the library, the more likely it is that we are able to provide you with more materials in the future.

Think you have too many books at home as it is? Get some fresh ones by visiting the library and checking out some great NEW books. And as for the books that you've had enough of?...bring them to the Friends of the Library to be sold in their book sales. Those funds then directly help the library bring you exciting programs and services like our big holiday extravaganza programs and Friends & Family Sundays.

Can't find what you're looking for or don't know where to start? Ask your librarian a question. Encourage your children to get to know us and feel comfortable approaching us. The more questions you ask, the more we know about what you're looking for and why. We can then better serve you by providing you with the most useful materials and tools.

We love the library and we know you do too. Spread the word...and the LOVE!

Free Preschool Fair for Parents

Finding the right preschool fit for your child can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available these days.  Parents are invited to learn more about area preschools at the Des Plaines Public Library's Annual Preschool Fair, Saturday January 22 from 11am to 12:30pm.  This fair is free and the first 40 families to attend will receive a DPPL tote bag and a copy of the 2010 Monarch Illinois Readers' Choice Award winning picture book, Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt, compliments of the Friends of the Library. 

Representatives from 26 schools located in Des Plaines and the surrounding area will be on hand to answer your questions, including:

Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School (Wheeling)

Brentwood Christian Academy (Des Plaines)

Bright Beginnings, Niles Park District (Niles)

Bright Horizons (Mount Prospect)

Children's Choice at Holy Family (Des Plaines)

Embers Elementary (Park Ridge)

First Congregational Preschool (Des Plaines)

Guardian Angel Day School (Des Plaines)

Illinois Action for Children (Chicago)

Immanuel Lutheran Preschool (Des Plaines)

Lattof YMCA (Des Plaines)

Little Lamb Preschool (Des Plaines)

Mary, Seat of Wisdom (Park Ridge)

Montessori Academy of Illinois (Park Ridge)

Mount Prospect Child Care, Inc. (Mount Prospect)

Oakton College Early Childhood Center (Des Plaines)

One Hope United Child Development Center (Des Plaines)

Our Lady of Destiny Preschool (Des Plaines)

Safari Daycare (Mount Prospect)

Saint John Brebeuf Preschool (Niles)

Saint Mark Preschool and Child Care (Mount Prospect)

Saint Zachary Catholic School (Des Plaines)

Science and Arts Academy (Des Plaines)

SPARK Preschool at Terrace School (Des Plaines)

STAR Preschool in District 62 (Des Plaines)

Trinity Preschool (Mount Prospect)

Stop in and explore your options!

New Year...New Storytime

Some minor changes are coming to the storytime schedule in the new year. We have heard your voices and are adding an afternoon program to our offerings for those of you who have expressed interested in joining us for storytimes, but your children are in morning school or programming elsewhere. Thursday morning program times have changed slightly to ease the transition period from one program into the next. We hope you will enjoy this season's offerings.

The schedule will be as follows for January-April, 2011:

Family Storytime, first and third Mondays 7:00 p.m.
for families with children ages 2-8
January 3 and 17
February 7 and 21
March 7 and 21
April 4 and 18

Toddler Twos Storytime, Thursdays 10:30-10:50
For 2 year-olds accompanied by a parent or caregiver
January 13, 20, 27
February 10, 17, 24
March 10, 27, 24
April 7, 14, 21

Afternoon Preschool Storytime, Wednesdays 2:00-2:30
For 3-5 year-olds
January 12, 19, 26
February 9, 16, 23
March 9, 16, 23
April 6, 13, 20

Morning Preschool Storytime, Thursdays 9:30-10:00
January 13, 20, 27
February 10, 17, 24
March 10, 17, 24
April 7, 14, 21

We look forward to the new and improved schedule and hope you will join us for whichever program suits your needs best. Feel free to write us a comment card or talk to one of the Youth Services Department staff and let us know how the changes are working out for you.

New Beginnings (a.k.a. The End of a Tough Year)

Through all of the rough-going we've endured here at the library in the last six months or so, it's nice to know that in difficult times your Des Plaines Public Library is OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

We are a wonderful respite for you and your children in the middle of a busy day of shopping.

Work together as a family to select a great book to share, plop yourselves down in a comfy chair or beanbag or on the floor and get lost in a story.

Relax with a good book or catch up on your correspondence while your kids are close-by enjoying our collection of materials or educational computer games.

Looking for some new music? Some of the lesser used parts of our CD collection are on display during this time of year. Discover a new favorite.

You can come and browse, check out, or print delicious and healthy recipes to share with family and friends.

Select a few DVDs to take home. Snuggle the whole family on the sofa during the coldest of January nights and share a movie and a bowl of popcorn.

Books, music, movies, computers, programs - it's all free - every day. That is something for which I am VERY thankful.

Always Open @ www.dppl.org

The Youth Services Department staff is very much looking forward to spending some time with family and friends this holiday season. Even though our doors may be closed for a day or two, you can access the library's web resources 24 hours a day at http://www.dppl.org/.

The library will be closed on the following days:

Friday, December 24, 2010

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy Holidays to all from the Youth Services Department staff of the Des Plaines Public Library.